Suffering from a phobia (恐惧症) is far from delightful. For adults, the phobia can seriously limit a person's functioning. If you or your child experiences a phobia, you may wish to try the following to reduce the distress surrounding it.
Name the fear.
Dr. Dan Siegel, clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA, summarizes this experience as "name it to tame it. " Pixar's movie Monsters, Inc. illustrates this nicely as the monster in the closet becomes less scary when Boo names it Kitty.
Ask yourself whether the fear is sensible. Since many fears are groundless in nature, this step helps to reduce "worst-case scenario (方案)" thinking. It is important to note that while the percentage of many feared items happening is extremely remote, they are not necessarily 0 percent. Therefore, this step is often paired with finding a way to make peace with the feared item still existing in the world.
Safely face the fear.
This is demonstrated to be the most enduring way to put fears behind us. Any unhelpful reaction, especially avoidance, must be removed. It's vital to set the stage for success by safely and gradually facing the feared item, step by step. For instance, if someone is afraid of snakes, picturing a snake in one's mind comes first, then looking at a picture of the rattlesnake, and finally going to the zoo. Not facing, or worse, avoiding fear tends to give it more power and make the phobia stronger over time.
In summary, it is perfectly natural and human to experience fears. If a phobia lasts, it is always an option to seek the help of a mental health professional. Whatever you do, it is important not to let the fear consume you or your child's life.
A. Analyze the fear. B. Make peace with the fear. C. Labeling the fear tends to reduce the power of the feared item. D. For children, it leads to increased anxiety and may lead up to school avoidance. E. These steps can be paired with relaxation strategies to limit the physiological fear response. F. Generally speaking, the more a person seeks treatment for the phobia, the better the outcome. G. However, when that fear becomes too much or fixed, it can prevent us from enjoying the joys or necessities of life. |
