Facts About Phobias (cont)
One in four say they've experienced intense fear and trembling in social situations. Many more say they've felt nervousness, blushing, a racing heart or dry mouth and throat, some of the symptoms of social phobia.
Women ranked snakes as their top fear. Men were most afraid of being buried alive. Both genders also included fear of heights, fear of drowning and fear of public speaking high in their rankings. One big disparity: While women ranked being bound or tied up as their second-highest fear, men ranked it 36th.
Researchers found broad agreement in fear of:
- the Internal Revenue Service (57 percent) more than God (30 percent);
- dentists (58 percent) more than doctors (22 percent); and
- rats (58 percent) more than cockroaches (23 percent.)
While the level of fear in our society is high, only a few of the fearful seek treatment. Among those Americans who say they have a phobia or extreme fear, just 11 percent told pollsters they have sought professional help.
More than one-third of those who sought treatment received prescription drugs. About one-third were treated with psychotherapy. A quarter received training in relaxation, and another quarter went through behavioral therapy, which involves gradual exposure to their fears. About 10 percent made use of hypnosis in their therapy. (Some patients take advantage of more than one type of therapy.)
Phobias seem to run in families.
"I have often noted that parents bring in children who have anxieties and phobias, and they admit that they too suffer from the same problem," says Roger Burket, M.D., associate professor and director of residency training at the University of Florida's Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
He says children may hear words of caution from their parents about the feared object or situation, or children may witness a parent's reaction. "It is possible that some childhood phobias may be learned in this way, in prone children," Burket says. "Still, I think many or most children in this situation do not develop the same phobia as their parents."
