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How Useful Is Fear?

Franklin D. Roosevelt no doubt meant to be soothing when he insisted, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” A quick and terrifying tour through the academic literature on fear, though, reveals just how much heavy lifting that only was doing.

Our fears run broad and deep, and are every bit as diverse as we are. The 2017 version of Chapman University’s Survey of American Fears tabbed “corruption of government officials” as the most common fear, afflicting nearly 75 percent of respondents; concerns about the health-care system, the environment, personal finance, and war also figured in the top 10. Such spine-tingling triggers as public speaking and enclosed spaces landed…

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Although society tends to throw around labels related to phobias ("I'm claustrophobic, Darren"), they can be extremely debilitating to live with, particularly if they stop you carrying out day-to-day activities such as getting public transport, or leaving the house.

Most of Our Phobias Are Driven by the Fear of Death

Treatments, such as cognitive behavior therapy, for a range of disorders may need to incorporate new strategies that directly address death anxiety. Without such innovation, the specter of death may tragically haunt the anxious across their lifespan, until it's too late.

Nothing to fear but fear itself: where do phobias come from?

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Scientists Are Testing a New Way to Treat Phobias

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Stop Casually Throwing The Word 'Phobia' Around

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The 5 Biggest Fears Doctors Confess To Other Doctors

Figuratively speaking, the industry’s pulse is racing with fear. I’ve observed that in just the past 12 months, the once-mild anxieties of American doctors have transformed into clear and present phobias. These are extraordinary times in medicine, giving way to five intense fears...

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In stressful situations when our life is threatened, we have a very powerful mechanism of protection. It is an automated system within our brain that acts even before we are able to take conscious action. This system has protected us during the millions of years of evolution from predators and imminent danger. Even though it is very sophisticated, it can have flaws.

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Specific phobias are a type of anxiety disorder in which exposure to the feared stimulus may provoke extreme anxiety or a panic attack. Specific phobias are among the most common of all psychiatric disorders, affecting up to 10 percent of the population.

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In the course of everyday life, the words "phobia" and "fear" are often used interchangeably. Dig a little deeper, though, and you will find a difference.

Why Do We Develop Certain Irrational Phobias?

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Resources

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The UK's leading expert in eliminating phobias, fears & anxieties.