HOMOEOPATHY FOR PHOBIA

PHOBIA

Phobia is defined  as an irrational fear of a specific object, situation, often leading  to persistent avoidance of the feared object, situation or activity.

Phobias are fairly common. Women are thought to be twice as likely to develop a phobia than men. The characteristic features of phobia are described as follows:

·         Presence of the fear of an object, situation or activity

·         The fear is out of proportion to the dangerousness perceived

·         Patient recognizes the fear as irrational and unjustified

·         Patient is unable to control the fear and is very distressed by it

·         This leads to persistent avoidance of the particular object, situation or activity

·         Gradually , the phobias and the phobic object become a preoccupation with the patient, resulting in marked distress and restriction of the freedom of mobility

CLASSIFICATION

The commonest types of phobias are:

Agoraphobia : It is an example of irrational fear of situations. It is characterized by an irrational fear of being in places away from the familiar setting of home.  It is a fear of places or situation that cannot escape from. The word itself refers to ‘ fear of open spaces ‘. People with agoraphobia fear being situations altogether and stay inside their homes.

Social phobia : This is an example of irrational fear of activities or social interaction, characterized by an irrational fear of performing activities in the presence of other people or interacting with others.

Social phobia is also referred to as social anxiety disorder. It is extreme worry about social situations and it can lead to self –isolation. A social phobia can be so severe that the simplest interactions , such as ordering at a restaurant or answering the telephone , can caus panic. People with social phobia often go out of their way to avoid public situations.

Simple or Specific phobia:

In contrast to other phobias , in specific phobia the stimulus is well circumscribed. Specific phobia is characterized by irrational fear of suspected object or situation. Anticipatory fear of a specified object  leads to persistent avoidant behavior, while confrontation with the avoided object or situation leads to panic attacks. Gradually the phobia usually spreads to other objects and situations.

Some of the examples of simple phobia include:

·         Acrophobia, fear of high places

·         Zoophobia, fear of animals

·         Xenophobia, fear of strangers

·         Algophobia, fear of pain

·         Claustrophobia, fear of closed places

COURSE

·         Phobias are generally more common in women with an onset in late second decade or early third decade

·         The onset is sudden without an apparent cause

·         The course is usually chronic with gradually increasing restriction of daily activities

·         Sometimes phobias are spontaneously remitting

CAUSES

Psychodynamic Theory: In phobia, by displacement , anxiety is transferred from a really dangerous object to a neutral object. This neutral object chosen is the one, which can be avoided , in day to day activities.

Behavioral Theory : Phobia explained as a conditioned reflex to a neutral object

Biological Theory: Genetic factors.

SYMPTOMS

The most common and disabling symptom of a phobia is a panic attack. Features of a panic attack include:

·         Pounding or racing heart

·         Shortness of breath

·         Rapid speech or inability to speech

·         Dry mouth

·         Upset of stomach

·         Nausea

·         Elevated blood pressure

·         Trembling or shaking

·         Chest pain or tightness

·         A choking sensation

·         Dizziness or lightheadedness

·         Profuse sweating

·         A sense of impending doom

A person with phobia does not have to have panic attacks for accurate diagnosis, however.

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS

·         Anxiety disorder

·         Panic disorder

·         Obsessive compulsive disorder

·         Delusion disorder

·         Major depression

·         Hypochondriasis

·         Avoidant Personality Disorder

·         Schizophrenia

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Homoeopathy today is a rapidly growing system and is being practiced all over the world. It strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance  at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels. When phobia   is concerned there are many effective medicines available in Homoeopathy , but the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient , considering mental and physical symptoms.

ACONITUM NAPELLUS:  Great fear, anxiety and worry accompanying every disease. Fear of death and dying, with great anxiety. Fears of future, a crowd, crossing the street. Forebodings and fears. Fears death and believes that he will soon die. Agoraphobia. Fears of going to doctors and dentists.

ARSENICUM ALBUM : Fear  of death and disease , worse at night. Thinks it is useless to take medicine. Anguish and restlessness.

ARGENTUM NITRICUM: Fear of height and of flying in airplanes. The sight of high buildings makes him giddy and causes him to stagger, it seems as if houses on both sides of street would approach and crush him. Fear of self.

AURUM METALLICUM: Talks of committing suicide, but great fear of death.  Disgust of life. Extreme depression. Fears the least noise.

BELLADONNA: Fear of dogs.

BRYONIA ALB: Fear of poverty. Apprehension and dread for future. Fear of pain.

BORAX: Fear of infection. Fear of downward motion. Fear of thunder and sound of a firing gun, even far away.

CANNABIS INDICA : Fear of voice.

CHAMOMILLA: Fear of wind.

CHINA OFFICINALIS: Fear of animals

CUPRUM METALLICUM: Fear of fire. Fear of feces.

ELAPS CORALLINUS: Fear of rain.

GELSEMIUM SEMPERVIRENS:  Stage fright. Fear of doctors and dentists. Nervous.  Dread of appearing before public.

HYOSCYAMUS NIGER: Fears being alone, being pursued of water, being poisoned, being bitten. Fear of being bitten by beasts. Fear of syphilis, fear of being infected with it. Very suspicious.

KALI ARSENICUM:  Anxiety and fear about health. Anxiety and panic attacks. Fear of heart disease. Fear of high blood pressure of having a stroke.

KREOSOTUM:  Fear of women. Fear at the thought of sex in women. Fear of coition.

LYCOPODIUM CLAVATUM:  Stage fright. Fear of public speaking. Constant fear of breaking down under stress. Cannot bear to see anything new. Melancholy, a freaid to be alone.Fear of men, presence of new persons of everything. Anxiety, as if about to die.

LYSSIN:  Fear  of water. The mere sight of a drinking vessel containing  water is intolerable. Thinking of fluids of any kind, even of blood, brings on convulsions. Hypersensitiveness of all senses.

PHOSPHORUS:  Fear of thinking.

PULSATILLA NIGRICANS: Fear of closed rooms. The patient seeks  the open air, always feels better there.  Fear of women.

SPIGELIA: Fear of knives, forks and all pointed things.

STAPHYSAGRIA: Afraid of his own shadow. Vexation with indignation , deep internal mortification attended with throwing away what has held in hand.

STRAMONIUM: Dread of darkness and has a horror of shining objects. Also cannot bear solitude. Wants light and company. Anxiety when going through a tunnel. Fear of injury.

SUCCINUM: Fear of trains and closed rooms.