Phobia & Homeopathy

H/Dr. Mahwish Nosheen Pakistan Contact # +923467520048 DEFINITION: It is defined as: A pathologically strong Fear of a particular event or Thing is termed as Phobia EXPLANATION: Avoiding the fear situations may severely restrict ones life and cause much suffering. The main kind of specific Phobias (Isolated Fears of particular things, such as Sharp knives), Agrophobia, Claustrophobia, Social Phobias of encountering people, and Animal Phobias, as of Spiders, Rats, or Dogs (REFERENCE: Medical Dictionary) DEFINITION: It is defined as: . An overwhelming or Unreasonable Fear of an Object or Situation that posses a little danger is known as Phobia. EXPLANATION: Unlike the brief anxiety most people feel when they give a speech or take a test, a phobia is long-lasting, causes intense physical and psychological distress, and can affect your ability to function normally at work or in social settings. Several types of phobias exist. Some people fear large, open spaces. Others are unable to tolerate certain social situations. And still others have a specific phobia, such as a fear of snakes, elevators or flying. (REFRENCE: www.MayoClinic.com) TYPES OF PHOBIA: There are a lot of types of Phobia But some of them are as Follow: 1. Specific Phobias 2. Social Phobias 3. Agrophobias 1. SPECIFIC PHOBIA: DEFINITION: . Specific Phobia is characterized by clinically significant Anxiety provoked by a specific Feared Object or Situation often leading to avoidance behavior (REFRENCE: Diagnostic & Statistical manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition Text Revision. DSM-IV-TR American Psychiatric Association) Specific Phobias mostly include following Phobias: 1. Hydrophobia (Water Phobia) 2. Claustrophobia (A morbid fear of Enclosed places) 3. Aerophobia (Fear of Heights) 4. Pterygophobia (Fear of Flying) 5. There are many other specific Phobias like Fear of Storms, Dentists, Injections, Bridges, Tunnels, and not being of able to get off Public transportation quickly enough. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: A feeling of uncontrollable anxiety when you're exposed to the source of your fear sitting on an airplane, for instance, or walking into a large party. The feeling that you must do everything possible to avoid what you fear. The inability to function normally because of your anxiety. Often, the knowledge that your fears are unreasonable or exaggerated but feeling powerless to control them. Physical as well as psychological reactions, including sweating, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, a feeling of panic and intense anxiety.

 In some cases, anxiety just thinking about what you fear. ETIOLOGY: Causative factor of Specific Phobia are as follow: 1. Culture 2. Age 3. Gender Features 4. Familial Pattern. 5. Environmental Factors. 6. Reactivity and behavioral responsibility; and inhibited temperament 7. OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) in particular, appears to have a strong biological link. 8. Psychosocial risks include: exposure to traumatic event; information about traumatic stress. 9. Reactions; cognition of hostile environments; Insecure or poor attachment. 10. UN Hygienic problems can develop the Phobia relating to Health, & Illness as well. EXPLANATION OF RISK FACTORS: Phobias are the most common mental disorder in the United States. Although some phobias seem to have a genetic component, it's often impossible to know who will develop them. These factors, however, may increase your risk: Your age: Social phobia usually develops early in life, most often between the ages of 11 and 15, and almost never after age 25. Specific phobias having to do with the environment or personal injury also first appear in childhood as early as age 5. Fear of tunnels, elevators, bridges, flying, driving and other situational phobias usually develop by the mid-20s. Your sex: Phobias affect both sexes, but women and girls are twice as likely to have social phobia as are men and boys. Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with agoraphobia, but this may be because men tend to hide anxiety or mask it with alcohol. Men are also less likely to seek help for emotional problems than women are. Your family: If someone in your immediate family has a specific phobia, such as a fear of spiders or snakes, you're more likely to develop it, too. Studies seem to show a strong correlation between your own phobias and the phobias of your parents, however. Children may learn phobias by observing a family member's phobic reaction to an object or a situation for example, a fear of snakes or spiders. Brain chemicals, genetics and traumatic experiences also appear to influence the development of phobias. (REFRENCE: www.MayoClinic.com) PREVELENCE: No doubt the Phobias are common in the general population. And in community samples, current prevalence rates range from 4% to 8.8% & lifetime prevalence rates range from 7.2% to 11.3%. Prevalence rates decline in the elderly. Also prevalence estimates vary for different types of specific phobias. (REFRENCE: Diagnostic & Statistical manual of Mental Disorders 4 th edition Text Revision. DSMIV-TR American Psychiatric Association) 2. SOCIAL PHOBIA: DEFINITION: It is defined as: Social Phobia is characterized by clinically significant Anxiety provoked by exposure to certain types of Social or Performance situations often leading to avoidance behavior. DESCRIPTION: More than just shyness, social phobia involves a combination of excessive self-consciousness, a fear of public scrutiny or humiliation in common social situations, and a fear of negative evaluation by others. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: A feeling of uncontrollable anxiety when you're exposed to the source of your fear sitting on an airplane, for instance, or walking into a large party. The feeling that you must do everything possible to avoid what you fear. The inability to function normally because of your anxiety Often, the knowledge that your fears are unreasonable or exaggerated but feeling powerless to control them.

 Physical as well as psychological reactions, including sweating, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, a feeling of panic and intense anxiety. In some cases, anxiety just thinking about what you fear. If the fears include the most social situation then also consider the additional diagnosis of avoidant personality disorder. ETIOLOGY: Causative factor of Social Phobia are as follow: Culture Age Gender Features Familial Pattern. Environmental Factors. Reactivity and behavioral responsibility; and inhibited temperament OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) in particular, appears to have a strong biological link. Psychosocial risks include: exposure to traumatic event; information about traumatic stress. Reactions; cognition of hostile environments; Insecure or poor attachment. UN Hygienic problems can develop the Phobia relating to Health, & Illness as well. Business failure may leads towards Social Phobia. Lack of communication skills like Speaking, & Performance in public. (e.g. Eating, Drinking, Writing in public etc) EXPLANATION OF RISK FACTORS: Phobias are the most common mental disorder in the United States. Although some phobias seem to have a genetic component, it's often impossible to know who will develop them. These factors, however, may increase your risk: Your age: Social phobia usually develops early in life, most often between the ages of 11 and 15, and almost never after age 25. Specific phobias having to do with the environment or personal injury also first appear in childhood as early as age 5. Fear of tunnels, elevators, bridges, flying, driving and other situational phobias usually develop by the mid-20s. Your sex: Phobias affect both sexes, but women and girls are twice as likely to have social phobia as are men and boys. Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with agoraphobia, but this may be because men tend to hide anxiety or mask it with alcohol. Men are also less likely to seek help for emotional problems than women are. Your family: If someone in your immediate family has a specific phobia, such as a fear of spiders or snakes, you're more likely to develop it, too. Studies seem to show a strong correlation between your own phobias and the phobias of your parents, however. Children may learn phobias by observing a family member's phobic reaction to an object or a situation for example, a fear of snakes or spiders. Brain chemicals, genetics and traumatic experiences also appear to influence the development of phobias. (REFRENCE: www.MayoClinic.com) PREVALENCE: Epidemiological & community based studies have reported a Lifetime prevalence of the Social Phobia ranging from 3% to 13%. (REFRENCE: Diagnostic & Statistical manual of Mental Disorders 4 th edition Text Revision. DSMIV-TR American Psychiatric Association) 3. AGORAPHOBIA: DEFINITION: It is defined as: .. Agoraphobia is Anxiety about, or avoidance of, Places, or Situations from which escape might be difficult (or Embarrassing) or in which help may not be available in the event of having a Panic attack or Panic-like symptoms. (REFRENCE: Diagnostic & Statistical manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition Text Revision. DSM-IV-TR American Psychiatric Association) DESCRIPTION: Agoraphobia is a fear of a place, such as a mall, an elevator or a room full of people, with no easy means

of escape if a panic attack should occur. (REFRENCE: www.MayoClinic.com) SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: A feeling of uncontrollable anxiety when you're exposed to the source of your fear sitting on an airplane, for instance, or walking into a large party. The feeling that you must do everything possible to avoid what you fear. The inability to function normally because of your anxiety Often, the knowledge that your fears are unreasonable or exaggerated but feeling powerless to control them. Physical as well as psychological reactions, including sweating, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, Stuttering, a feeling of panic and intense anxiety. In some cases, anxiety just thinking about what you fear. ETIOLOGY: Causative factor of Agoraphobia are as follow: Culture Gender Features Familial Pattern. Environmental Factors. Reactivity and behavioral responsibility; and inhibited temperament OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) in particular, appears to have a strong biological link. Psychosocial risks include: exposure to traumatic event; information about traumatic stress. Reactions; cognition of hostile environments; Insecure or poor attachment. Business failure may leads towards Social Phobia. Lack of communication skills like Speaking, & Performance in public. (e.g. Eating, Drinking, Writing in public etc) EXPLANATION OF RISK FACTORS: Phobias are the most common mental disorder in the United States. Although some phobias seem to have a genetic component, it's often impossible to know who will develop them. These factors, however, may increase your risk: Your age: Social phobia usually develops early in life, most often between the ages of 11 and 15, and almost never after age 25. Specific phobias having to do with the environment or personal injury also first appear in childhood as early as age 5. Fear of tunnels, elevators, bridges, flying, driving and other situational phobias usually develop by the mid-20s. Your sex: Phobias affect both sexes, but women and girls are twice as likely to have social phobia as are men and boys. Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with agoraphobia, but this may be because men tend to hide anxiety or mask it with alcohol. Men are also less likely to seek help for emotional problems than women are. Your family: If someone in your immediate family has a specific phobia, such as a fear of spiders or snakes, you're more likely to develop it, too. Studies seem to show a strong correlation between your own phobias and the phobias of your parents, however. Children may learn phobias by observing a family member's phobic reaction to an object or a situation for example, a fear of snakes or spiders. Brain chemicals, genetics and traumatic experiences also appear to influence the development of phobias. (REFRENCE: www.MayoClinic.com) COMPLICATIONS: Having a phobia may cause other problems, including: Social isolation. If you have a phobia, you may find that you avoid social situations and public places. Financial, professional and interpersonal problems often result from social phobia and agoraphobia. Depression. The avoidance of many activities that other people find enjoyable in their personal and professional lives may lead you to become depressed. Substance abuse. Some people with phobias turn to alcohol or other drugs to deal with stress. This unwise and unhealthy choice can lead to abuse of alcohol or other drugs. (REFRENCE: www.MayoClinic.com) EFFECTS OF PHOBIAS: If left untreated, a phobia may worsen to the point in which the person's life is seriously affected, both by the phobia itself and/or by attempts to avoid or conceal it. In fact, some people have had problems with

friends and family, failed in school, and/or lost jobs while struggling to cope with a severe phobia. There may be periods of spontaneous improvement, but a phobia does not usually go away unless the person receives treatments designed specifically to help phobia sufferers. Alcoholics can be up to 10 times more likely to suffer from a phobia than those who are not alcoholics, and phobic individuals can be twice as likely to be addicted to alcohol as those who have never been phobic. HOW YOU CAN COPE WITH PHOBIA: Childhood fears, such as fear of the dark, of monsters or of being left alone, are common, and most children outgrow them. But if your child has a persistent, excessive fear that's limiting his or her ability to function in daily life, talk to your doctor. To help your child cope with fears: Talk openly about fears: Don't trivialize the problem or belittle your child for being afraid. Instead, let your child know that you're there to listen, and to help. Don't reinforce phobias: Instead, take advantage of opportunities to help children overcome their fears. If your child is afraid of the neighbor's friendly dog, for example, don't go out of your way to avoid the animal. Instead, help your child cope when confronted with the dog. For example, you might offer to be your child's home base, waiting and offering support while your child steps a little closer to the dog and then returns to you for safety. Over time, encourage your child to keep closing the distance. Pursue positive approaches: Help your child learn to breathe deeply and repeat positive statements such as "I can do this" when facing something scary. Your child also may benefit from rating the fear on a scale of 1 to 10. Recognizing that the fear rates only a 5 on the scale, for example, may help your child see the feeling as being less overwhelming. (REFRENCE: www.MayoClinic.com)

HOMOEOPATHY AND PHOBIA: CASE 1: A client of Phobia comes at your clinic with following complaints: 1. I have Tension both at Emotional and Mental levels. 2. There is completely Unreasoning Fear (Especially Fear of Death), Anxiety, and Anguish. 3. Client tells that Doctor, There is Nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so 4. Client tells that my almost complaints aggravated by Chill, Shock, Fright, & Fear 5. There is Suddenness of symptoms, client will tell that my all symptoms come and go suddenly, even sometimes they really make me surprise 6. All the symptoms of phobia along with Fear of Death even also predicts the Time and Day of Death By noticing all the above symptoms in a client, it becomes easy that if the client has symptoms of Phobia along with these above symptoms then this indicates the Homoeopathic Remedy ACONITUM NEPELLUS CASE 2: If a client of Phobia come with these following complaints: 1. If client complaints that I have Great Anxiety & Mental Depression, even there is combination of the Suicide and Self Loathing disposition of Aurum along with the deep seated feeling of Insecurity like Arsenicum Album. Even client will tell that the feelings of Insecurity are actually because I have spent a lot of time in that environment in which I was bound with someone. 2. There is over conscience feeling, with Excitability that make me discourage, all this along with Forgetful and Fear 3. Formicating all over the body, there is Trembling in all parts. 4. Dropsy of the Extremities. 5. Client complaints that I have Delusions even feeling that I am unfit for the world, has neglected his duty. If a client has all the above symptoms along with the symptoms of Phobia then the Homoeopathic remedy will AURUM ARSENICUM CASE 3: A client came to me with following complaints: 1. I have deep seated Anxiety & Apprehension especially about the future, that results in great Mental and Physical Weakness 2. Client said to me that I have great confusion and sees that people are dead, and visions of fire 3. There is great disparity regarding recovery and I have great desire for company. 4. Even slightest motion increases my palpitation.

5. I have a sense all the time that my body is floating in the air. 6. Client also complaints that I get aggravated while out of doors, during cold weather, least exertion, and I get amelioration during rest, and in open air. By noticing all the above symptoms along with the symptoms of Agoraphobia I prescribed CALCAREA ARSENICA in 1M for 3 months, and cured this case. CASE 4: A patient came to me with following complaints: 1. Client told that there is problem with my higher Faculties, and stimulates the imagination to a remarkable degree. 2. There was great and intense exaltation, Delusions, and Hallucinations in great variety. Delusions of going out of their body in a pleasant way; Delusions of floating above their body. In short client told me that I live in a complete Dream Land 3. I have Disorganization and Diffusion: the state of sense of breaking apart in the individual. I feel that the my hand is going out and it has no bone and no flesh. The feeling is like that it is There and not Here 4. Even I feel that whole body is scattered and I cant hold together. 5. Many times I Lose Control. 6. This is a real fear which I have and underneath that there is Tremendous Anxiety about Health with constant Fear of becoming Insane 7. There I have excessive sleep. 8. Incoherent talking. 9. Even I have distortion in the conception of time, space, and place. 10. Sometimes sexual desire increased. 11. Hydrophobia, forgetfulness, along with Urinary disorder, with constant urination, burning and smarting. 12. Nervous headaches. Regarding all the above symptoms I prescribe CANNABIS INDICA in 1M for 2months and cured the case (17.07.2009) BIBLIOGRAPHY: 1. All in one Homoeopathic Materia Medica by Prof. Dr. Niranjan Mohanty. 2. Highlights of Homoeopathic Materia Medica including therapeutic index by J. P. Jain. 3. Gems of Homoeopathic Materia Medica by Dr. J. D. Patil. 4. Natural Health complete guide to Homoeopathy by Dr. Andrew Lockie & Dr. Nicola Geddes. 5. Medical Dictionary. INTERNET SEARCH: 1. www.google.com 2. www.googlescholar.com 3. www.hapthy.com 4. www.wikipedia.com 5. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov