Phobias and Anxiety
Halloween is the time we intentionally try to scare ourselves or others just for the thrill of it! That can be fun when we can tell ourselves that it is not really real and that it’s a part of the fun of Halloween, but for some, this comes easier than others, especially if we already struggle with anxiety or specific phobias. A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder about a specific object or situation, such as fear of tight spaces- claustrophobia, or speaking of horror movies, fear of clowns- coulrophobia. Many anxiety disorders share common features such as anticipation of a future threat and excessive fear.
Common phobias that can coincide with anxiety disorders.
Social phobia can also be known as social anxiety disorder, this is described as marked fear or anxiety in social situations. Although a little anxiety can be beneficial in keeping us on our toes, when it interferes with our ability to be present or holds us back from attending certain social events it can start to impact our overall emotional well-being.
Social Anxiety and Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is known as the fear of being in situations where leaving or getting help may be difficult if things go wrong. Oftentimes, people fear having a panic attack or some other distressing symptom that may draw attention to them which they want to avoid at all costs. This can usually lead to people avoiding certain situations in an attempt to control their anxiety and feel safe. Agoraphobia can make one’s world smaller as they gradually begin to restrict and limit how far out they go in their environment leading to more frustration and sometimes even depression.
How does therapy help anxiety?
Therapy can be helpful in talking through your thoughts and feelings and exploring what is behind those fears. Different strategies such as CBT, exposure therapy, and mindfulness exercises can be used in helping us learn how to cope better with the anxiety that often stops us in our tracks. So if you think you might be experiencing some of the things discussed above, feel free to reach out and schedule a free 15-minute consult to see if I can help.
In the meantime, remember you can celebrate (or not celebrate) Halloween however you want!
