Irrational Fears: 15 Examples, Causes & How to Overcome Them
╰┈➤ Fear serves an important purpose. It alerts you to danger, gets your body ready to respond to danger, and keeps you out of real danger zones. However, it is upsetting when your brain triggers the warning even when there is little threat. At that time, you wonder, “Why do I feel this way if I am completely safe?” Such fear patterns are frequently included in the category of irrational fears. For example, a person can be afraid of an innocent spider, be afraid to get stuck in the elevator, or experience extreme nervousness before a plane flight, while fully aware of its safety. In psychology, specialists may refer to them using different terms, such as specific phobia, depending on the symptoms and impact on their lives of those suffering from the fear. So, knowing the difference between normal fear and the fear that takes control of your life helps you understand the need for professional help. What Are Irrational Fears? “Irrational fears are fear responses which are highly exaggerated compared to the real level of threat. Our brain and the body are reacting to danger through the fear mechanism, even though the situation doesn’t require it to.” It is easy to perceive such fears as simple because of the term “irrational”. It sounds like people should be able to deal with them logically. However, the truth is that such fear is about the involuntary response of the body and mind to danger. A person may think logically and understand that there is no danger while the body responds as if there was one. Example: Imagine that someone is afraid of elevators. This person understands that elevators are equipped with multiple safety measures. They may know how safe it is statistically to ride an elevator. Yet, when the door closes, a person’s heart starts beating rapidly, palms become wet, and there is an urgent desire to run away. Logic says: “I am safe”. The threat system says: “Run away”. This is what makes people helpless in front of these fears. Some of them are specific fears, while others may arise during some other conditions, for example, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and trauma-related conditions. Understanding the origin helps in coping with the condition. Irrational Fear Meaning in Psychology: A mental health professional uses other more precise terms depending on the type of disorder. The patient may be suffering from: A specific phobia Social anxiety disorder Panic disorder Generalized anxiety disorder Obsessive-compulsive disorder A trauma-related disorder Well, not all strange fears necessarily mean that there is a problem regarding the individual’s mental well-being. Before making any suggestions about the required treatment for irrational fears, the professionals evaluate the problem based on its characteristics. Irrational Fear vs. Normal Fear All fears are not irrational just because they are powerful. Fear becomes functional only when it relates to a true danger. When an animal is coming towards you, and you feel fear and move back, that is understandable. The real issue here is not only whether “this fear is powerful?” But also whether it is proportionate to the situation and whether it is hampering your living. Let’s see some key differences between normal and irrational fear. Normal Fear Irrational Fear Usually responds to a realistic threat. May occur when little danger exists Encourages appropriate caution Can lead to extensive avoidance Often decreases when the threat disappears. May continue before, during, or after the situation Usually remains manageable Can feel overwhelming Does not usually control daily decisions Can interfere with work, school, relationships, or activities Quick insight: Let’s take an example to better understand the difference. An individual who fears traveling by plane but travels in a normal way despite that is fearful. On the other hand, when an individual continually cancels his travel schedule, fails to undertake any travel, and is nervous even several days before the journey, he needs to check whether this fear has developed into a phobia. 15 Common Examples of Irrational Fears: Well, it is really hard to make a list of all the irrational fears that people can have. Irrational fears can be about a certain place, people, harmless insects, heights, or they can be about anything. The thing is, many things can scare someone, and everybody is different. So, some common examples of fears are listed below. 1. The fear of flying: The fear of flying causes anxiety before and during flights. One may avoid air travel, thus negatively impacting the person’s professional work or visiting family. 2. The fear of heights: A person feels extreme anxiety while standing on the balcony of a skyscraper, looking down from a tall building, or crossing a tall bridge. 3. The fear of spiders: A person with a severe spider phobia would have a strong physical reaction towards a spider. 4. The fear of needles: A person becomes extremely anxious with injections, blood tests, and different procedures. It will make a person avoid visiting the doctor. 5. The fear of enclosed spaces: A person feels suffocated in elevators, tunnels, small rooms, or crowded places. 6. The fear of public speaking: Feeling slightly nervous before presenting in front of people is normal. However, the excessive fear could make a person avoid doing presentations or giving interviews, thus affecting their career. 7. Fear of Dogs: A previously terrifying experience with a dog may result in a chronic fear of dogs. 8 Fear of Driving: An individual can be afraid of losing control, getting into an accident, or being trapped in traffic. Extreme driving fears could ultimately limit work and social activities. 9. Emesis Phobia (Fear of Vomiting): The fear of vomiting could affect dietary choices, traveling, socialization, and the decision to go to places. 10. Hemophobia (Fear of Blood or Injuries): Certain individuals have a highly intense reaction to blood, injuries, and medical procedures. Dizziness and fainting episodes are possible in such cases. 11. Astrophobia (Fear of Thunderstorms): Exaggerated fear of thunderstorms would make