Claustrophobia, Agoraphobia & Acrophobia

    A "Phobia", is an irrational, intense, persistent fear of certain situations, activities, things, or people. The main symptom of this disorder is the excessive, unreasonable desire to avoid the feared subject. When the fear is beyond one's control, or if the fear is interfering with daily life, then a diagnosis under one of the anxiety disorders can be made. Phobias are the most common form of anxiety disorders. An American study by the National Institute of Mental Health 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 disorders among women in all age groups and the second most common disorder among men older than 25. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) The following chapter focuses on three common phobias:

    Claustrophobia means fear of enclosed or confined spaces. People with this phobia are afraid of finding themselves in a situation from which there is no easy exit should they suddenly feel the need to retreat to a safe place. Examples of closed spaces are anything from cars to elevators, MRI, and even small rooms.

    Agoraphobia means fear of open spaces. It is one of the most common phobias. People with this phobia feel that they are unsafe while out of doors and that they need to get home or retreat to somewhere where they feel secure. Examples of open spaces include large public gathering areas like sports arenas, shopping malls, and airports.

    Acrophobia means fear of heights. People with this phobia are afraid of falling from a very high place. Examples of high places are high buildings, steep mountains, and flying.

    Most people who suffer from phobias will try to avoid the objects or situations they fear, in order to avoid the anxiety they arouse. Claustrophobia, agoraphobia and acrophobia may be the outcome of heredity, environment or the combination of both. (Nature vs. Nurture)

    From the heredity point of view, phobias may be identified in early age. Some babies may cry when their parents lift them very high whereas others may laugh. Some babies may cry when left alone in a small space whereas others may be playful. Some babies may cry when left alone in a shopping mall whereas others may watch with interest strange people around them.

    From the heredity point of view, phobias may be identified in early age. Some babies may cry when their parents lift them very high whereas others may laugh. Some babies may cry when left alone in a small space whereas others may be playful. Some babies may cry when left alone in a shopping mall whereas others may watch with interest strange people around them.

    From the environmental point of view, a traumatic experience that had occurred in a confined space, in a high space or in an open space may cause the onset of a phobia. Also, imitating a phobic parent may lead a child to suffer from the same phobia.

    In many cases, phobias may be the outcome of both factors. When a child is born to a phobic parent, he/she may inherent the genes that lead to phobic reactions. On the other hand, if the phobic parent succeeded to master the phobia, and teaches the child not to be fearful in such spaces, the chances are that the child would not suffer from phobia.

    It is obvious to me how a traumatic experience may lead to a phobic reaction. For example, falling from a roof of a house may cause a phobia of heights, being stuck in an elevator for a long period may cause a phobia of close spaces and being left alone in an open apace, during childhood, may cause a phobia of open spaces. I wondered about the genes that cause phobias. Since genes have undergone a process of mutation during human evolution and most of the genes that remained in our genetic pool contributed to survival and procreation of our ancestors, how did phobias contribute to survival?

    I suggest the following evolutionary explanation for the existence of phobic genes. Through mutation, nature provides every creature in the world with a body structure that helps it survive and an instinct that directs it to choose the best response to a threat. Animals that survive by fighting, are provided by evolution with sharp nails, long horns or strong teeth. Animals that survive by escaping, are provided by nature with quick legs, wings or the ability to climb high trees. Animal that survive by hiding in small cracks in the ground, are provided by nature with a thin and flexible body structure. I propose that the goal of phobia is to direct each creature to avoid spaces where it cannot use its natural capacity to survive. For example, a lizard, which survives by hiding in small cracks, may experience phobia if it is placed in an open space. Deer, which survives by running in open places, may experience phobia if it is placed in a confined space or in a very high space, where it cannot run.

    I asked myself, what did nature provides humans as a way of survival? We do not have horns, nor sharp teeth and no thick skin. Nature provided us with a large brain, so we could invent tools that would help us survive. For example, swords and knifes instead of horns and teeth, metal shield and tanks instead of heavy skin, and airplanes instead of wings. Can we assume that nature provides humans with instincts that direct us to avoid certain places? We may refer to that avoiding instinct as a phobia. May be each of us is born with an inclination to prefer different style of survival. As a result, the survival of a family's genes increases. When three siblings encountered a predator while hunting, the one who did not fear heights climbed a tree, the one who did not fear open spaces ran quickly and the one who did not fear narrow places, hid in a small cave. Since each sibling had genes that directed him to avoid different modes of escape, one of them had better chance to survive and to spread his genes.

    My assumption is that phobia is an instinct that helped the survival of our ancestors. Unfortunately, that gene is imbedded in the genetic pool of modern humans. As in any gene that relates to our emotions, some people are born with higher potential to experience it and as a result, they experience phobias, while others are born with a milder potential.

    I encourage everyone who suffers from phobias, to try self-help by practicing relaxation and mental imagery techniques. If it is not sufficient, it is recommended to seek the help of a psychotherapist.