Specific phobias anything but humorous

During one brief period in my young daughter’s life, she experienced intense anxiety in the presence of anyone with a mustache.

When we entered a restaurant, went shopping or visited friends or relatives, her reaction to a mustache was intense fright, leading to crying and avoidant behaviors. She would cling to us, asking to be removed from where the poor gentleman with the mustache was situated.

We could not trace any traumatic event or situation to account for this phobia and it lasted for only a few months.

Many of us share the anxiety displayed by Jimmy Stewart in the classic Alfred Hitchcock thriller Vertigo, in which he had an intense fear of heights.

Perhaps the most prevalent specific or simple phobia is that of animals, such as fear of dogs, cats or birds. A fear of insects, snakes or rodents is experienced by many individuals.

The queasiness and even fainting that occur in some individuals when they see blood or certain medical procedures is another example of specific or simple phobias.

Phobias are often the subject of jokes and ridicule. But for the individual experiencing this intense, irrational anxiety, the experience is anything but humorous. The situations that arouse anxiety are avoided over time because of anticipatory anxiety.

Many simple or specific phobias that begin in childhood disappear without treatment. Those that continue into adulthood frequently need treatment.

Simple or specific such as fear of heights, may impair an individual’s ability to function in a usual way.

For example, an individual has received a promotion that means more money, advancement in the organization and long-term security for her family. Unfortunately, this individual has an intense fear of heights and the promotion involves moving from a first story office to one on the 25th floor. In the past, she has carefully avoided going to the upper floors of the office building. The thought of losing the promotion because of the fear of heights produces anger, depression, and still more anxiety.

In another situation, free round-trip tickets on a cruise liner were awarded to an individual, but were refused because of an intense fear of water. A reader of this column recently told me about an intense fear of long airplane flights. Fear of flying was not the issue. Instead, intense anxiety was aroused at the thought of using the tiny restrooms found in most airplanes, since this person has a fear of enclosed places.

Ornithopbia (fear of birds) can generalize to the point that the individual with this specific phobia detests even the most exquisite culinary dishes if any hint of fowl is present. An intense fear of storms is experienced by many individuals. For them, even a large cloud formation can produce anxiety.

More women than men suffer from simple phobias, and phobias are common in the general population. Phobias that do not result in impairment or interfere with the person’s normal routine, often go untreated.

Next week I will discuss agoraphobia.

Copyright c 1994 Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D