All of us are afraid of something. Be it the fear of heights or the fear of entering alone in a dark room. Many of us carry these fears into teenage and adulthood. While there is nothing wrong with being afraid of something, ever wondered about the origin of that fear?
What if the phobia was gifted to us by our parents or guardians? Psychiatrist Dr. Tejas Joshi explains how. Dr. Joshi recently took to Instagram to explain how parents manifest fear in a child's mind.
Dr. Joshi pointed out the fact that many times parents or guardians say certain things to children to stop them from doing something at that moment in time. For example, some people warn children not to use the elevator alone, claiming they might get stuck. Parents warn children from going to the terrace of their building alone, claiming that the child might fall.
Dr. Joshi said that the purpose of not allowing a child to do something at that moment is served. However, this pattern of instilling fear can increase if done repeatedly. The phobia can be transferred from childhood to adulthood and even old age.
He concluded by saying that he has a patient in his 60s who is still afraid of using the elevator alone or going to the terrace of his building alone. During the history-taking process, Dr. Joshi found out that the fear was manifested in the patient by one of his guardians. That fear is still acting as a trigger point for the patient.
Therefore, being overprotective at a young age can lead to even parents unknowingly gifting phobia to their children.
A phobia is an intense and irrational fear of a particular object, situation, or activity that poses little or no actual danger. Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder and can be debilitating, causing significant distress and interfering with daily life. Common phobias include:
Arachnophobia - Fear of spiders
Acrophobia - Fear of heights
Claustrophobia - Fear of confined spaces
Agoraphobia - Fear of being in public places or crowds
Social phobia - Fear of social situations or embarrassment
Aerophobia - Fear of flying
Hemophobia - Fear of blood
Phobias can be treated through a variety of therapies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and medication. It is important to seek help if a phobia is interfering with daily life and causing significant distress.