The beginning of a phobia usually follows periods of stress and often starts after a final trauma. “The last straw, which breaks the camel’s back” or after a first panic attack which appears to come out of the blue. In the early stages of a phobia, sufferers feel frightened when in a particular place or situation, without knowing exactly why. Whenever they go into a particular place or situation they experience an overwhelming feeling of impending disaster and feel a compulsive urge to escape from it. Sufferers do not know why they are afraid but the feelings of fear that they experience are very real.

A phobia is actually a fear of fear because sufferers are not really frightened of any particular place or situation but are frightened of the feelings of terror that they get when they are in those places or situations. This is known as the “what if” factor and consequently sufferers avoid more and more situations and places just in case “what if” occurs. Needless to say, it never does nor ever will happen but sufferers cannot bring themselves to take that risk.

Hospital Phobia

Hospital Phobia is a very common fear. The great majority of people experience a certain level of anxiety about hospitals that might revolve around the fear of pain, injury, blood and being under the control of strangers whilst separated from the family, etc. However, when the fear becomes irrational to the point where necessary treatment for an illness might be avoided, then the phobia has to be dealt with. This phobia may also revolve around things associated with hospitals such as white coats, nurse’s uniforms, or hospital smells. 

Dental Phobia

Dental Phobia often occurs on its own but can be associated with a fear of blood, injury, or maybe part of agoraphobia i.e. agoraphobia being the fear of being trapped or anywhere you feel unsafe thus, a dentist’s chair could fall into the ‘trapped’ situation.  Read more here

Blood Phobia

Many people have a natural tendency to feel uncomfortable at the sight of blood. A mild fear of blood is fairly common in both children and adults. Approximately one to two million people suffers from this, making the fear of blood one of the most common phobias.  Also there is a feeling of fear that the person might faint.   This also involves a fear of being injured or of medical procedures such as blood tests or injections.

Injection Phobia

The problems regarding injection phobia usually centered on the sight of the needle itself or contamination from a previously used needle.

Anticipatory anxiety

People worry and are anxious before appointments or facing their feared object or situation and often think the worst is going to happen, cancelling appointments or avoiding the situation they fear.

How can No Panic help?
No Panic specialises in self-help recovery and our services include:
Providing people with the skills they need to manage their condition and work towards recovery.
Our aim is to give you all of the necessary advice, tools and support that you will need to recover and carry out this journey. No Panic Recovery Programs

Become a member of No Panic and join one of our Recovery Groups or One to One Mentoring services with a trained leader and work on Anxiety Management and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to overcome your phobia.