Exercise #7: Notes done in class as an audience member

Exercise #7: Digital Story Video

Video Link: Digital Story Video: Phobia

Exercise #7: Digital Story Storyboard Screen Shot

Exercise #7: Digital Story Script

Script 

INTRODUCTION

I.      Definition of Phobia

-       A phobia is an excessive and irrational fear reaction. The fear can be of a certain place, situation, or object. Unlike general anxiety disorders, a phobia is usually connected to something specific. People with phobias often realize their fear is irrational, but are unable to do anything about it. Such fears can interfere with your work, school, and personal relationships.

II.    History and background of Phobias

-       People have had phobias for thousands of years but only recently they knew much about those fears or even knew enough to call them by the term phobias.

-       The word doesn’t pop up again in print until 1801, but by the late 1800s, people were starting to use the term a lot.

-       In the late 1800s, medical scientists were busy creating clear, scientific categories of psychological problems.

III.   Statistics and facts about Phobias

-       Common phobias affect nearly 3% of the world’s population.

-       Social phobias are often cultural but they affect people of all kind and surprisingly its affecting more women than men 

-       Phobia statistics reveal that only 23% of all people with phobias seek treatment

-       Nearly 17% of people with social phobias develop depression.

-       Nearly 80% phobics find relief in medicines and Cognitive Behavior Therapy

-       Nearly 15-20% of people experience specific phobias at least once in their life. The majority of them do not seek treatment for these phobias.

BODY

I.      Causes of Phobias

-       Phobias can be caused by genetic and environmental reasons. Children who have a close relative with an anxiety disorder are at risk for developing a phobia. Distressing events can bring on a phobia. Exposure to confined spaces, extreme temperatures, nearly drowning, or an animal or insect bite can all be sources of phobias.

II.    Different Types of Phobias

-       There are more than 100 different phobias. Here are a few of the most common, and some specific phobias.

1.    Agoraphobia

Agoraphiobia is a fear about places or situations from which one cannot escape. People with agoraphobia fear open spaces, large crowds or trapped outside the home. Agoraphobics avoid social situations and stay inside their homes. Many agoraphobics fear they may have a panic attack in a place where they cannot escape.

2.    Social Phobia

This is extreme worry about social situations that can lead to isolation. A social phobia can be so severe that the person can panic over even the simplest interactions, such as ordering at a restaurant or answering the telephone. As with all phobias, the person recognizes the fear as irrational, but he or she cannot seem to do anything stop it. Those with social phobia will often go out of their way to avoid public situations.

3.    Specific Phobia

a)    Glossophobia

Performance anxiety, or the fear of speaking in front of an audience. People with this phobia have severe physical symptoms when they even think about being in front of a group of people.

b)    Acrophobia

The fear of heights. With this phobia, you will avoid mountains, bridges, or the higher floors of buildings.

c)    Claustrophobia

The fear of enclosed or tight spaces. Severe claustrophobia can be especially disabling if it prevents you from riding in cars or elevators.

d)    Aviatophobia

The fear of flying. It is estimated that 10 percent of the population avoids airplane travel because of this phobia.

e)    Dentophobia

Fear of the dentist or dental procedures. This phobia generally develops out of an unpleasant experience at a dentist’s office.

f)     Hemophobia

Fear of blood or injury. A person with hemophobia may faint when they come in contact with his or her own or another person’s blood.

g)    Animal or insect phobia

Fear of spiders, fear of dogs, fear of snakes, etc..

h)   Nyctophobia

Fear of the nighttime or darkness. This phobia almost always begins as a typical childhood fear but if it continuous until the person is adult then its phobia.

III.   10 weirdest phobia cases in UAE

1)    Fear of the color yellow

2)    Fear of cheese

3)    Fear of falling asleep; they relate going to bed with dying

4)    Fear of trees and woods; they develop it from scary movies

5)    Fear of the navel; they are afraid to have their belly buttons touched, or to touch another person's belly button.

6)    Fear of being without mobile phone coverage

7)    Fear of rain

8)    Fear of heaven and life after death

9)    Fear of beards

10) Fear of the number 13

11)         Treatment for Phobias

-       Specific phobias are highly treatable. They are most effectively treated by psychological rather than biological treatments. The primary goal of most treatments of specific phobias is to reduce fear, phobic avoidance, impairment, and distress. Approximately 12% - 30% seek treatment for specific phobias.

CONCLUSION

I.      Summary

-       To sum up, almost everyone has an irrational fear or two but if it’s interfering with your personal or your professional live then you should treat it because phobias can be managed and cured. Self-help strategies and therapy can help you overcome your fears and start living the life you want.