Fear is normal. It protects us from danger. When people feel strong fear for no reason, they may have a phobia. A phobia is a fear of something that is not dangerous. The fear can last a long time and is much stronger than normal fear. Phobias can make your heart beat fast, your body shake, and it may be difficult to breathe. Sometimes the fear is so strong that people want to run away.
What Causes Phobias?
Most phobias are caused by a scary experience during childhood. For example, if a dog bites a child, the child may become scared of dogs. Pho bias can also be learned. For example, seeing a plane crash on TV can sometimes make people afraid to fly. If someone tells you again and again that snakes are dangerous, you may become scared of snakes.
How Do Doctors Treat Phobias?
Phobias can be cured with therapy. People can learn to become less afraid. For example, if a man is afraid of dogs, he needs to spend time with dogs in a safe situation. Later, the patient won’t feel scared.
This therapy helps many people overcome their fear. If you have a phobia, therapy can help you too. Don’t be afraid to try it!