Why Are People Afraid of Clowns? By Mindy Weisberger, Senior Writer | September 12, 2016 04:43pm ET

What child wouldn't be overjoyed to see this face at a birthday party?

Credit: Sergey Shubin/Shutterstock.com

"Did you see the clown in the woods?"

On Aug. 26, Greenville, South Carolina, resident Donna Arnold told FOX Carolina that she had

contacted the Greenville County Sheriff's Office after her son and other children reported seeing

a clown near their apartment complex. Arnold said that "about 30 kids" asked her if she had seen

the clown.

Bizarre as it sounds, this wasn't the first clown sighting in Greenville County that week, nor was

it the last. On Aug. 24, the property manager in Arnold's apartment complex posted a notice

warning residents about "a person dressed in clown clothing" who was allegedly trying to lure

children into the woods. And on Aug. 31, a 13-year-old boy claimed he saw a man dressed as a

clown knocking on the front door of the boy's home.

The man was wearing "a painted mask with orange hair," the boy told FOX Carolina. The boy's

mother added in an interview that she came home as soon as she could, but when she got there,

the clown was gone.

As of Sept. 7, Greenville officials had received reports of four clown sightings within the city

limits, Police Chief Ken Miller told reporters at a press conference. Miller didn't crack a smile

when he said, "The clowning around needs to stop."

Whether the Greenville clown, or clowns, pose a threat still remains to be seen. But the unease

and fear that clowns can inspire — even in less ominous circumstances — is no laughing matter.

Experts told Live Science that many people have negative associations with clowns in general,

even though the characters are supposed to bring laughter. Why do clowns evoke such

unpleasant emotions?

Not always harmless

Entertainers who don funny outfits and makeup and behave foolishly for the amusement of

others have existed for thousands of years. Accounts from ancient Egypt, China and Greece refer

to clowns and jesters as members of royal entourages, Smithsonian.com reported. Jesters and

fools were also widespread in medieval courts across Europe.

A medieval jester's life wasn't all laughs. "Laughing Fool", attributed to Jacob Cornelisz van

Oostsanen, ca. 1500.

Credit: PD-US

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But the humor of these characters wasn't always harmless. Secure in their status as jokers, royal

jesters could direct amusingly insulting potshots at even the king himself, said Ben Radford,

author of "Bad Clowns" (University of New Mexico Press, April 2016), which explores the dark

history of these comical buffoons.

"A jester might make a sly joke about how fat he(The Kind) was," Radford told Live Science.

"Their role allowed them to do that. As the jester, they were the only person in the kingdom who

would be given that license."

By comparison, what is now seen as a typical clown — a circus performer with a wide, painted

grin, red nose and oversized shoes — is a relative newcomer, emerging in the last century or so,

Radford explained. As to why people might fear clowns, Radford suggested that the

heavy, mask-like makeup could cause unease because it obscures a clown's true expressions.

"There's something inherently menacing about a masked stranger," Radford said.

Agents of the dark side

Clowns also have qualities that can appear suspiciously otherworldly, Radford told Live Science.

They can cram 20 of their friends into a tiny car. They can unfurl endless scarves or squirt water

from floral boutonnieres. So it's no wonder that children, or even adults, in a clown's audience

might be inclined to connect the figures to the supernatural.

The demonic Pennywise (Tim Curry) terrorized a group of children in the television miniseries

"It" (1990), based on the horror novel by Stephen King.

And for some people, the unpredictability of clowns makes them frightening, said Kristin

Kunkle, a clinical psychologist at the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related

Disorders.

"They pull things out of their sleeves. They blow up balloons and then pop them," Kunkle said.

"They do things that bring on a rush of emotion that some people might be excited about and

some people might find overwhelming."

Batman's villainous nemesis the Joker is another murderous example of a man whose clown

makeup and maniacal grin accompany heinous crimes and evil deeds. The Joker first appeared in

the debut issue of the Batman comic book, in 1940, and has since cackled his way across TV

screens in both live-action and animated series, and in movies, from "Batman" (1989) to "Suicide

Squad" (2016).

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Fear and loathing

Any of these terrifying examples could inspire a feeling of at least mild unease around clowns,

even in someone who has never had a negative experience with such a character in real life,

Radford said. But some people undergo a more severe reaction: an intense and uncontrollable

fear of clowns, also known as coulrophobia. The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic

and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) includes coulrophobia in the

"specific phobia" group, code 300.29.

And as a phobia, it is "fairly common," Kunkle told Live Science, identifying coulrophobia as

one of the fears that she and her colleagues ask about when conducting anxiety assessments with

new patients.

"If someone has a clown phobia, they might have an anxiety response just from looking at a

picture of a clown," Kunkle said.

Not all clowns are trying to scare you. Pipo was a popular clown character on the Dutch

television series "Pipo de Clown" (1958-1980).

Clinical phobias differ from typical anxiety in the severity of the person's emotional response to

the object of fear, and how much that response affects the person's life, said Scott Woodruff, a

psychologist with the American Institute for Cognitive Therapy in New York City.

"For the average person, clowns aren't terribly relevant, so experiencing fear when seeing clowns

once or twice a year probably wouldn't merit treatment," Woodruff told Live Science in an email.

"On the other hand, a father who avoids all child birthday parties just in case a clown shows up

very well might want help," Woodruff added.

Treating a clown phobia — or any type of phobia— is typically done using a technique called

exposure therapy, with the patient incrementally increasing his or her exposure to whatever

causes the fear, Woodruff explained.

Someone undergoing treatment for a clown phobia wouldn't confront a clown face-to-face on the

first day, Woodruff said. Rather, the person might start by looking at pictures of a clown. When

the individual felt comfortable with that, the level of challenge would increase. The person could

progress to watching movie scenes featuring clowns, or observing a clown from a distance.

"Over time, clients learn they are able to tolerate the distress, which often declines dramatically,"

Woodruff told Live Science.

Terrifying the master of terror

But if you're spooked by clowns, you're in good company. Writer Stephen King, famed master of

the horror-fiction genre and creator of the demonic clown Pennywise in the novel "It," told

the Bangor Daily Newson Sept. 9 that "clowns really can be terrifying."

King admitted that seeing a clown outside of the character's typical context, such as a circus or a

birthday party, could be unnerving — yes, even for him.

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"If I saw a clown lurking under a lonely bridge (or peering up at me from a sewer grate, with or

without balloons), I'd be scared, too," King said.

Clown phobias aside, a typical circus or birthday party clown is unlikely to cause anyone harm.

However, officials in Greenville are still on the lookout for people behaving suspiciously while

dressed as clowns, and have announced plans to arrest and charge anyone violating standing city

ordinances against wearing costumes and identity-concealing masks in public spaces.

Unless, of course, it happens to be Halloween.

Original article on Live Science.

http://www.livescience.com/why-people-afraid-of-clowns.html

10 tips for the fearful flier Expert advice on how to keep calm

Gregg Newton / Reuters

A traveller walks through the terminal at Reagan National Airport.

By James WysongTravel columnist

How many times have you boarded a flight and noticed one or two passengers who are

acting a bit peculiar?

You might pass it off as stressful flight conditions or dissatisfaction with the airline, but

they could be suffering from fear of flying. It becomes more evident as takeoff

approaches. The wide-eyes, clenched fists, profuse sweating, and rocking motions are

among its symptoms.

I remember a middle-aged man who once boarded the aircraft, took his seat next to the

window exit, and stuffed a rather large backpack under his seat. He smiled contently

during the exit row briefing, and when we hit turbulence in flight he clutched his

backpack as if it were a teddy bear. But the smile never left his face.

When I asked him how he was, he told me that he used to be a fearful flier but had

overcome his phobia. When I asked how, he told me that he carried a parachute on

every flight.

Everyone has some degree of flying fear. You put yourself in a small cylindrical tube,

loaded with flammable liquid, trust your life with some unseen pilot who, if media

reports are to be believed, probably has a drinking problem. To make matters worse,

you’ve been bombarded with graphic details of previous air fatalities.

Who wouldn’t be scared?

Did you know that at least one out of every six adults has a fear of flying, also known as

aviophobia or aerophobia? It is estimated that 35 percent of all airline crews, flight

attendants and pilots, also have either a fear of heights or flying. We do this for a living,

so don’t worry if you do too. The key is recognizing it and getting it under control.

The fear of flying has many different components, many of them stemming from other

fears such as enclosed spaces, heights, strange sounds, sitting in stale air, crowded

situations, lack of control, and the latest fear - terrorism.

Here are some statistics that may or may not be helpful.

Air travel is the second-safest mode of mass transportation in the world. This is second

only to the escalator and elevator. Your chances of being involved in an aircraft accident

are approximately 1 in 11 million. Your chances of being killed in an automobile accident

are 1 in 5000. The most dangerous part of your flight is the drive to the airport.

All airplanes are designed and built to withstand far more stress than occurs in normal

flight, including ordinary and extraordinary turbulence. While it is true that a severe

storm could damage an aircraft, this is why flights will divert around or cancel due to

thunderstorms.

Ninety-nine percent of turbulence injuries are from unfastened seatbelts, or falling

luggage.

You have more of a chance of dying from the food onboard than being involved in an

accident.

Here are my top ten tips for the fearful flier.

1. Don’t conceal it. Tell the gate agent when you check in, the flight attendant when you

board, and the passengers around you when you sit down. It’s nothing to be

embarrassed about, and what you need is support, not added frustrations by suffering in

silence. I know I make a special effort to check in on my fearful fliers several times

during a flight.

2. Treat the turbulence like bumps in the road. Don’t tense up or fight it, but instead, let

your body sway with the aircraft movements.

3. At check-in, ask for a seat at the very front of the cabin as possible. Turbulence is

usually much greater in the back of the aircraft. If you have an extreme dread of flying,

don’t try to overcome your fears on a long flight. Take the shortest flight you can and

preferably in the biggest plane possible.

4. Keep distracted. Watch the movie even if it’s bad or you have seen it already. Read a

book or do a crossword puzzle. Do anything that keeps your mind occupied and not

dwelling on morbid possibilities.

5. There are various classes for those who are afraid to fly. In some cases the final test is

an actual airplane flight. The courses used to be quite expensive, but now with fares

being at an all-time low, I am sure the classes are less expensive as well.

6. Avoid coffee or other caffeine products as an overly hyper state of mind will only

exacerbate your anxiety. But drink other liquids, as dehydration only contributes to the

fear process. Some people recommend a glass of wine to calm the nerves, but don’t

overdo it.

7. Listen to peaceful and calming music. Your mind tends to wander and hear sounds

that either don’t exist or are perfectly normal flight noises.

8. The rubber band technique. Wear a rubber band around your wrist and if you feel

yourself becoming agitated, snap the rubber band against your skin. Apparently, the

pain is a reality bite, and takes the mind off the turbulence.

9. Avoid gory details. When an air disaster does occur, avoid the graphic details and

overplay in the news media. It is important to be informed, but too much is too much.

10. Breathe deeply as often as you can, and remember that the sick bag in front of you

can be used as an anti-hyperventilating device as well.

There is a free self-help audio assistance program that can be purchased and taken

onboard with you. I have not heard it myself, but quite a few passengers I know swear by

its effectiveness. For more information go to www.fearofflyinghelp.com.

For obvious reasons, there are quite a few more fearful fliers in America now than there

were before 9/11. I have seen and dealt with some of the major cases onboard ranging

from crying, screaming, loss of bladder and bowel control, tremors, pulled muscles from

tension, to broken fingers and fingernails from gripping the armrest too tightly.

The inspiration to write on this subject came while flying in extreme turbulence. A

female passenger started screaming at the top of her lungs, “We’re all going to die, make

it stop, make it stop.” This set off two other fearful fliers, where a man broke out in

hysterical tears and another female yelled back, “No we’re not, no we’re not, somebody

kill her now!”

Fear is the number one enemy.

Kind of like during a heart attack, the fear of dying only makes the situation worse. I

guess the saying is true, “You have nothing to fear, but fear itself.” So accept the fear,

treat it with common sense, and please, leave your parachutes at home.

If you know of others who are afraid to fly, please forward this article to them. If it helps,

or if they need further information or have any comments, I would love to hear from

them.

James Wysong has worked as a flight attendant with two major international carriers

during the past fifteen years. He is the author of the "The Plane Truth: Shift Happens

at 35,000 Feet" and "The Air Traveler's Survival Guide." For more information about

James or his books, see his web site or e-mail him. Want to sound off about one of his

columns? Try visiting Wysong's forum.

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Do Dogs Know When Someone is Afraid if Them? Brett Froomer/Getty Images |Â Kennan Ward/Corbis |Â Diane Collins and Jordan Hollender/Getty Images |Â Jim Corwin/Getty Images |Â

If you're afflicted with cynophobia, a pathological fear of dogs, chances are that,

at one time or another, some well-meaning person has advised you to remain

calm and "don't let him see you're afraid." Of course, that's easier said than done,

when your heart is racing and cold sweat is trickling down the back of your neck

due to the fact that you're standing within lunging range of a Rottweiler … or a

Yorkshire terrier.

Nevertheless, that advice does raise some interesting questions: When dogs

look at a trembling, panicky human, what do they see? Do they sense your terror,

and if so, does it influence their behavior toward you? Does your fear of dogs

make dogs more or less likely to bite you?

The Mysterious Canine Mind

Questions like these likely have perplexed humans since the first wolves started

hanging around the fire hoping for scraps of our ancestors' roasted mammoth

dinner. But since mammoth times, compared to many other species, dogs have

done pretty well for themselves in terms of adapting to human society and

coexisting with us. They fill an endless variety of roles, including animal herder,

hunter's assistant, burglar alarm, guide for the visually impaired, loyal companion

and playmate for children.

According to psychologist Stanley Coren, author of the book "How Dogs Think,"

canines' versatility and ability to interact with humans has convinced some

people -- for example, the ancient Greek philosophers Plato and Diogenes -- that

dogs have almost humanlike minds and moral sensibilities. Not everyone is

convinced of such powers, however. For example, 17th-century French

mathematician, philosopher and scientist Descartes dismissed dogs as soulless

biological automatons, incapable of thinking, who respond to environmental

stimuli by reflex.

Dogs are surprisingly perceptive Brett Froomer/Getty Images |Â Kennan Ward/Corbis |Â Diane Collins and Jordan Hollender/Getty Images |Â Jim Corwin/Getty Images |Â

In recent years, however, scientific research has shown that while dogs aren't

quite the noble sages the ancient Greeks perceived them to be, they're closer in

intelligence and perception skills to humans and other primates than previously

thought. According to Coren, a dog can comprehend human speech and can

have a vocabulary of more than 150 words, is able to solve complex problems,

and even is capable of willfully tricking another dog. Moreover, evidence shows

that canines study humans for cues and have some ability to interpret nuances

like facial expressions. Researchers at Japan's Azabu University, for example,

have been able to train canine subjects to differentiate between a smile and a

blank expression in photographs of human faces. If a dog can identify a smile, it's

not that much of a stretch to assume that it can pick up on the clenched teeth

and wide eyes of a frightened person, not to mention changes in posture and

gait.

But some canine experts think that even if you manage to keep a placid face and

remain still while you're terrified, a dog will still be able to detect your fear. That's

because humans, like other animals, experience physiological changes, like

changes in breathing rate and perspiration, as a result of the flight-or-fight

response. In particular, we involuntarily give off chemicals called pheromones

when we're alarmed. Because a dog's sense of smell is thousands of times more

sensitive than ours, most likely a dog can detect those chemicals, says

Alexandra Horowitz, author of "Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell and

Know."

It's the dog's fear, not yours, that matters Brett Froomer/Getty Images |Â Kennan Ward/Corbis |Â Diane Collins and Jordan Hollender/Getty Images |Â Jim Corwin/Getty Images |Â

But if you're worried about a nearby canine sinking its teeth into you, what you're

really wondering is this: If a dog senses you're afraid, is it more likely to attack

you? There doesn't seem to be much evidence that a dog's perception of a

person's fear is a significant trigger for an attack. What really matters is whether

the dog is afraid of you or is anxious in general.

A 2007 study of incidents in which children were bitten by dogs, published in the

journal Injury Prevention, found that dogs most often bit children when they

perceived a threat to their territory, food or other resources, such as toys. In

addition, children who were noisy and made unpredictable movements were at

greater risk of being bitten. When the aggressive animals were examined, about

half of them had medical conditions, such as skin or bone disorders, which tend

to cause anxiety in dogs -- and thus, make them more likely to feel the urge to

protect themselves.

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them/

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Dental Phobia Jerry Kennard Health Pro

I've had at least a couple of bad experiences with the dentist. One of these related to a

difficult extraction for which I don't blame the dentist. The second related to a painful

and deep filling in which, for a reason I can't fathom, the anesthetic did not do its job.

Rather than stopping or offering alternatives, the dentist pressed on, despite my

protestations. I sweated and moaned and so did he. A week later I had to visit another

dentist in order to correct the resulting problems. The contrast in approach and

technique was stark and I'm pleased to report that several years later I still pay regular

visits to my ‘new' dentist.

Everyone has a story about the dentist. My 19 year old daughter has a very different

relationship with her dentist. She is of a generation where fluoride toothpaste and a

complete lack of drilling and filling is normal, whereas I was born too soon. Neither of us

fear the dentist, but I am certainly more cautious!

Fear of the dentist is extremely common and ranges from slight levels of apprehension,

to moderate anxiety, to an outright phobia. Phobia's are defined along the lines of an

intense and irrational fear that leads to avoidance. I consider dental phobia as one that

often blurs the boundary. Whilst many people's fears are groundless and would certainly

fall into the accepted definition, a great many others have very good reasons to be

extremely anxious. In fact some estimates put previous bad experiences as accounting

for nearly 80 percent of dental phobia.

Dental phobia is best thought of as a category. Within this category fall a number of

issues which commonly include:

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Fear of needles or the act of being injected.

Fear of anesthetics.

Fear of pain.

Fear of the invasiveness or intimacy of work within the mouth.

Fear of the drill, either the sound or of being drilled.

Fear of choking.

A sense of powerlessness during procedures.

There is also the issue of embarrassment which can cover a number of issues. For

example, people may feel embarrassed by their concerns over any of the things

previously listed. They feel that as an adult they should be above such things.

Embarrassment can also occur because of the time spent avoiding the dentist.

Insensitive remarks by the dentist about oral hygiene can often shame people into

staying away rather than motivating them to do better.

Dental phobia is also more common in people who suffer with anxiety disorders and

more common in people who have suffered sexual abuse and sometimes bullying.

Painful and sometimes lengthy dental procedures can also leave some people with

symptoms remarkably similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

So what can be done? Finding a dentist you feel comfortable with is really important.

Many dentists now advertise services specifically geared to work with people suffering

from dental phobia. Often, people's fears can be resolved if they explain to the dentist

exactly what they fear. The dentist can then offer solutions that can instantly calm fears.

For example, fear of injections can be overcome by simple relaxation techniques

coupled with the application of an anesthetic gel on the gum. This enables the needle to

be inserted without any sensation. The fear of choking can often be resolved by the

dentist not tilting the chair back so far. With the use of iPod players, the sound of the

drill can be masked. Many dental surgeries are fitted with technology geared and

calming and distracting, like music and video players.

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The sense of powerlessness is another common feature of dental phobia. There are

several easy ways for a patient to gain a level of control. Again, discussing this with the

dentist is the best starting point. Some have offered buttons to patients, when if

pressed, sounds a small alarm which alerts the dentist to stop. Sometimes the water

spray from instruments can irritate the back of the throat and increase a sense of

choking, but dentists should have a dental dam at their disposal that can protect the

throat. These are just a couple of examples but knowledge of the options is often key to

reducing anxiety.

Whilst a dentist may be sensitive and caring it is not their prime role to work with panic

attacks or extreme anxiety. If you know this is an issue for you it may be far better to

see a psychologist or counselor for treatment. If your main fear is the dentist you may

want to consider hypnotherapy. Some medications can help to take the edge off

extreme anxiety, in which case a visit to the doctor is called for. Published On: August 12, 2009

http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/1950/81382/dental-phobia

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Animal and Bird Phobias By Eileen Bailey

Animal and bird phobias are quite common. People may be afraid of dogs, cats, mice, or rats.

Someone may be afraid of birds in general, although fear of pigeons is also common. A phobia is

an intense and irrational fear. Most people would be afraid of a growling dog standing in their

path, however, it may be irrational or unreasonable to be afraid of your neighbor’s dog,

especially if the dog is friendly and has never really provided a reason for you to be afraid.

Phobias interfere with people’s daily life or functioning and most people suffering from phobias

understand their fears are unreasonable but are not able to overcome their fear.

Symptoms

As with other specific phobias, symptoms of an animal or bird phobia include:

Headache

Stomachache

Muscle tension

Rapid heart beat

Sweating

Shortness of breath

Irritability

Trouble concentrating

Causes

Sometimes a person with a specific animal phobia can pinpoint how the phobia began. They may

have been bitten by a dog as a child or had a bad experience with the type of animal causing their

anxiety. For some, there may not have been a specific event. Possibly, their parents had a phobia

about dogs, passing on this fear to their child by their actions whenever a dog was around,

essentially, teaching their children to be afraid. For other people, there may not be any specific

reason for their fear.

Avoiding a situation (or specific animal) can contribute to the anxiety, as these actions help to

reinforce a fear. For example, is someone was bitten by a dog and begins to avoid situations

where there may be a dog present, they reinforce, in their mind, the validity of the fear. This

helps to fuel the feelings of anxiety.

In treatment, however, the reason for the fear is not always important. Treatment would be the

same no matter what the reason behind the phobia.

Treatment

Exposure Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy includes exposure therapy. In this type of treatment, the patient is

slowly exposed to animal causing the fear until they are able to be near the animal without

experiencing symptoms of anxiety.

Exposure therapy may include the following (example is based on a fear of dogs, but this same

type of therapy can be used for any type of animal or bird). Each step would be repeated until the

person felt comfortable:

Viewing pictures of a dog Viewing videos of a dog, allowing person to see and hear the dog Seeing a dog through a window, where they can view the dog but no contact is

possible Seeing a dog in a cage, where they can see the dog and leading up to holding

their hand out for the dog to smell Seeing the dog on a leash, but not close enough for contact Moving the dog on the leash closer as the person becomes more comfortable Petting the dog

Each person’s anxiety will be different. For some, viewing pictures of a dog or seeing a dog on a

video is not a problem and exposure therapy would begin with seeing a dog on a leash across the

room.

A therapist specializing in anxiety disorders and exposure therapy would be able to work with

each person to determine their level of anxiety and proceed with exposure therapy as needed for

their particular situation.

Medication

For specific phobias, exposure therapy has been found to be the most effective type of treatment.

Medication, however, can be helpful if a person cannot avoid the situation in their daily life. In

this case, medication can help a person cope while exposure therapy continues.

Short acting anti-anxiety medication is also useful it the person’s anxiety is so high they will not

benefit from exposure therapy without some additional assistance. The anxiety medication

sometimes helps a person to get more benefit from exposure therapy.

Self Help

Take one step at a time, however, accept you may need to deal with a little anxiety before moving on to the next step.

http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/introduction-000028_8-145.html

Learn relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, to help cope with anxiety symptoms as they develop.

For specific fears, such as dogs, viewing pictures or reading about the animals can help in exposure therapy by increasing the desensitization toward the object.

Work on exposure on a daily basis, even if it includes videos and pictures of the animal or bird that invokes anxiety symptoms.

Keep a journal of your treatment so that you can view your progress. This can help when you feel you are not progressing as quickly as you would like. If you can see steady progress, it can motivate you to continue your therapy.

Remember that treatment is available. You do not need to have a phobia control your life. It is

possible to control the phobia.

References:

“Animal/Bird Phobias”, 2008, Author Unknown, AnxietyCare.org

“Phobias and Fears”, 2008, Aug 2, Melinda Smith, Helpguide.org

http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/disorder-types-273404-5_2.html

http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/disorder-types-273404-5_2.html

Claustrophobia By Eileen Bailey

Claustrophobia is the fear of being in a small or enclosed space. Claustrophobia is classified as a

specific phobia, which is a type of anxiety disorder. A specific phobia is an irrational or

unreasonable fear of an object or a situation. Specific phobias can trigger panic or anxiety attacks

when the situation or fear is confronted and can interfere with daily life and overall functioning.

Causes

Claustrophobia often develops as the result of an experience in childhood or a traumatic event of

being trapped in a small place or from an unpleasant or frightening experience where you were in

a confined space and could not get out. Sometimes, a person will experience a panic attack

during this experience. The panic and the experience become one and future situations in closed

environments are looked upon with dread and fear.

Symptoms

The symptoms of claustrophobia are the same as those experienced during any panic attack:

Heart palpitations or rapid heartbeat

Nausea

Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting

Shaking or trembling

Hyperventilation

Sweating

Headache

Chest pain

As with all panic attacks, these feeling can be accompanied by the feeling that you are going to

die or that you are going crazy.

Often, people with claustrophobia will incorporate strategies into their daily lives to help them

cope with or prevent panic attacks from happening:

People may always take stairs, avoiding elevators, even if they need to go to the 20th floor of a building.

At a party or in a crowded room, someone may stay close to the exit, missing any activities situated away from the room, even if it means foregoing eating or talking with friends sitting elsewhere.

Avoiding situations where they must be in a room with closed doors. A person with claustrophobia may always check where exits are when they enter a room.

Sitting in a car or other mode of transportation. They may take only short trips, not being able to sit for any period of time inside a vehicle. They may plan trips to avoid sitting in traffic or keep the windows of the car wide open, even in inclement weather.

Avoiding air travel and opting instead to drive places or to avoid trips that require air travel.

As the claustrophobia goes untreated, more and more situations may be avoided. The fear of having a panic attack

can be overwhelming and some people with claustrophobia severely limit their activities and social interactions to

make sure they do not place themselves in situations that may invoke a panic attack.

Treatment

Treatment for claustrophobia is the same as for other types of anxiety and can include relaxation therapy, cognitive

behavioral therapy and medication as well as learning self help strategies.

Medication

Antidepressant medication is one of the most common prescription medication used to treat anxiety disorders.

Medications known as beta-blockers may also be used to reduce specific symptoms, such as heart palpitations.

Therapy

Therapy can help a person by teaching relaxation strategies for coping with symptoms. In addition therapy is used to

learn about personal triggers and situations that can cause an anxiety attack to occur. Therapy also works on trying

to change thought processes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

This type of therapy often uses exposure therapy to help someone deal with stressful situations by gradually placing

them in places that may cause a panic attack. This is done in a controlled environment, where the person feels safe.

Once they have gone through one stage, they will be introduced to the next stage, allowing them to slowly readjust to

stressful situations.

Self Help

Learning relaxation techniques to help cope with anxiety symptoms.

Understanding anxiety disorders

Learning your personal triggers and understanding how you react to situations

Joining support groups

Treatment is available. According to the Better Health Channel, treatment for claustrophobia normally lasts between

eight to ten weeks, with two sessions per week. If you are experiencing problems due to claustrophobia, there is help

available.

References:

“Claustrophobia”, 2007, Oct, Author Unknown, Better Health Channel, State of Victoria, Australia

“What is Claustrophobia?”. 2006, Feb 3, Christian Nordqvist, Medical News Today

http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/treatment-250688-5.html

“Claustrophobia”, 2008, Author Unknown, Epigee.org

http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/disorder-types-273395-5_2.html

http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/disorder-types-273395-5_2.html

Peter James Field

When You're Afraid To Walk -- Ambulophobia Causes And Treatment

Family Articles | October 2, 2013

The fear of walking, of losing balance, or of falling -- known as ambulophobia -- is more common than is generally acknowledged.

In this informative article a leading British psychotherapist explains this phobia and what can be done about it.

Ambulophobia -- the fear of falling or of walking -- is a condition that we sometimes see here in our busy hypnotherapy practice in the U.K.

Although this fear can be experienced at any age, it seems to be more

common as a person grows older.

Where once the person felt safe on their feet, free to walk, run or dance,

now they feel uncertain and unsafe, needing a walking stick or something or someone to hold onto in order to be mobile.

Some who experience this disorder are fearful of walking on polished or

uneven surfaces, others where there are rugs, mats or carpets. Still other

people feel uncomfortable walking on almost any kind of surface, particularly when away from home, where they feel even more intensely vulnerable and

unsafe.

The fear of falling is one of the few inborn fears. It is an element of the 'Moro Reflex' that we're all born with, but which we quickly outgrow. Other

inate fears are the fear of loud noises, known as 'the startle reflex', and the fear of abandonment. Every child has these natural fears as part of its

inborn survival mechanism.

Though it is entirely normal for people to feel anxious or fearful where there

is a real danger of falling, amublophobia is an anxiety disorder which goes beyond natural fear, becoming completely disproportionate to the situation.

The fear of walking or of falling is most often the result of an experience in

the past where the person fell, saw someone else fall - a process known technically as 'emotion contagion' - or where the person experienced a shock

or fear connected with using their legs. The person might have experienced

dizziness. they may have slipped or fallen, and this has then become linked with fear at the subconscious level. This specific experience has now become

generalized to all walking, becoming a 'conditioned reflex', which now elicits

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an unwanted and unmerited degree of anxiety in situations that are in fact

normally quite safe.

Surprisingly, the origins of this particular phobia may be traced back to an experience, or initial sensitizing event in childhood, remaining dormant for

years, and only becoming manifest when something triggers it into being later in life. This triggering event might have coincided with a particularly

emotional or stressful time in the person's life, or it may have been re-activated through an experience similar to the original sensitizing

experience.

With hypnotherapy it is not necessary that the person with this phobia be

able to remember what triggered it. The subconscious part of the mind has forgotten nothing, and it is this part of the mind that is consulted when in

the trance state of hypnosis.

Once the initial sensitizing event, together with significant reinforcing events and the symptom-producing event have all been uncovered and correctly re-

processed or neutralized at the subconscious level, then the exaggerated

fear and anxiety usually just fades away.

If you or if someone you know is experiencing ambulophobia; if you're afraid of walking or falling, then be assured, help is available.

Contact a fully qualified and experienced advanced transformational

hypnotherapist and you might just be surprised at how rapidly you can let

go of the anxiety and fear.

Through modern advanced transformational hypnotherapy you really can conquer ambulophobia, end the anxiety, and return to your natural state of

balance and well-being.

Article Tags: You're Afraid

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Peter Field Hypnotherapists in Birmingham provides expert Birmingham

hypnotherapy and West Midlands hypnotherapy services. His self-hypnosis for anxiety download is now available from his website

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MENTAL HEALTH

What Is Automatonophobia? A Basic Guide to the Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment for

Automatonophobia

Paolo Cordelli/Lonely Planet Images/Getty Images

By Lisa Fritscher

Updated March 19, 2016

Automatonophobia can be loosely defined as the fear of wax figures, humanoid robots, audio

animatronics or other figures designed to represent humans. Only rarely does the fear become a

full-blown phobia, but it is relatively common to experience hesitation or nerves when

confronting these figures.

https://www.verywell.com/mental-health-4014688https://www.verywell.com/lisa-fritscher-2671480https://www.verywell.com/what-is-a-phobia-2795454

Causes of Automatonophobia

It is currently unknown precisely what causes this phobia. It may be partly due to our own innate

expectations of human behavior.

We tend to mistrust people who stare blankly, remain quiet or act in ways that we do not

consider “normal.” Whether programmed to move or simply standing silent, automatons look but

do not behave like humans.

In addition, the level of craftsmanship can vary widely from figure to figure. Today, most look

startlingly lifelike, but closer examination shows that they are slightly “off.” Smooth, perfect

skin; vacant eyes; and other qualities are shared by automatons but do not perfectly represent

human bodies.

Automaton designers are, of course, aware of the limitations of their work. Consequently, many

figures are housed in displays in which the lighting is designed to minimize scrutiny. This may

involve dim lights, spotlights and other effects that could be considered “creepy,” further adding

to the fear-inducing effect.

Other Related Phobias

Automatonophobia is often thought to be related to maskaphobia, or fear of masks.

Pediophobia, or fear of dolls, is also a subset of automatonophobia. These fears are believed to

have similar causes and origins.

Automatonophobia in Popular Culture

This fear has been exploited in numerous books, television shows and films. Perhaps the best-

known example is the original Vincent Price version of House of Wax.

Originally shown in 3D to heighten the effect, the 1953 movie focuses on a crazed wax sculptor

turned serial killer. Badly disfigured in a fire, the sculptor wreaks vengeance by murdering

people and then turning them into wax displays for his museum. The film was remade in 2005

with a very different plot.

https://www.verywell.com/maskaphobia-or-fear-of-masks-2671868https://www.verywell.com/fear-of-dolls-2671875

Symptoms of Automatonophobia

This fear can manifest in many ways. Some people are afraid only of wax figures, others of dolls.

Some are unable to visit theme parks or local attractions, which frequently use moving humanoid

figures called "audio animatronics" in their displays.

If you suffer from automatonophobia, you may experience shaking, crying, heart palpitations and

other physical effects when confronted by the object of your fear. You may be unable to enter a

display that houses automatons. If you encounter one unexpectedly, you may run away, freeze in

place or even hide.

Complications of Automatonophobia

Automatons are considered a hallmark of new technology, and are proudly displayed in

locations, ranging from museums to theme parks to even carnivals.

Over time, you may find yourself avoiding more and more locations for fear of coming across an

automaton. This can lead to social isolation, and in extreme cases, even agoraphobia.

Treating Automatonophobia

Automatonophobia is easily treatable with proper therapy. The exact course that therapy takes

will depend on your specific symptoms, their severity and the impact that they have on your

life. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most common, and will help you learn to replace your

negative thoughts about automatons with more rational messages. You may go

through systematic desensitization, in which you are gradually exposed to the object of your fear.

You may also be taught relaxation exercises to use when the anxiety flares.

It is important to choose a therapist that you trust. See "Finding a Therapist"for tips on selecting

the therapist that is right for you.

Source:

American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th Ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

https://www.verywell.com/symptoms-of-agoraphobia-2671979https://www.verywell.com/therapy-options-for-phobias-2672008https://www.verywell.com/what-is-behavioral-therapy-2795998https://www.verywell.com/relaxation-to-control-phobias-2671950https://www.verywell.com/find-a-therapist-to-treat-a-phobia-2672013

Fear of Public Speaking Phobia – Glossophobia

The fear of public speaking or stage fright is also termed as Glossophobia. Many people experience some degree of stage anxiety before speaking/performing at events; however most manage to get over it no matter how unpleasant they may find it.

In case of extreme Glossophobia however, individuals simply freeze before their audience. They might be unable to speak. They might find that their mouth dries up or they start sweating, shaking or experiencing palpitations.

Needless to say that Glossophobia can lead to highly embarrassing situations. People with a fear of public speaking try to avoid these situations completely. Businesspeople might experience professional setbacks owing to their inability to make presentations. Family members or friends requested to make speeches at weddings, birthdays etc may refuse them owing to their Glossophobia. Glossophobia can also come on suddenly in experienced actors and musicians who might start to find concerts difficult. Pilots and cabin crew might refrain from making announcements.

Symptoms of the fear of public speaking Common signs and symptoms of the fear of public speaking include anxiety or nervousness before the event that involves speaking or performing before a small/large group of people. Physical symptoms of glossophobia include:

Panic attacks characterized by sweating or trembling Dry mouth Nausea and vomiting in the extreme cases Stiffness in the neck and back muscles Tense and weak or quivering voice

Apart from these physical symptoms, verbal and nonverbal symptoms might also manifest themselves such as increased blood pressure and heart rate.

Causes of Glossophobia The exact cause of glossophobia is unknown but it is likely that certain traumatic events in one’s past as a child or even as an adult might have led to this fear of public speaking. Often the individual coping with this phobia might avoid speaking in public for so long that what beings as normal anxiety might turn into full blown Glossophobia.

Most individuals who suffer from the fear of public speaking are also low on self esteem, expect perfection in everything they do, seek constant approval, or expect failure.

Treatment of Glossophobia There are many herbal and homeopathic remedies that can help in calming the anxiety experienced before events that involve public speaking. Aconitum napellus or Gelsemium, etc may be recommended by homeopaths based on the exact history, symptoms as well as the individual’s nature and temperament. Herbal remedies like Lemon balm, lavender and Passion Flower etc can also help soothe the nerves and calm one before a public speaking event.

In case of traditional or orthodox treatment for glossophobia, beta blockers may be prescribed for soothing anxiety, controlling shaking or trembling and also for lowering heart rate etc. There are several restrictions on taking such medicines: one must especially speak to a doctor about these medications when suffering from diabetes, depression or heart diseases etc.

Many public speaking courses, associations and clubs are dedicated to help individuals alleviate their fear of public speaking. Talk therapy, cognitive behavior therapy and counseling etc can also help individuals overcome their glossophobia.

Alternative or complementary remedies like hypnosis, positive visualization, meditation and even acupuncture etc can help one address the root of the problem and overcome the fear of speaking publicly.

http://www.fearof.net/fear-of-public-speaking-phobia-glossophobia/

Rare Phobias: Feet Phobia - Fear of Bare Feet By Ana E Johnson | Submitted On June 22, 2013

Are you one of these people that nervously step in shoe shops? Can`t

you bare the sight, feel or sound of your or somebody else`s feet? If your

answer to one of these questions is `yes` you might be suffering from

feet phobia, known as podophobia.

Feet phobia is one of the rarest phobias as only 1 in 1000 people has it.

However, it could impact your life in quite surprising ways that many

without this phobia may not have considered.

To give just a few examples this unusual fear could prevent you from

going to a swimming pool, exercising in a gym, shoe shopping or

wearing flip flops. Feet phobia could be quite harmless, a bit annoying

and at times frustrating. However, it could also cause life limitations.

Therefore, it is important to judge carefully how much does it impacts on

your or somebody else's day to day life.

What exactly is feet phobia (or podophobia)?

Feet phobia like any other phobia is an irrational, inexplicable fear.

People suffering from Podophobia feel very nervous, afraid, upset or

even disgusted by feet in general. The exact cause of podophobia is not

yet fully understood. The symptoms include an overwhelming sense of

anxiety, sweating, rapid heartbeat, nausea, dizziness, breathing difficulty

and a desire to run away when seeing or even thinking of feet. Some

people will experience panic attacks and very unpleasant feelings when

confronted with feet. Of course one person's symptoms can be different

and/or more intense than other. This fear could make some feel

uncomfortable or irritated. For others it could get so intense that it

interferes with their normal life.

The fear may be related to the person`s own or somebody else`s feet. A

phobia sufferers generally do not like the appearance of their or

somebody else's feet, or feel of feet as they view feet as being gross and

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unsightly. This person may also feel uncomfortable when other people

are looking at or touching his or her feet. He or she will even sleep in

socks or shoes and won't even consider buying or wearing open toed

shoes or sandals of any kind. He or she may also hate the smell of feet

and while thinking of feet imagine contracting fungal type infections or a

verruca what makes it even worse. The uncomfortable feelings would

also appear while discussing feet or problems related to feet. The phobia

sufferer may avoid watching any kind of TV documentary on feet, or

adverts on the television. One of my friends who suffer from feet phobia

to prevent unpleasant feelings introduced a rule in her house. You must

wear shoes in his house. If the shoes are really dirty he allows you to

wear socks or a pair of his own shoes. He won`t even let his girlfriend

touch his feet or take her socks off around him.

When should you seek help to cure feet phobia?

Most fears and phobias, including the phobia and fear of feet, are not

serious especially if they do not significantly impact your normal daily

life. But if your phobia of feet results in avoiding situations on a regular

basis preventing you from functioning or enjoying life you should

consider seeking medical advice. Regardless of how long you have

suffered from it, despite the unpleasant life limitations you have endured

because of your fear, your fear of feet can be overcome.

Ana E Johnson is a writer that specializes in anxiety and phobia

treatment. Phobias are quite common and highly treatable. There is no

need to suffer. For more details please visit our latest website and find

out how to easily Cure Phobia [http://www.curephobiacenter.com/]. Take

a Phobia Test [http://www.curephobiacenter.com/phobia-test].

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