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The Things We’re Afraid Of
Bruce Stephenson
English III
Nelson
Dec. 9, 1997
The Things We’re Afraid Of
I. Intro. Thesis: Phobias are sudden intense fears of certain situations or conditions that can destroy peoples lives, but can be treated with proper help.
II. Examples
A. Entertainers
B. Rulers
C. Rich people
III. Types of phobias (A-Z)
A. Specific
B. Social
C. Agoraphobia
IV. Causes
A. Psychological
B. Biological
C. Cultural
D. Mix
V. Help
A. Types
B. Places
C. Home therapy
VI. Conclusion
The Things We’re Afraid Of
Phobias are sudden intense fears of certain situations or conditions that can destroy peoples lives, but can be treated with proper help. Just the simple fear of falling can become so intense that the person is totally unable to even go to the upper floors of large buildings. This fear is called acrophobia or hypsophobia. Many other fears can become phobias.
There have been many famous people who have had various different types of phobias, such as Aretha Franklin, a singer, is afraid of airplanes, or aerophobia. Carly Simon, a singer and songwriter, who could not perform live for many years because she had topophobia, also known as severe stage fright. Phil Donahue, popular television talk show host, is also aerophobic. Another example is Willard Scott, a weather forecaster who was a social phobic. He explains the difference of being shy and having a social phobia this way: "I compare it to cutting your fingers as opposed to having a train run over you. The difference is that dramatic." (Monroe 29) Other examples abound in famous people from the present and the past. One such would be that of Harry Houdini. The world famous escape artist coped well when enclosed in tight spaces during acts, but because of claustrophobia he had phobic reactions when he no longer controlled the situation. Another who was well known was Sigmund Freud who was afraid of open spaces and unfamiliar places, or an agoraphobic. Also, world renowned poet and novelist Edgar Allan Poe was a claustrophobic. He drew on these feelings when he wrote such stories as "The Black Cat" and "The Premature Burial." Howard Hughes was one of the most well known phobics. He was microphoic, afraid of germs. He went through four boxes of tissues a day, wiping off everything with which he came in contact. The he became agoraphobic, afraid of open spaces and unfamiliar places. Finally, he became Panphoic, afraid of everything and everyone. For example, Howard Hughes "saw a 189-foot-high one-million-dollar sign in front of the hotel across the street. He was immediately convinced it was going to fall on his penthouse. When the owners refused to take down the sign, Hughes bought the hotel." (Monroe 31) Some very famous people from history have also been victim to various phobias. Napoleon Bonaparte, emperor of France, was afraid of cats, called ailurophobia. Frederick the Great was so terrified of water that he could not wash himself with water. Instead his servants had to wash him with dry towels.
There are many diverse types of phobias. Phobias can be divided into three general groups: Specific, where the fear is of one specific thing or situation and is usually simpler; social phobias that relate to social situations and are usually more complex; and Agoraphobia, because it is such a different type of phobia. Under these categories most phobias can be categorized. Examples of phobias are technophobia, the fear of technology; cyberphobia, the fear of computers; and apiphobia, the fear of bees. Panphobia, the fear of everything can make people seem mad and can eventually cause madness. Agoraphobia, the fear of open spaces and unfamiliar places, is one of the most crippling phobias. It can virtually trap people in their homes for years. Aquaphobia (fear of water) and acrophobia or hypsophobia (fear of heights) are some of the most common; triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number thirteen), dementophobia (fear of insanity), and taphophobia or taphephobia (fear of being buried alive) help make up some of the more exotic. (Monroe 39-44)
The causes of phobias are subject to much speculation, but some of the most respected theories have to do with biological, chemical, cultural, and psychological origins, but the most likely theory is that most phobias are a mix of the four. Many people believe it is much simpler than that. Some people can trace their fear of dogs back to being bitten by one in the past, or their fear of insects from seeing them kill a worm or such when they were very young. Some people can see how their plant allergies could have escalated into botonophobia, the fear of plants. (Monroe 70)
There are many places and people who can help people who have phobias. The biggest problem is convincing the phobic that he/she has a serious enough problem to seek help. There are numerous techniques that phobics can use at home by themselves, or they can go to self help groups and talk to doctors and psychiatrists. There are national treatment programs, depressant or stimulant medications that a phobic could take to help overcome their fear, many types of therapy, national agencies or organizations, and skills training the phobics can take advantage of. (Monroe 79)
Phobias are sudden intense fears of certain situations or conditions that can destroy peoples lives, but can be treated with proper help, and just as alcoholism and other serious diseases, they are recognized and can get that proper help.
Works Cited
Monroe, Judy. Phobias: Everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask. Springfield, NJ: Enslow, 1996.
Tkac, Debora. "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies." Phobias and Fears. 1990: 537-544.