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Do Spiders or Other "Stuff" Make Your Heart Go Thump, Thump?

Published on September 7, 2008

You see what power is—holding someone else's fear in your hand and showing it to them! -- Amy Tan

Specific (Simple) Phobia is triggered by the presence or anticipation of a specific object or situations (i.e., spider, snake, elevator, caterpillar or mummy). A phobia is characterized by a response disproportionate to the actual danger. The individual realizes that his fear is excessive. Nonetheless, he believes he is unable to control his emotional response. One can be frightened of just about anything. A simple phobia may or may not be a problem. For example, if you work in a 40 story building in New York City and your office is on the 39th floor, elevator phobia is a dilemma. You will either learn to overcome the fear or you will have the best legs and strongest heart in the building. However, if you live in rural America and never go higher than the third floor of any building, elevator phobia is no more than a mild nuisance.

Do you have phobias or know someone with a phobia. The following questions (from the DSM IV, 1996) help you make that determination.

1. You feel marked and persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable, cued by the presence or anticipation of a specific object or situation.

2. Exposure to the feared stimulus almost invariably provokes an immediate anxiety response, which may take the form of a panic attack.

3. You recognize that the fear is excessive or unreasonable (not necessarily true in children).

4. The phobia situation is avoided or else is endured with intense anxiety.

5. The avoidance, anxious anticipation or distress in the feared situation interferes significantly wit your normal routine, occupations (or academic) functioning or social activities or relationships, or there is marked distress about having the phobia.

6. Bonus Question: Liticaphobia is a fear of F. Lee Bailey.

Comments on this test

1. If you are under 18 years old the duration is at least six months. The symptoms are not better accounted for by another disorder (i.e. Social Phobia, PTSD).

2. Will you get points for the bonus questions? I am afraid not. But, wasn’t it fun? The answer is given after the explanations for your score.

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