1. How Do Phobias Affect Everyday Life? A presentation by: Ailyn Gonzalez Northeast High School Magnet Program

2. Importance of Topic I became interested in the topic after I developed a phobia of being in a car. It is important to me because I was curious as to how I developed this phobia. I hope to learn how phobias develop and what happens in severe cases.

3. The focus of my paper was intended to investigate the following: What a phobia is What happens in severe cases of a phobia How these phobias affect a person’s everyday life and everyday activities How phobias are treated

4. What is a phobia? A phobia is a strong but irrational fear of something (Korgeski 4). There are many reasons as to why a person may develop a phobia. Having a phobia makes it hard for someone to perform daily activities. Some people’s phobias become so extreme that the person starts to develop other disorders.

5. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Obsessive-compulsive disorder is defined as unwelcome thoughts and/or irresistible urges to perform certain acts or rituals (Issues & Controversies 2010). OCD is made up of obsessions and compulsions. Those who have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder are not “crazy”

6. How OCD Affects Everyday Life The severity of OCD varies. Many adults with OCD experience social isolation and marital problems. Nearly all people with this disorder are depressed. Persons with OCD are “the world’s greatest actors and actresses” (Sebastian 46).

7. Panic Disorder A panic is defined as an episode of intense fear (Rachman 1). The fear is generally accompanied by unpleasant bodily sensations, difficulty in reasoning, and a feeling of imminent catastrophe (Rachman 1). Some panics are expected, while others are anticipated.

8. How Panics Affect Everyday Life Episodes may occur as often as daily or several times per week. Most episodes of panic are distressing. A person’s personal life, marriage, employment and travel will all be affected.

9. Treatments The most effective treatments for OCD and panic disorder are medications and behavior therapy. Medications help reduce depression in patients with OCD and reduces anxiety in those with panic disorder. Behavior therapy slowly exposes the patient to their fear in attempt to eliminate their fear.

10. Conclusion Those who suffer from phobias have to overcome many obstacles. People will be plagued by their fears everyday of their lives. However, people with phobias are victims; they should not be viewed as mentally insane.

11. Works Cited “Anxiety and Panic Disorders Health Center: Phobias-Topic-Overview.” WebMD, 2010. Web 15 Nov 2010. <http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/tc/phobias-topic-overview>. Korgeski, Gregory. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Phobias. New York, NY: Penguin Group, 2009. Print. “Mental Disorders Defined (sidebar).” Issues and Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues and Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 4 Feb. 2000. Web. 19 Dec. 2010. <http://www.2facts.com/article/ib500210>. Rachman, Stanley, and Padmal De Silvia. Panic Disorder 2nd ed. Great Britain: Oxford Universtity Press, 2004. Print. Rapoport, Judith. The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Washing: The Experience and Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. New York, NY: E.P. Dutton, 1989. Print. Sebastian, Richard. Compulsive Behavior. Philadelphia, PA. Chelsea House Publishers, 1993. Print.