Do irrational fears exist?

How can we tell?  We need to know:

·         What an irrational fear is.

·         Fear, phobia or anxiety disorder?

·         Do they exist?

·         What happens if you have one.

·         What do I have?

What is an irrational fear?

A fear is when we are afraid of something specific.  We tend to say, “My fear is……”. Most of us have some sort of fears which are healthy and normal. What are your fears? I have a fear of falling over.

Irrational is the opposite of rational. So being rational means you can think things through logically and reasonably; being irrational means you do not. An irrational fear is when we are afraid of something despite the fact it is not dangerous and maybe not even going to be encountered.

Let’s break it down. Falling over is likely to hurt you so it makes perfect sense to try and avoid doing so. Analysing when my fear is more noticeable and causes me a problem, I notice this: I am mostly afraid of falling when in snow or ice, when walking in an area of rocky terrain or wearing high heels.  

Now you might say that most people would find these situations a perfectly reasonable time to worry about falling over, and you would be right, and like most people I wear appropriate footwear to prevent accidents and I do actually avoid high heels! By doing this I put myself in control, prepare myself for the situation and get on with it. I don’t get distressed about it, it doesn't stop me participating in anything and I can safely say this fear of falling is not an irrational fear.

So, fear, phobia or anxiety disorder?

Irrational fears are linked with phobias. Having a phobia means having an irrational fear towards something that results in going to great lengths to avoid something or completely breaking down when encountering what it is. If your fear is inhibiting you, if it is getting you so worked up you can’t bear thinking about it despite knowing it is not going to harm you, the chances are you have an irrational fear, or phobia. If like me you can control it and not let it take over your life, it is likely to just be a regular fear.  If your fear takes over your life to the point where you can’t think straight most of the time and you are changing your daily habits to avoid it, you are likely to have an anxiety disorder.  

So do they exist?

Yes we can safely say that irrational fears exist and are better known as phobias. Phobias can take many forms; to avoid them taking over your life completely it is worth thinking about how much it already has.

What happens if you have one.

Only you can decide how much it is affecting your life and the lives of those around you. Even a mild fear if not dealt with can develop into a fully blown phobia. In the case of a phobia where you are unlikely to be affected very often, you may never tackle it; choosing instead to never encounter it.  For phobias such as a fear of flying (sometimes known as aviophobia) this is easy! Don’t go on an aeroplane - ever! This only causes a problem when someone very dear to you wants to get married further away than a car or train journey will allow. Leaving it until then to tackle can often make the whole process far more stressful because of the time constraints. Most phobias are best fixed when there is no immediate threat or concern or when you are in a period of coping well with it.

What do I have?

Do this simple quiz to see if your irrational fear really does exist!

5 phobias you didn't know existed!

We have all heard of arachnophobia, technophobia and claustrophobia, but did you know these phobias existed?  If you or someone you know has an unusual or rare phobia, leave a comment below to tell us about it - you could be a news feature!

A belly button!

Omphalophobia - Fear of Belly Buttons

This is one of the rarest phobias so it is hardly surprising if you have not heard of it

Type of phobia: It is a specific phobia in the object category.

Fear of what exactly? Sufferers are terrified of the sight of their own belly button. The thought of touching one  makes them feel disgusted and filled with dread.

Causes: Usually starts in childhood and connected to a negative experience associated to the navel. Frequently associated with the feeling of being dirty or disgusting in that area related to what they were told or experienced.

Trypophobia - Fear of Holes

Interestingly this unusual phobia is not a fear of holes in the way you might think.

Type of phobia: It is a specific phobia in the situational category.

Fear of what exactly? Sufferers have a persistent and pathological fear of tiny holes that make up irregular patterns not just in images but in foodstuffs, carpet etc. People feel their skin is crawling and itchy frequently causing a panic attack when their brain interprets the shapes the holes make with danger; sometimes the thought of the irregularity and sometimes the fear of what could be in the holes.

Causes: Considered to be a biological revulsion based on either an evolutionary fear of things that are not quite right or an experience related to a skin condition resulting in sores or blisters.

Sidonglobophobia - Fear of Cotton Balls or Plastic Foam

Apparently there a large number of sufferers of this rare phobia on the islands in the South Pacific; no reasons known!

Type of phobia: A specific phobia in the object category .

Fear of what exactly? For some people it is the sound made by the cotton or foam when they are used for wrapping whilst for others the thought of what will happen if they touch it prevents any interaction at all. Sufferers will often burst into tears because one half of the brain says cotton is not dangerous and you are wearing it in your clothes, however, the other half succumbs to the irrational fear that it might happen and a full blown panic attack can occur rapidly.

Causes: There are no exact details, however, as this is a specific phobia it is likely to have developed during childhood or related to a traumatic experience.

A man with a beard!

Pogonophobia - Fear of Beards

Considering the current fashion regarding beards as well as the fact that men can grow them quite quickly, this is a very challenging phobia to have when you may be faced with it daily. Thousands of people around the world have this phobia.

Type of phobia: This is a specific fear and comes under objects.

Fear of what exactly? Men with beards, seeing a beard, being surrounded by people with beards can all cause severe anxiety and dread in sufferers.  It is extremely debilitating considering the likelihood of encountering a man with a beard in daily working life. Stomach disorders are common as phobics live with a high level of nervousness and anxiety; panic attacks may occurr when it gets too much.

Causes: This type of specific phobia is most likely to be traced back to either a traumatic experience or some sort of triggering event.  Sometimes it can be the repetition of a phrase heard as a child that embeds this type of fear, e.g. “The only man you can trust with a beard is Father Christmas”.

Allodoxaphobia - Fear of Opinions

This is a rare and unusual phobia and not just about not wanting to hear what others think of you.

Type of phobia: This is a social phobia.

Fear of what exactly? Sufferers live in constant fear that people will give an opinion of them. This creates a very high level of anxiety so phobics will put deep restrictions on themselves and avoid unnecessary interaction with others.  At worse sufferers will read all responses as negative and overanalyse everything said to them. This behaviour can embed feelings of low self-esteem and self-criticism to the point of experiencing a severe personal crisis.

Causes: Social phobias usually develop from past experiences that lead to a low sense of worth, this particular one is likely to generate in people who don’t feel counted or valued in life or at work.

If you are affected by a phobia and wish to talk to someone about it, email Kate 

The Phobia Fixer is supported by Wholelife Coaching.

Who is the phobia fixer?

With years of experience I have not only developed the skills required to provide life coaching services as an NLP practitioner, but I have also gained an in-depth understanding of the importance of achieving the desired results in a friendly and safe environment. It is this combination that allows me to provide something a little bit different.

Through workshops and training techniques I am helping individuals to move forward, understand and unblock personal issues, and help them to create a more positive environment for themselves; all of which leads to a better life.