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Social Phobia a Self-Replicating Cycle?

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:43:48 +0000

According to the Virtual Medical Centre, a new study shows that social phobia in children can set up an ongoing self-replicating cycle.

Apparently kids rate other kids with social phobia as less attractive than children who do not have the disorder. In addition, kids claim to "like" those that they find attractive more than those who are unattractive. Therefore, the social phobia leads to a perception of unattractiveness which, in turn, leads to dislike. Sensing that they are disliked could then worsen the social phobia, leading to further perceived unattractiveness and dislike.

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Racing Thoughts

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:30:08 +0000

Racing thoughts are an extremely common symptom of numerous mental health disorders. When racing thoughts are related to phobias, they typically consist of a never-ending pattern of worries about the feared object or situation. It is tough to simply ignore racing thoughts, but using specific techniques can help. Here's what you should know.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:30:27 +0000

The anxiety disorders include numerous conditions that share exceptionally similar symptoms. This can make accurate diagnosis quite a challenge, even for trained mental health professionals. Generalized anxiety disorder often mirrors such phobias as social phobia and agoraphobia, yet there are subtle clues to the difference between them. Learn more about this complex anxiety disorder here!

Fear of Sunlight

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:30:31 +0000

Like movie vampires, some people live a life in the shadows--working and playing at night, never venturing out into the sun. For some this is a necessity, as the sun causes almost instantaneous blisters and scarring. Yet for others, the fear of sunlight is a phobia based on irrational thought patterns rather than physical illness. Here is a look at this mysterious fear.

Fear of Long Words

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:30:13 +0000

The fear of long words is colloquially known as hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia, a playful addition of hippopotamus and monster to the Latin root. But despite its playful name, the fear can be crippling. What causes this fear and how can you manage it? Find out here!

Fear of Shellfish

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:30:04 +0000

Like all food phobias, the fear of shellfish is often but not always triggered by a negative experience. Shellfish poisoning, allergy concerns and religious upbringing are common causes of shellfish phobias. Learn more about this surprisingly common phobia.

Fear of Knees

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:30:03 +0000

It is possible to develop a phobia of virtually anything, including body parts. The fear of knees is rare, but can have far-reaching implications. Some people are actually afraid of their own knees or those that belong to other people, while others fear the act of kneeling. Learn more about this uncommon phobia here.

Fear of the Number 8

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:28:14 +0000

Number-based phobias run the gamut. Some people are afraid of very large numbers, others of extensive computations. But phobias of individual numbers are surprisingly common. Most of us are familiar with the numbers 13 and 666, but the number 8 is less widely known in the United States. Find out why the number 8 is considered powerful in some cultures, and why some people are of afraid of it!

Body Image and Phobias

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:45:30 +0000

The connection between body image and phobias is relatively complicated. Some phobias can actually lead to body image concerns, while others may be triggered by issues with body image. Sometimes the two actually feed on each other, making it more difficult to get rid of either. Here is an overview of the link between body image and phobias.

Even Celebrities Are Not Immune

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:13:04 +0000

According to Contactmusic.com, British hip-hop artist Tinie Tempah is having a terrible time with his search for a new home. The rapper loves old properties, and is interested in purchasing a historic home. But older houses often come with some unwanted houseguests: rats. Tempah is said to suffer from murophobia, or the fear of rats. A relatively common phobia, this fear could be the only thing that stands between Tempah and his dream home.

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