Phobias (also known as specific phobia) are triggered by a stressful or fearful experience or object. This fearful sensory input is then sent to the amygdala (the fear processing center of the brain), where it ‘remembers’ the fearful stimulus. The activated amygdala also starts the cascade known as the fight or flight response, where the sympathetic […]
How Specific Phobia Evolves- The Negative Cycle of Specific Phobia
Previously, we had discussed how anxiety evolves from the negative cycle of anxiety: triggers lead to thoughts about the situation or event, which lead to anxiety, which lead to avoidant behaviors which maintain the negative cycle of anxiety. When anxiety starts to disrupt your life, then an anxiety disorder may emerge. Anxiety disorders are divided […]
Share this:
Can Social Phobia Lead To Schizophrenia?
Even though one may be confused that he/she has one or the other condition, since some of the symptoms for both can be similar and confusing, the answer to this question is simple. No, social phobia cannot lead to schizophrenia. Many patients with schizophrenia often show symptoms of social phobia, but never the other way […]
Share this:
Can Claustrophobia be Treated?
Claustrophobia is defined as the irrational fear of confined spaces. Like any phobia, the severity of claustrophobia can vary widely from person to person. Some people may experience symptoms in small rooms, crawl spaces, crowds or other enclosed situations; these people might find discomfort on amusement park rides such as roller coasters that use secure […]
Share this:
A deliberate crash and an accidental crash landing- is it making you anxious about flying?
Recent news about the Germanwings crash and the crash landing at a Canadian airport has people quite concerned. Not only are there accidental crashes…there apparently are deliberate ones. This has triggered memories for some of the World Trade Center tragedy almost 14 years ago. Add to this the disappearance of one Malaysia Airlines flight and […]
Share this:
What Can I Do to Stop Being a Hypochondriac?
A hypochondriac has persistent beliefs that they are ill. Having hypochondria, or health anxiety, makes you worry constantly that your symptoms could be a sign of some serious medical illness, and you are constantly checking your symptoms and scouring the internet for any information on your possible condition. You may even doctor-shop and have multiple […]
Share this:
What is the Difference Between Munchausen Syndrome and Hypochondria?
There is a difference between Munchausen syndrome and hypochondria. A person with Munchausen syndrome desperately seeks medical attention to fulfill severe emotional problems, whereas a person with hypochondria believes they are ill. Munchausen syndrome is also called factitious disorder. If you have Munchausen syndrome, you have a desperate need to be seen as ill or […]
Share this:
Being A Hypochondriac Is Ruining My Life
Hypochondriasis is an older and more familiar term for IAD (Illness Anxiety Disorder). People with IAD are preoccupied with their health, though there is no objective reason for their concern. They will believe they have or will get a serious illness, though they have no actual symptoms of a serious illness. They may experience mild […]
Share this:
Social Phobia vs. Asperger Syndrome
Social phobia, also known as social anxiety disorder, can be difficult to differentiate from Asperger syndrome. Social phobia is an anxiety disorder, whereas Asperger syndrome is a high-functioning subtype of autism, a pervasive developmental disorder. Social phobia is characterized by fear of social scrutiny. People with social phobia avoid social situations and crowds due to […]
Share this:
Is Xanax good for claustrophobia?
This is not a yes or no question, as is the case with many questions in psychiatry. Xanax (alprazolam), a benzodiazepine, can be prescribed for claustrophobia, but it is not necessarily good. But Xanax is definitely not the best treatment for claustrophobia. Claustrophobia is a specific phobia, and is characterized by a fear of closed […]
2014 - 2022 © Copyright Anxiety Boss. All rights reserved.