Updated Articles and Resources
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Hikikomori
Created:
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Hikikomori is a form of social phobia that occurs almost exclusively in Asian males. It is not precisely a phobia, but causes symptoms similar to those of severe agoraphobia. -
Shubo-kyofu
Created:
Monday, April 01, 2013
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Shubo-kyofu, or fear of a deformed body, is a subtype of taijin kyofusho, or a specific Japanese form of social phobia. -
Affirmations - Readers Share Their Most Helpful Affirmations
Created:
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Affirmations are positive messages that can replace negative self-talk. In phobias therapy, affirmations are often used to help clients find their own inner strength to cope with the fear. Instead ... -
Coping With the Fear of Self-Promotion - Readers Share Strategies for Coping With the Fear of Self-Promotion
Created:
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
The fear of self-promotion can wreak havoc on your professional and personal life. Self-confidence is a desired attribute in employees, partners and friends. Are you afraid of promoting yourself? W... -
Caregiver Support - Readers Share Ideas for Caregiver Support
Created:
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Caring for someone with a phobia can be draining. You may feel obligated to be on-call in case your loved one runs across his object of fear. You might spend hours talking him down and giving endle... -
Coping With Hypochondriasis - Readers Share Stories of Coping With Hypochondriasis
Created:
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Hypochondriasis, also known as hypochondria, can be loosely defined as the fear of illness. It can be difficult to diagnose, as sufferers generally experience real physical symptoms. Some people wi... -
Fear of Stairs - Reader Experiences With Fear of Stairs
Created:
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Bathmophobia, or fear of slopes and stairs, is a relative rare but potentially devastating phobia. Some people are afraid only of particularly steep grades, while others are unable to face even a f... -
Surviving a Disaster - Readers Share Stories of Surviving a Disaster
Created:
Friday, June 24, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Surviving a disaster leaves an indelible imprint that cannot be erased. Whether you sheltered in the Superdome during Hurricane Katrina, fought your way through a debris field on September 11, or s... -
PTSD and Phobias - Readers Share Stories of Coping With PTSD and Phobias
Created:
Friday, June 24, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is the most commonly seen mental health disorder after a trauma or disaster. But it is not the only disorder that you may be at risk for. Have you survived a... -
Cibophobia or Fear of Food - Readers Share Stories of Cibophobia
Created:
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Cibophobia, or the fear of food, can have devastating impacts on your quality of life. Like many phobias, untreated cibophobia might start with a single food avoidance and gradually spiral into the... -
Cemetery Tombstones - Readers Share Stories of the Fear of Cemetery Tombstones
Created:
Monday, May 30, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Placophobia, or the fear of cemetery tombstones, can occur alone or as part of a larger fear of death. It can be life-limiting, causing sufferers to skip funerals and take circuitous routes to avoi... -
Child Phobia Medications - Reader Experiences With Child Phobia Medications
Created:
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
The use of medications to treat childhood phobias is controversial. Some doctors and parents swear by the effects, while others argue that therapy is less dangerous and at least as effective. Is yo... -
Using Laughter to Beat Fear - Readers Share Stories of Using Laughter to Beat Fear
Created:
Friday, May 27, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Like a boggart in the Harry Potter series, fear has no power when replaced with another emotion. Laughter is a powerful weapon in our fight to defeat our fears. Have you successfully used laughter ... -
Play Therapy Stories - Parents Share Experiences With Play Therapy
Created:
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Play therapy, in which the therapist literally enters into play with the child, is baffling to many parents. While play therapy is a well-established form of treatment, it does appear highly unconv... -
Astraphobia Stories - Readers Share Experiences With the Fear of Thunder and Lightning
Created:
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Astraphobia, or the fear of thunder and lightning, is relatively common in children and does not necessarily meet the criteria for a true phobia. In older kids and adults, however, astraphobia can ... -
Lilapsophobia or Fear of Severe Weather - Share Your Coping Strategies
Created:
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Whether you hide in a closet or simply refuse to go out when weather events are predicted, lilapsophobia, or the fear of severe weather, can be life-limiting. Severe weather outbreaks are not uncom... -
Helping Someone Through a Phobia - Share Your Experience in Helping Someone Through a Phobia
Created:
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Like any caregiving role, helping someone else work through a phobia can be both rewarding and frustrating. It requires a great deal of time, patience and compassion, but can make a real difference... -
Separation Anxiety Disorder Stories - Readers Share Stories of Separation Anxiety
Created:
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
While normal separation anxiety generally subsides over time, separation anxiety disorder can seem never-ending. Does your child have separation anxiety disorder? How has it impacted both of your l... -
Radiophobia Stories - Readers Share Experiences With Radiophobia
Created:
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Radiophobia, or the fear of radiation, can be tricky to overcome. We are constantly bombarded with media stories and popular films that share the possible risks of everything from X-rays to cell ph... -
Phobias in Older Adults - Readers Share Experiences in Coping With Phobias in Older Adults
Created:
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Slowly becoming caregiver for an aging loved one can be heartbreaking, particularly if the person shows signs of illness. Most phobias are relatively rare in older people, but agoraphobia is surpri... -
Positive Reinforcement - Readers Share Stories of Using Positive Reinforcement to Cope With Phobias
Created:
Monday, March 14, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
There are times in our lives when we simply have to do something that could trigger our phobias. Positive reinforcement can help us cope. Some people buy themselves a present, while others head out... -
Emotional Impacts of Phobias - Personal Experiences With the Emotional Impacts of Phobias
Created:
Monday, February 28, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
The emotional impacts of phobias can be intense. Some people feel helpless or out of control. Others are embarrassed about their phobia. Whatever you feel, it can cause you to limit your activities... -
Fear of Death in Children - Readers Share Stories of the Fear of Death in Children
Created:
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Thanatophobia, or the fear of death, is surprisingly common in children. But it can be devastating for parents who feel that their children deserve a worry-free life. Does your child suffer from th... -
Stage Fright Experiences - Readers Share Stage Fright Experiences
Created:
Monday, January 17, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Stage fright is a common occurrence among performers of all ages. Sometimes considered a subset of glossophobia, or fear of public speaking, stage fright can make the hours and days leading up to a... -
Coping With Fear of Public Speaking - Readers Share Their Experiences in Coping With Fear of Public Speaking
Created:
Monday, January 17, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking, is surprisingly common. Yet the fear can be life-limiting, making it difficult to hold certain jobs or enjoy a night out with friends. How do you cope ... -
Social Phobia - Readers Share Experiences With Social Phobia
Created:
Monday, January 17, 2011
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Living with social phobia can be a challenge. Whether you have an overall fear of all social situations or a specific phobia such as the fear of public speaking, anxiety in social situations can ma... -
Fear of Vomiting - Readers Share Experiences With the Fear of Vomiting
Created:
Friday, November 19, 2010
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
The fear of vomiting is surprisingly common, and may be linked to other disorders including obsessive-compulsive disorder and eating disorders. Whatever the cause, emetophobia can lead to life-limi... -
Fear of Food - Readers Share Experiences With the Fear of Food
Created:
Friday, November 12, 2010
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Cibophobia, or fear of food, can have devastating consequences on your social life and even your health. Although not an eating disorder, the fear of food can cause a similarly restricted diet. Do ... -
Cruise Ship Phobia - Readers Share Cruise Ship Phobia Stories
Created:
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Cruise ship phobia, or the fear of large boats, is separate from other phobias that are triggered by ships. In cruise ship phobia, you actually fear the boat itself. Do you have this fear? How has ... -
Cruising With a Phobia - Readers Share Experiences Cruising With a Phobia
Created:
Monday, October 11, 2010
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Cruise ships can trigger phobias ranging from the fear of water to the fear of illness. Have you ever been on a cruise? Did the cruise trigger or worsen your phobia? Share your experience here. -
Fear of Flying Courses - Readers Share Personal Experiences With Fear of Flying Courses
Created:
Monday, October 04, 2010
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Aerophobia, or the fear of flying, is surprisingly common. At airports and mental health centers around the world, pilots and mental health professionals offer fear of flying courses. Have you ever... -
Overcoming Fear of Flying - Readers Share Stories on Overcoming Fear of Flying
Created:
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Updated:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Overcoming the fear of flying can be challenging, as everyone's fear is slightly different. Have you successfully overcome your fear of flying? Are you actively working toward this goal? What worke...