For women who suffer from phobias, and I know there are many of you out there-including me,–comes helpful information from the National Institute of Mental Health (2004): “Social phobia occurs in women twice as often as in men” and The disorder typically begins in childhood or early adolescence and rarely develops after age 25.” This rings true for me many of my phobias and fears began in childhood and adolescence and unfortunately, some are still with me.

This, I found interesting but not unusual because I, like many others, have suffered from social phobia for years and I can validate, at least in my case, that it began in when I was very young-around eight or nine. I remember as a child always feeling afraid whenever a social function was about to happen-whether at school, church or with family members. I can remember in elementary school being afraid of teachers, some of the more affluent children and the social events that came with it. It was hard to interact with other students and teachers. At the time, I felt pressured and frightened at the thought of mingling with others. I thought that there was something wrong with me and all I wanted to do was just stay home and read in my bedroom.

I remember feeling very odd because most everyone else around me seemed to be having fun–interacting with others. It wasn t until high school when I met and became friends with others like me, that I found to my surprise and relief that some of them felt afraid like me, some of them even had fears stronger than mine. This lightened the load for me but I still felt alone and afraid.

From APA Online PsycArticles (2004) comes information on coffee and its affects: “Changes in caffeine states enhanced return of fear in spider phobia… shifts in caffeine state would enhance return of fear. The study examined whether shifts in caffeine would enhance the return of fear of spiders….I found this information interesting because when I used to drink several cups of real coffee-with caffeine, I found that my nerves were jangled and I dreaded normal, everyday occurrences. Maybe you, too, have experienced similar reactions. Now that I drink decaffeinated coffee and soft drinks, my anxieties are lessened and my attitude towards life, more positive and calm.

Because women seem to suffer more from phobias, particularly agoraphobia, I wanted to bring to you, the reader s attention, more information from a very helpful website–Phobias R Us (2006). From this site comes a definition of agoraphobia: “afraid of open spaces, but also of related aspects such as the presence of crowds and the difficulty of immediate easy escape to a safe place (usually home.)”

The article goes on to state: The term therefore refers to an interrelated and often overlapping cluster of phobias embracing fears of leaving home. The article also mentions that, In the absence of effective treatment, agoraphobia often becomes chronic, though usually fluctuating. (I know this to be true because for several months-years ago, I was agoraphobic and the disorder, for me, was at times severe, and then at other times, not bad at all.) I still suffer from agoraphobia but the difference now is, I know what it is, am aware of affects and understand why it s still with me….It s still a part of my life whenever emergency or difficult situations face me.

The article goes on to state that this disorder lessons with age. I pondered, why does it lessen with age? Maybe because many of us mature, understand why it is happening, get help from a doctor or learn to live with it…Treatments that help with this disorder are: “buspirone, benzodiazepines and antidepressants.” Also helpful are “cognitive-behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques and biofeedback to control muscle tension.” Phobias R Us (2006).

Depression is another illness that often affects more women than men and can aggravate almost any disorder, phobia or illness one may have. Most of us suffer time to time from a mild form of depression, often known as a “low mood.” But, clinical depression, according to Phobias R Us (2006), www.phobiasrus.com. “affects people so much that it seriously affects their relationships, jobs, ability to do things etc. and just will not go away.”

What I found particularly interesting in the above article Phobias R Us (2006) were the causes of depression: “Brain chemistry, family history of depression, alcoholism, losing your parents or being neglected by them, low self-confidence, relationship problems with a loved one, lack of friends or family and recent stressful or traumatic events,” to name a few. If a person has more than one of these, the article states that he or she should seek counseling and or talk to someone he or she can trust.

Useful Information on Phobias and Panic can also be found at
http://www.hoptechno.com/book48.htm

References:

1. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) article www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/womensoms.cfm
2. APA online Psych Articles (get link)
3. Phobias R Us www.phobiasrus.com

Copyright Toni Star 2007

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