"Fears and phobias: how to understand and overcome them."

Fear is the body's natural response to threats, which helps us survive.

However, when fear takes on excessive forms or arises unreasonably, it can turn into a phobia - an excessive and disproportionate fear of certain objects, situations or even thoughts. Phobias, such as agoraphobia or social phobia, can significantly limit a person's daily life, preventing them from functioning normally.

The main difference between fear and phobia lies in their intensity and impact on behaviour.

Fear is a temporary feeling that usually goes away when the source of the threat disappears. A phobia, on the other hand, causes lasting and disproportionate discomfort, causing a person to avoid situations or objects associated with that fear.

Identifying fears and phobias is an important step to overcoming them.

Physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat or sweating, emotional reactions such as anxiety or panic, and behavioural patterns such as avoidance of certain situations can help identify them. People can experience fears for a variety of reasons: due to past trauma, uncertainty or loss of control. Some fears may be inherited, while others are shaped by life experiences.

It is important to realise that fears and phobias can have a serious impact on mental health.

They can cause stress, anxiety and even depression, as well as limit daily activities and social interactions. Therefore, it is useful to use a variety of strategies to overcome fears. For example, relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation can help to manage stress. Cognitive-behavioural therapy can explore and change negative thoughts and behavioural patterns associated with fears. Exposure therapy, based on gradual habituation to the source of the fear, can also be effective. It is also important to get support from professionals - psychologists or psychotherapists - who can help you deal with the causes and overcome the fears. Taking decisive steps to overcome fears is the key to restoring psychological well-being and quality of life.