Sarah Williams
Ms. Kasyanik
English 9H A2
5 April 2011
Fear and Its Disorders
Every individual has experienced fear at some point in his or her lifetime. Fear can be used as an agent to keep people out of danger, or it can
be the mechanism for living a whole life in painful anxiety. Fear can develop into phobias, causing diseases and disorders, and can ultimately interfere
with an individual’s life, depending on how well he or she can handle it. Fear is an emotion that, in an exaggerated form of phobias, triggers the onset of
negative health habits or disorders.
Fear can be described an emotion that is naturally used to protect and individual from danger. It is defined as “an emotion triggered by the
detection of imminent threat” (“Fear and Terror” 341). Fear is present throughout the lifetime of all individuals; however, it shows itself in various ways.
Fear is first imbedded in infants at age of six months. Their first fear is usually fear of strangers, which is strongest when they reach one year old.
According to “Fear and Terror”, other fears that children have are fears of strange objects, heights, certain animals, doctors, darkness, ghosts, monsters,
and storms. However, most children outgrow these fears as they grow older (341). Fear is closely related to the emotion anxiety. Their only difference
is that fear occurs in the individual at the time danger is present, whereas anxiety focuses on danger in the future, and lasts longer (Racusin). However,
fear and anxiety have the same physical and mental signs and symptoms. The physical aspects of fear and anxiety include perspiration, tremors, rapid
breathing, and a fast heart rate; the mental signs are bad judgment, irrational thinking, and erratic behavior. The most extreme changes that fear and
anxiety bring about are thrashing out, shouting, laughing, or crying unexpectedly, and losing control of behavior (Grigg).
Fears often turn into unreasonable fears, called phobias. In “Fear and Terror,” phobias are defined as unreasonable fears that make the affected
person have abnormal or excess distress and also interfere with his or her life (341). Phobias often disrupt individuals’ lives, causing them to live in
constant fear of their surroundings. The consequences of phobias can be related to costs, or to the individual’s mental and physical health. Phobias are
costly because they can cause the person to lose or quit his or her job or school. Phobias can affect mental health because they can make the affected
individual depressed and isolated. Monroe mentions that they also can make the individual suicidal or alcoholic (5). However, phobic can be helped. The
first step is helping the phobic to admit he or she has a problem. Then, depending on the seriousness of the fear, the phobic can either use self-help
books or receive therapy. The biggest part of helping a phobic is giving the support needed to overcome the problem (Monroe 5). Another way to
overcome an unreasonable fear is to slowly become used to being around the feared object or situation. The article “Fear and Phobias” advises that the
affected person should also try relaxation exercises that help calm him or her around the feared object (141).
When unreasonable fears become out of hand, they cause physical and mental disorders. The disorders that are most associated with fear are
obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Panic disorders are frequent panic attacks or fears of panic attacks. A panic attack is
“a sudden feeling of intense anxiety that usually involves a fear of dying or going crazy” (Racusin). The symptoms of a panic disorder in an individual
include sweating, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, and numbness. Racusin states that because people with panic disorders fear panic
attacks, they often avoid traveling to feared places or situations. This is called agoraphobia. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by
individuals who have obsessions about specific dangers, which causes them intense stress and anxiety. These affected individuals often act in
compulsions related to their obsessions, and they are unable to stop (Racusin). According to Racusin, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs after
an individual “has experienced a very frightening or life-threating situation.” Examples of causes of PTSD include serious accidents, natural disasters, and
physical or sexual abuse. The individuals affected by PTSD constantly relive the event through memories, nightmares, or flashbacks, which cause excess
anxiety and fear. The symptoms of PTSD are numbing and hyperarousal in the affected individual (Racusin).
Fear is an emotion that is capable of triggering negative health habits or disorders. These habits and disorders can be treated if the affected
individuals allow themselves to be helped by either their caring friends or family, or by professional doctors or therapists. The negative effects of fear
need to be noted by all persons in the event that they too are subject to any disease or disorder caused by fear.
WORKS CITED
“Fear and Phobias.” Mental Health Information for Teens. 2nd. United States: Omnigraphic, Inc., 2006. Print.
“Fear and Terror.” Encyclopedia of Psychology. 3rd. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2000. Print.
Grigg, Austin. “Fear.” Encyclopedia Americana. Grolier Online, 2011. Web 21 March 2011.
Monroe, Judy. “Life Robbers.” Phobias: Everything You Wanted to Know but Were Too Afraid to Ask. Springfield, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc., 1996. Print.
“Phobias.” Complete Home Medical Guide. ProQuest, 2011. Web 21 March 2011.
Racusin, Robert. “Mental Illness.” The New Book of Knowledge. Grolier Online, 2011. Web 21 March 2011.
Ms. Kasyanik
English 9H A2
5 April 2011
Fear and Its Disorders
Every individual has experienced fear at some point in his or her lifetime. Fear can be used as an agent to keep people out of danger, or it can
be the mechanism for living a whole life in painful anxiety. Fear can develop into phobias, causing diseases and disorders, and can ultimately interfere
with an individual’s life, depending on how well he or she can handle it. Fear is an emotion that, in an exaggerated form of phobias, triggers the onset of
negative health habits or disorders.
Fear can be described an emotion that is naturally used to protect and individual from danger. It is defined as “an emotion triggered by the
detection of imminent threat” (“Fear and Terror” 341). Fear is present throughout the lifetime of all individuals; however, it shows itself in various ways.
Fear is first imbedded in infants at age of six months. Their first fear is usually fear of strangers, which is strongest when they reach one year old.
According to “Fear and Terror”, other fears that children have are fears of strange objects, heights, certain animals, doctors, darkness, ghosts, monsters,
and storms. However, most children outgrow these fears as they grow older (341). Fear is closely related to the emotion anxiety. Their only difference
is that fear occurs in the individual at the time danger is present, whereas anxiety focuses on danger in the future, and lasts longer (Racusin). However,
fear and anxiety have the same physical and mental signs and symptoms. The physical aspects of fear and anxiety include perspiration, tremors, rapid
breathing, and a fast heart rate; the mental signs are bad judgment, irrational thinking, and erratic behavior. The most extreme changes that fear and
anxiety bring about are thrashing out, shouting, laughing, or crying unexpectedly, and losing control of behavior (Grigg).
Fears often turn into unreasonable fears, called phobias. In “Fear and Terror,” phobias are defined as unreasonable fears that make the affected
person have abnormal or excess distress and also interfere with his or her life (341). Phobias often disrupt individuals’ lives, causing them to live in
constant fear of their surroundings. The consequences of phobias can be related to costs, or to the individual’s mental and physical health. Phobias are
costly because they can cause the person to lose or quit his or her job or school. Phobias can affect mental health because they can make the affected
individual depressed and isolated. Monroe mentions that they also can make the individual suicidal or alcoholic (5). However, phobic can be helped. The
first step is helping the phobic to admit he or she has a problem. Then, depending on the seriousness of the fear, the phobic can either use self-help
books or receive therapy. The biggest part of helping a phobic is giving the support needed to overcome the problem (Monroe 5). Another way to
overcome an unreasonable fear is to slowly become used to being around the feared object or situation. The article “Fear and Phobias” advises that the
affected person should also try relaxation exercises that help calm him or her around the feared object (141).
When unreasonable fears become out of hand, they cause physical and mental disorders. The disorders that are most associated with fear are
obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Panic disorders are frequent panic attacks or fears of panic attacks. A panic attack is
“a sudden feeling of intense anxiety that usually involves a fear of dying or going crazy” (Racusin). The symptoms of a panic disorder in an individual
include sweating, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, and numbness. Racusin states that because people with panic disorders fear panic
attacks, they often avoid traveling to feared places or situations. This is called agoraphobia. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by
individuals who have obsessions about specific dangers, which causes them intense stress and anxiety. These affected individuals often act in
compulsions related to their obsessions, and they are unable to stop (Racusin). According to Racusin, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs after
an individual “has experienced a very frightening or life-threating situation.” Examples of causes of PTSD include serious accidents, natural disasters, and
physical or sexual abuse. The individuals affected by PTSD constantly relive the event through memories, nightmares, or flashbacks, which cause excess
anxiety and fear. The symptoms of PTSD are numbing and hyperarousal in the affected individual (Racusin).
Fear is an emotion that is capable of triggering negative health habits or disorders. These habits and disorders can be treated if the affected
individuals allow themselves to be helped by either their caring friends or family, or by professional doctors or therapists. The negative effects of fear
need to be noted by all persons in the event that they too are subject to any disease or disorder caused by fear.
WORKS CITED
“Fear and Phobias.” Mental Health Information for Teens. 2nd. United States: Omnigraphic, Inc., 2006. Print.
“Fear and Terror.” Encyclopedia of Psychology. 3rd. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2000. Print.
Grigg, Austin. “Fear.” Encyclopedia Americana. Grolier Online, 2011. Web 21 March 2011.
Monroe, Judy. “Life Robbers.” Phobias: Everything You Wanted to Know but Were Too Afraid to Ask. Springfield, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc., 1996. Print.
“Phobias.” Complete Home Medical Guide. ProQuest, 2011. Web 21 March 2011.
Racusin, Robert. “Mental Illness.” The New Book of Knowledge. Grolier Online, 2011. Web 21 March 2011.