What is Phobia?
The word phobia takes its origin from the Greek word “phobos” and means “panic, flight, fear”; These words reflect the nature of phobias quite well. We can define phobia as an extremely strong fear of any object or situation. This fear puts the person in trouble because the situation or object is perceived as extraordinarily dangerous. In reality, these situations or objects, which are not so dangerous in nature, may cause desires and needs such as avoidance and distance; such that the functionality of the person in daily life is sometimes reduced. Since the person has difficulty in being indoors, he tries to be in positions that will allow him to go out at any time, cannot use some vehicles, cannot sit in places where animals are present, or even have medical tests done; it is possible to increase the examples according to the nature of the phobia and the experience of the person.
What are the Types of Phobias, What Does It Do to Us?
Common phobias include speaking in public, social situations that may allow evaluation by others, being in closed areas, traveling, phobias about animals, looking from high places, seeing blood, being alone, and natural events such as thunder and lightning. In some cases, although the person admits that his fear is disproportionate and meaningless, he says that he does not know why he is experiencing such intense affect; For example, we have come across someone who is extremely afraid and avoidant of cats saying that he knows that the cat will not harm him. Still, she can't resist her panic and the urge to walk away.
“What Arouses Fear Is What Is Unconsciously Desirable” Phobia and Psychoanalysis
From a psychoanalytic point of view, a phobia is the replacement of an internal "danger" with an object or situation that is easier to avoid, that is, by an external object. Thus, when internal materials, which are very difficult to avoid and control, change direction with external stimuli, it becomes relatively easy and possible to avoid them. Moreover, phobias may be some representations of repressed impulses, such as forbidden sexuality and/or aggression, which tend to emerge from the unconscious. In a way, it is what is unconsciously desired that arouses fear. Thus, phobias can also serve to get away from the anxiety caused by the forbidden desire by symbolizing and externalizing it. One of the most famous examples of phobia in the history of psychoanalysis is the fear of being bitten by a horse for 5-year-old Hans, which Freud analyzed. Through the analysis, it becomes clear that the horse bite represents Hans' fear of being punished, castrated, by his father.
Phobia and Psychotherapy
Regardless of the type, origin and intensity of the phobia, it can be addressed in therapy with a clinical psychologist. Understanding the location of the fear-inducing situation, the object, in one's subjective experiences is a cornerstone in the study of phobia. These fearful objects/situations, which are challenging for the client to talk about and even keep in mind; It will become workable by investigating associations and symbols in dreams under the therapist's accompaniment. As mentioned above, it can be studied in depth with a psychoanalytic approach, as well as with different psychotherapy methods (such as behavioral therapies, EMDR, schema therapy) effectively. Working on a phobia through face-to-face or online therapy support significantly improves one's quality of life and the health of the relationship with himself and his world.
