PHOBIA Meaning and
Definition
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Phobia is a psychological term that describes an overwhelming and irrational fear of a particular object, situation, or activity. It is marked by an intense and persistent feeling of dread, anxiety, or panic when confronted with the feared stimulus. Phobias often lead to avoidance behavior, as individuals with phobias tend to go to great lengths to avoid the source of their fear.
Phobias can be classified into specific, social, and agoraphobia. Specific phobias relate to a fear of a particular object or situation, such as heights (acrophobia), spiders (arachnophobia), flying (aviophobia), or blood (hemophobia). Social phobia, also known as social anxiety disorder, is characterized by an extreme fear of social situations or of being humiliated, embarrassed, or scrutinized by others. Agoraphobia involves an intense fear of being in a place or situation where escape may be difficult or impossible, leading to avoidance of open spaces, crowded areas, or public transportation.
Phobias often develop in childhood and can stem from a traumatic experience, learned behavior through observation, or be a result of genetic or environmental factors. They can cause significant distress and interfere with a person's daily life, relationships, and overall well-being. Treatment options for phobias include therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, which aims to challenge and change irrational thoughts and behaviors related to the phobia. Medications may also be prescribed to alleviate anxiety symptoms.
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Any unreasonable or insane dread or fear. The word is employed as a suffix to many terms expressing the object which inspires the fear.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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Etymology of PHOBIA
The word "phobia" originates from Greek. The term is a combination of two Greek words - "phóbos" (φόβος) meaning "fear" or "dread", and the suffix "-ia" (-ία) which is used to denote a condition or state. Thus, "phobia" literally translates to "fear state" or "state of dread" in Greek.
Similar spelling words for PHOBIA
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