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"PHOBIA" An intense fear of an object or situation such as performance anxiety or fear of
embarassment, especially involving other people or social situations. From the Greek, phobos,'fear' is an irrational, intense, persistent fear of certain situations, activities, things,
or people. Fear is literally a basic survival mechanism. It is an emotional response to perceived threats and danger, whether real or imagined. A phobia can cause very negative problems
when coping with everyday life that other people have adapted to. "I have to but I can't" can start uncontrollable panic. Fear can produce a variety of physical problems because the human
survival mechanism is very primitive and intense. The main symptom of this disorder is the excessive, unreasonable desire to avoid the feared subject. When the fear is beyond one's control over
time, or if the fear is interfering with daily life, then it becomes an anxiety disorder, especially if the object of fear is seen as unavoidable or uncontrollable. Phobias are the most common
form of anxiety disorders. An American study by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) found that between 8.7 and 18.1% of Americans suffer from phobias. Broken down by age and gender,
the study found that phobias were the most common mental illness among women in all age groups and the second most common illness among men older than 25. " WHY LOVE2SPEAK WORKS Do you have a phobia? Consider this: A NEW PARADIGM ("A new way of looking at things"): When Christopher Columbus sailed home to Spain with a
boatload of treasure after exploring the New World, he was ridiculed in the court of Queen Isabella by jealous critics. "Anyone could have done it," they said. (The same people who said the world
was flat and his ship would fall off the edge on the way out.) Finally, in total exasperation, Chris takes an egg out of his pocket and hands it to his critics, the Learned Men (and some of the Women)
in the Court of Queen Isabella. "Here, stand this egg on end," he says. They try and they try and they
try this way and they try that way and they put their heads together and they try some more and the egg keeps falling over and they finally give up because the Learned Men (and some of the Women) in the
Court of Queen Isabella have proven conclusively that it is impossible to stand an egg on end. They tell Christopher Columbus he is a fool for wasting their time, and they hand the egg back to him.
Chris takes the egg, gives its big bottom a little tap on the table, not hard, just enough to put a little dent in without breaking, and stands the egg on end. His critics, all the Learned Men (but
none of the women, who are suddenly in love and smiling to themselves) start complaining. "It's easy. Anyone could do that." Christopher Columbus walks to the throne, kneels and
hands Queen Isabella the egg. "Of course it is easy, Your Majesty," he says, "once I show them how to do it...." You can take a step to real freedom now ! |
