Did you know that the human brain is capable of creating up to 35,000 thoughts per day? That’s a lot of thinking! And it’s no wonder that we get overwhelmed sometimes, especially when it seems like every decision we make is important. But what if some of those thoughts are just not worth worrying about? What if, instead of helping us, they’re actually holding us back? How do we “trust nobody” and not even ourselves when it comes to those thoughts?
For example, have you ever been afraid of flying? Or public speaking? Or heights? These are all common phobias that can seriously impact our lives if we let them. Phobias can make us avoid certain activities or even places, that we would otherwise enjoy. They can make us feel anxious and stressed, and can even lead to panic attacks.
So, why do we have phobias in the first place? Well, there are a few theories. One is that they’re learned behaviors – perhaps we’ve seen someone else react badly to a situation, and so we’ve come to associate that situation with fear. Or, it could be that we’ve had a bad experience ourselves, and so we’ve come to expect that all similar experiences will be just as bad.
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Phobias: Trust Nobody. Not Even Yourself
Whatever the reason for our phobias, one thing is certain: we can’t always trust our own brains to protect us from them. In fact, sometimes it seems like our brain is working against us!
Let’s take a look at 10 reasons why you should not trust anyone, and not even yourself, when it comes to dealing with phobias:
#1: Phobias are Irrational Fears
Our brains are very good at keeping us safe. They’re constantly on the lookout for danger, and will often try to warn us when they think we’re in danger. But sometimes, our brains can overreact. They might interpret a situation as being more dangerous than it actually is, and this can lead to us feeling fear when there’s no need to.
This is what happens with phobias. We have an irrational fear of something that doesn’t pose a real threat to us. For example, many people are afraid of flying, even though it’s actually one of the safest forms of transportation. Or, they might be afraid of public speaking or have a fear of writing, even though there’s no danger of being hurt in any way.
Our brains can’t always be trusted to tell us what’s truly dangerous and what isn’t. So, if you have a phobia, it’s important to remember that your fear is probably irrational.
#2: Phobias are Learned Behaviors
As we mentioned before, phobias can be learned behaviors. This means that we’ve seen someone else react badly to a situation, and so we’ve come to associate that situation with fear.
For example, let’s say you see a news report about a plane crash. You might start to feel anxious about flying, even though you’ve never experienced any problems while flying yourself. Or, perhaps you know someone who has a fear of public speaking. witnessing their anxiety might make you more likely to develop a fear of public speaking yourself.
Our brains are very good at learning from others. So, if you’re exposed to someone else’s phobia, you could possibly develop a phobia yourself.
#3: Phobias Can be Contagious
Related to the point above, phobias can be contagious. If you’re around someone afraid of a specific situation or thing, their fear can “rub off” on you.
For example, let’s say you’re at a party with a group of friends. One of your friends is afraid of heights, and so she doesn’t want to go out on the balcony. Everyone else starts to feel uneasy as well, and before long, nobody wants to go out on the balcony.
Or, perhaps you’re in a meeting at work, and the person presenting is very nervous about public speaking. Their anxiety is contagious, and soon everyone in the room is feeling uneasy.
Phobias can be passed on from one person to another, so it’s important to be aware of this if you’re around someone with a phobia.
#4: Phobias Can be Caused by Trauma
Another reason why you might not be able to trust your brain when it comes to phobias is that they can be caused by trauma. If you’ve experienced a traumatic event, your brain might start to associate that event with fear.
For example, let’s say you were in a car accident. Even though the accident wasn’t your fault, your brain might start to associate driving with fear. Or, perhaps you were attacked by a dog when you were a child. Your brain might now associate dogs with fear, and so you might have a phobia of them.
Traumatic events can have a lasting effect on our brains, and so they can cause us to develop phobias. If you have a phobia, it’s important to remember that it might be linked to a traumatic event in your past.
#5: Phobias Can Run in Families
Phobias can also be passed down from one generation to the next. If your parents or grandparents had a phobia, you might be more likely to develop a phobia yourself.
Maybe your mother is afraid of flying. She might tell you stories about her fear, and this could make you more likely to develop a fear of flying yourself. Or, perhaps your father is afraid of heights. He might avoid situations where he would have to go high up, and so you might learn to avoid these situations as well.
Phobias can be passed down in families, so it’s important to be aware of this if you have a family history of phobias.
#6: Phobias Might be Linked to an Underlying Mental Health Condition
Another reason why you might not be able to trust your brain when it comes to phobias is that they might be linked to an underlying mental health condition. For example, people with anxiety disorders or depression are more likely to develop phobias.
If you have a mental health condition, it’s important to be aware that you might be more likely to develop a phobia. If you have a phobia, it’s also important to be aware that you might have an underlying mental health condition.
#7: Phobias can be Triggered by Stress
Stress can also trigger the development of phobias. If you’re under a lot of stress, your brain might start to associate certain situations or things with fear.
For example, let’s say you’re under a lot of stress at work. You might start to feel anxious when you have to give presentations or meet with clients. Or, perhaps you’re going through a difficult time in your personal life (think Sad Clown Syndrome). You might start to feel anxious when you’re around people or in social situations.
Stress can trigger the development of phobias, so it’s important to be aware of this if you’re feeling stressed.
#8: Phobias can be Triggered by Medications
Certain medications can also trigger the development of phobias. For example, some antidepressant medications can cause anxiety and panic attacks. If you’re taking these medications, you might start to develop a fear of situations where you might have a panic attack.
Or, perhaps you’re taking a medication that makes you feel dizzy or lightheaded. You might start to develop a fear of heights or of being in high places.
If you’re taking medication, it’s important to be aware that it might trigger the development of a phobia.
#9: Phobias can Lead to Avoidance Behavior
Another reason why you might not be able to trust your brain when it comes to phobias is that they can lead to avoidance behavior. If you have a phobia, you might start to avoid situations or things that make you feel afraid.
For example, let’s say you have a fear of flying. You might start to avoid flying altogether. Or, perhaps you have a fear of dogs. You might start to avoid situations where you might see a dog.
Avoidance behavior can be a problem because it can make it difficult to live your life. If you’re avoiding certain situations, you might not be able to do the things you want to do or go the places you want to go.
Avoidance behavior can also lead to anxiety and depression. If you’re avoiding certain situations, you might start to feel anxious about them. And, if you’re not able to do the things you want to do, you might start to feel depressed.
#10: Phobias Can be Difficult to Treat
Finally, phobias can be difficult to treat. If you have a phobia, it might be hard to find a treatment that works for you.
There are many different types of treatments for phobias, but not all of them are effective. Some people might try exposure therapy, which involves gradually exposing yourself to the situation or thing that you’re afraid of. But, exposure therapy doesn’t work for everyone.
Other people might try medication, but not all medications are effective for treating phobias. And, even if a medication is effective, it might have side effects that make it difficult to take.
Conclusion
These are just some of the reasons why you might not be able to trust your brain when it comes to phobias. If you have a phobia, it’s important to be aware of these things so that you can better understand your condition and find a treatment that works for you.
Remember trusting yourself and trusting others are two different things. When it comes to your phobia, you might not be able to trust your brain, but that doesn’t mean you can’t trust yourself. You are the only one who knows how your phobia makes you feel, and you are the only one who can decide what treatment is best for you. So, don’t give up hope. If you have a phobia, there is help available. Trust yourself, and trust that you can find a way to overcome your fear.
