Phobia

Phobias are very irrational and disabling fears that are felt by an individual against specific objects, events or situations. The bad experience or reactions to past experience may be responsible for the development of most phobias by an individual, on the other hand, phobias may also be learned from parents or siblings-they are not innate but develop as the psyche of the individual develops. Phobias affect the majority of people around the world and some are not even aware that they may have a particular phobia. Among the most common of all observed phobias is the fear of going outside in huge open spaces-called agoraphobia, another common phobia is the opposite of the first-it is the fear of being in confined or enclosed spaces-known as claustrophobia. Other people have phobias or fear of dogs-cyanophobia etc. Some of the most common physical symptoms included in the individual by the phobia includes the presence of sudden and extreme anxiety along with great fear. The breathing rate is rapid, the person may break out in a sweat and the panic on exposure to the situation or object may induce other irrational fears and anxieties-typically the fear vanishes when the stressor disappears. Phobias are not permanent conditions of the psyche and last only as long as exposure to the stimulus lasts. In addition, the terror experienced as a result of the exposure to the object, event or situation may be accentuated by a general depression in the affected individual, and this can sometimes prompt the person to abusing drugs or alcohol as a means of escape from the fear.

Supplements and herbs

Many of the naturopaths who treat individual with phobias may typically suggest the complete overhaul or re-assessment of the diet the affected individual is consuming, such practitioners also would commonly recommend the use of supplemental and high-potency vitamin B-complex along with the supplements of the vitamin C.

Tensions and extreme anxiety felt by the affected individual after exposure to the source of phobia can be soothed down and reduced in intensity by drinking the herbal valerian tea. This tea can be prepared by using a cup of boiling water to boil one to two teaspoons of the dried herbal root, let the herb infuse into the water for fifteen minutes. This tea can be drunk as necessary during an attack of phobia.

Aromatherapy

Anxiety and stress in individual affected by phobias have been seen to be immediately relieved by inhaling the essential oil of the lavender herb. To ward off anxieties and fears at stressful times and during phobic attacks, the person must keep a small bottle of the herbal essential oil with him or her, this can be put onto a handkerchief and inhaled at such stressful moments to relieve the tension in the body and to reduce fearful feelings. The fear and anxiety can also be calmed down by the herbal essences of the sandalwood and the sweet marjoram herbs when the person is under a phobic attack of paralyzing fear.

Additional things you may do

Instead of taking three meals, change your dietary regimen and eat many small meals over the course of a day as this will reduce tension and act as comfort food. Diets must include a lot of complex carbohydrates, found in food items such as baked or boiled potatoes, in whole-grain breads and all kinds of cereals, in brown rice, and in pasta. You must try to avoid including too many simple carbohydrates such as sugars, condiments like candy, all kinds of cakes and cookies in the diet. At all times, hunger can be allayed by keeping a small nutritious snack on hand, these can include items like mixed nuts or some fresh or dried fruit-these foods will act to comfort you when an attack of phobia seizes you suddenly. Learn to relax and try to involve yourself in a yoga or alternative meditation class; such exercises will help in reducing the levels of anxiety and lead to a decrease in the incidences of phobic attacks that you may face from time to time. The way you gain complete relaxation will greatly change if you learn alternative relaxing techniques such as biofeedback - sleep well at night and take adequate periods of rest during the day as such a routine will keep you in a calm state of mind at most times and avoid the likelihood of sudden phobias from enveloping you in fear.

Other beneficial herbs

• Yellow Jessamine

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