| Harmonyhill asked on 07/03/03 - Phobias I am wondering what actually causes phobias? Yesterday evening I noticed I have another phobia I was not aware of. (And this weekend, I will be dealing with another phobia I have as I have 'inherited' many plants from my son and his garden...worms is another of my phobias and I will be digging and planting again, meeting my phobias up close and personal)...
So, yesterday evening, I was out spraying, misting and watering my flowers in my gardens when all of a sudden these two outrageous aggressive bunny rabbits came running at me out of nowhere!
I screamed of course, and even ran! Those rabbits are braver than I am because they did not budge. I was very embarassesed since I saw my neighbors saw me react the way I did to my fears.
What causes phobias anyway?
Thanks,
Harmonyhill neo_the_one answered on 07/08/03:Some people may be more likely to develop phobias than others. Anxiety problems often run in families, and a phobia is one type of anxiety problem. Kids and teens who tend to be fearful and who worry a lot often have parents who have these traits. Anxiety that runs in families can partly be explained by biology and genetics. Certain biological traits passed down in families may affect the brain's chemical regulation of mood and can affect how sensitive someone is or how strongly they react to fear cues.
Some people are born with a natural tendency to be more cautious and inhibited; others have an inborn tendency to be more bold and uninhibited. Having a cautious style may make it more likely for someone to develop phobias or anxiety.
Learning also plays a role in helping phobias develop and linger. Children learn by watching how their parents and others react to the world around them - this is part of how kids learn what's safe and what's dangerous. If parents are overcautious or overemphasize danger, children may more easily learn to see the world this way, too.
When someone develops a phobia, they quickly learn that they feel anxious when they are near the object or situation they fear - and that they feel relief when they avoid it. Learning that avoidance can reduce their anxiety (at least for the moment) and increases the likelihood that they will avoid the feared situation or object next time. The difficulty is that these avoidance behaviors have to keep increasing and happening even sooner to provide the same relief. Pretty soon, a person finds himself spending time worrying about the possibility of encountering the feared situation and avoiding anything that might bring him into contact with it. With a phobia, the pattern of anxiety, avoidance, and worry about the possibility of contact tends to grow bigger and interferes more with life over time.
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