This person suffers from claustrophobia (Fear of elevators).
Phobia is an extreme reaction to a specific object or situation which provokes immediate fear and anxiety, which is often exaggerated in the context of danger that is being possessed by the object or situation.
These situations or objects provokes a fanatical physical and psychological reaction, which has significant distress resulting in impairment of social, occupational and other important areas of functioning.
It should last for a minimum period of 6 months to be diagnosed as Phobia; some of the examples are fear of heights, animals, injection.
FACTS
More Than 400 types of phobias have been identified in Psychology.
SYMPTOMS
- High blood pressure
- Chest pains
- Rapid heart rate
- Nausea
- Excessive sweating
- Dry mouth
- Feeling of chills in the body
- Shaky hands
- Choking
CASE STUDIES
Mrs Ned 8 D, , age 32 a housewife has presented with complaints of excessive fear of dogs. It started 8 years back when her husband was bitten by a stray dog, since then she avoided going in places where she saw dogs such as her cousins or brother in laws house. Often so happened, that she refused to step out of the car if a dog was around. Gradually her fear is so increased that she experienced intense anxiety, restlessness, racing heart, breathlessness and often dizzy. Whenever, she saw a dog on the T.V screen. This has been a cause of severe discomfort for her and her family.
