Cavaneyro, Metchelyn J.

BSN-III

Types of Phobia Definition

Acarophobia fear of itching or of insects causing itching
Ailurophobia fear of cats
Batophobia fear of heights or being close to tall
buildings
Bibliophobia fear of books
Ergophobia fear of work
Kainotophobia fear of change
Monophobia fear of being alone
Paedophobia fear of children; fear of dolls
Thalassophobia fear of the sea
Uranophobia fear of heaven

Reference:
A to Z: List of Phobias. (n.d.) Retrieved from: https://www.hitbullseye.com/Vocab/List-of-
Phobias.php

General Treatment for Phobias:

• Exposure therapy focuses on changing your response to the object or
situation that you fear. Gradual, repeated exposure to the source of your specific phobia
and the related thoughts, feelings and sensations may help you learn to manage your
anxiety. For example, if you're afraid of elevators, your therapy may progress from
simply thinking about getting into an elevator, to looking at pictures of elevators, to
going near an elevator, to stepping into an elevator. Next, you may take a one-floor ride,
then ride several floors, and then ride in a crowded elevator.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) involves exposure combined with

other techniques to learn ways to view and cope with the feared object or situation
differently. You learn alternative beliefs about your fears and bodily sensations and the
impact they've had on your life. CBT emphasizes learning to develop a sense of
mastery and confidence with your thoughts and feelings rather than feeling
overwhelmed by them.

Medications
Generally, psychotherapy using exposure therapy is successful in treating specific
phobias. However, sometimes medications can help reduce the anxiety and panic
symptoms you experience from thinking about or being exposed to the object or
situation you fear.
Medications may be used during initial treatment or for short-term use in specific,
infrequently encountered situations, such as flying on an airplane, public speaking or
going through an MRI procedure.
• Beta blockers. These drugs block the stimulating effects of adrenaline,
such as increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, pounding heart, and shaking
voice and limbs that are caused by anxiety.
• Sedatives. Medications called benzodiazepines help you relax by reducing
the amount of anxiety you feel. Sedatives are used with caution because they can be
addictive and should be avoided if you have a history of alcohol or drug dependence.

Reference:
Phobias. (n.d.) Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/specific-
phobias/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355162

What are dissociative disorders?

The word “dissociation” means to be disconnected from others, from the world around
you, or from yourself.
The term “dissociative disorders” describes a persistent mental state that is marked by
feelings of being detached from reality, being outside of one’s own body, or
experiencing memory loss (amnesia).
Types of dissociative disorders
There are three primary types of dissociative disorders:
 • Dissociative identity disorder
• Depersonalization/derealization disorder
• Dissociative amnesia

What causes dissociative disorders?

Dissociative disorders often first develop as a way to deal with a catastrophic event or
with long-term stress, abuse, or trauma. This is particularly true if such events take
place early in childhood. At this time of life there are limitations on one’s ability to fully
understand what is happening, coping mechanisms are not fully developed, and getting
support and resources depends on the presence of caring and knowledgeable adults.

Mentally removing oneself from a traumatic situation — such as an accident, natural

disaster, military combat, being a crime victim, or repeated physical, mental or sexual
abuse — can be a coping mechanism that helps one escape pain in the short term. It
becomes a problem if over the long term it continues to separate the person from
reality, and blanks out memories of entire periods of time.

What are the symptoms of dissociative disorders?

Once known as multiple personality disorder, dissociative identity disorder usually
stems from catastrophic experiences, abuse or trauma that occurred when the person
was a child. Among people with this disorder, about 90% have been the victim of
childhood abuse (physical or sexual) or neglect.
Symptoms of dissociative identity disorder include:
The existence of two or more distinct identities or “personality states.” Each identity has
a particular set of behaviors, attitudes, preferences, memories, and ways of thinking that
are observable by others and may even be reported by the affected person. Shifting
from one identity to another is involuntary, sudden, and can reverse at a moment’s
notice.
• Long-term gaps in memory concerning everyday events, personal
information, or traumatic events of the past.
 • Problems in social settings, the workplace, or other areas of functioning in
daily life. The seriousness of such problems can range from minimal to significant.
Suicide attempts, self-mutilation, and other self-injuring behaviors are common among
those with dissociative identity disorder. More than 70% of outpatients with this
condition have attempted suicide.
Symptoms of depersonalization/derealization disorder
One or both of the following conditions exist in the same person in a recurring pattern
over a long period of time:
• Depersonalization – Feelings of unreality or of being detached from one’s
own mind, body or self. It is as if one is an observer of rather than a participant in their
own life events.
• Derealization – Feelings of unreality or of being detached from one’s
surroundings. People and things may not seem real.
During these episodes the person is aware of their surroundings, and knows that what
they are experiencing is not normal. Even if the person shows little emotion during these
episodes, they are usually interpreted as being quite upsetting.
Symptoms may start as early as childhood, with 16 years old being the average age of
first experience. Fewer than 20% will have their first experience of the disorder after age
20.
Symptoms of dissociative amnesia
Dissociative amnesia means not being able to recall information about one’s past. This
is not the same as simply being forgetful, as it is usually related to a traumatic or
particularly stressful event or period of time. An episode of amnesia comes on suddenly
and can last as little as minutes, or as long as months or years. There is no particular
age of onset, and episodes can occur periodically throughout life.
There are three types of amnesia:
• Localized – Cannot remember an event or period of time (most common
form of amnesia)
• Selective – Cannot remember certain details of events about a given
period of time.
• Generalized – Complete loss of identity of life history (rarest form).
The person may not be aware of their memory loss or have only little awareness. Even
when they do realize a loss of memory, the person often downplays the importance of
not recalling a particular event or period of time.

How are dissociative disorders treated?

Treatment of dissociative disorders usually consists of psychotherapy, with the goal of
helping the person integrate different identities, and to gain control over the dissociative
process and symptoms. Therapy can be long and difficult, as it involves remembering
and learning to deal with past trauma.

Cognitive (that is, dealing with a patient’s conscious intellectual activity) behavioral
therapy has been found to be effective. Hypnosis may be another helpful treatment. A
newer therapy called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
focuses specifically on the role that disturbing memories play in the development of
mental disorders.
No particular medications treat dissociative disorders, although antidepressants may be
needed to treat symptoms of depression.

Reference:
Dissociative disorders. (n.d.) Retrieved from:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17749-dissociative-
disorders-/management-and-treatment