1. Specific Phobias
Mackenzie Williamson

2. Definition
A common mental illness characterized by an irrational fear of a particular object or situation. Specific phobias have two main components
A strong and consistent fear of an object or situation that the individual realizes poses no actual threat.
The response results in the intentional avoidance of the feared object or situation, causing difficulties within the individual’s life as decisions are made in order to steer clear of the feared stimulus.

3. Symptoms
Excessive or irrational fear of a specific object or situation
Avoidance of object or situation
Physical Symptoms
Nausea
Panic attack
Shortness of breath
Sweating
Etc.
Anticipatory anxiety

4. Other Information Can occur in people of all ages
More than 1 in 10 people suffer from specific phobias
Only about 20% of adult phobias vanish on their own
Approximately 4 to 5 percent of the U.S. population has one or more clinically significant phobias in a given year
Social phobia is more common in women than men
More men than women seek treatment for social phobia

5. Novercaphobia- Fear of your step- mother
Ophthalmophobia- Fear of being stared at
Phobophobia- Fear of phobias
Rupophobia- Fear of dirt
Samhainophobia- Fear of Halloween
Triskaidekaphobia- Fear of the number 13
Uranophobia - Fear of heaven
Verbophobia- Fear of words
Wiccaphobia- Fear of witches and witchcraft
Xanthophobia- Fear of the color or the word yellow
Zoophobia- Fear of animals
Anablephobia- Fear of looking up
Bibliophobia- Fear of books
Coulrophobia- Fear of clowns
Didaskaleinophobia- Fear of going to school
Ephebiphobia- Fear of teenagers
Francophobia- Fear of France or French culture
Gnosiophobia- Fear of knowledge
Heliophobia- Fear of the sun
Iophobia- Fear of poison
Japanophobia- Fear of Japanese
Katsaridaphobia- Fear of cockroaches
Lachanophobia- Fear of vegetables
Melophobia- Fear or hatred of music

6. Causes In most cases, specific phobias are caused by traumatic events
Recent research has shows that there may be a hereditary component to social phobia

7. Treatment
There is no proven treatment for specific phobias however, medications can help reduce anxiety
Medications including, MAOIs, SSRIs and high- potency benzodiazepines can help those with social phobias
Beta blockers help those who suffer from performance phobias
Exposure therapy (a cognitive-behavioral therapy) helps patients become less frightened by gradually exposing them to the object or situation that scares them
Relaxation and breathing techniques also help to reduce anxiety

8. Videos
Interview with Dr. Zasio - What Causes Animal Phobias? 1 min 40 sec
Pit bull Intro interview 1 min 40 sec Exposure Therapy 2 min 50 sec Update 1 min 30 sec

9. Bibliography
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