Widespread fears stifle normal life

Matthew Stevenson suffered the effects of severe phobia for 31 years. Photo / Janna Dixon

More than a million New Zealanders are living with fear.

Latest figures from the Health Ministry reveal up to 25 per cent of Kiwis suffer from a severe phobia, much higher than previous estimates of around 16 per cent.

"It's a huge figure and it's a severe disability because phobias limit people's lives," says Phobic Trust chief executive Marcia Read.

The term applies to a wide range of anxiety disorders, often far more complex than a simple fear of heights, dogs or spiders.

Social phobia
This is the most common phobia and can be seen as an extreme form of shyness.

"It's when people feel that other people are looking at them and condemning them," says Read. "Sometimes a person with social phobia can do the most amazing things yet they can't sit at a table with their families, can't go to school, can't go to work, can't answer telephones."

Clinical psychologist Dr Aloma Parker says population increases can make this worse. Going to the supermarket can be overwhelming, for example.

Agoraphobia
This is a fear of being unable to escape from a situation and comes from the Greek word for marketplace. It often triggers panic attacks and can be characterised by an avoidance of situations that are feared will cause a panic attack.

"Some people can't go out of their homes or can go out but can't do other things," says Read. "We treat numbers of young people who can't go to school and people who can't go to work."

Obsessive compulsive disorder
This involves obsessive thoughts that provoke compulsive rituals. OCD is often linked to a contamination phobia marked by repetitive hand-washing.

Psychological therapist Jock Matthews, director of Auckland's Rojolie Clinic, says last year's swine flu panic and health recommendations about hand washing was tough for many of his clients.

Specific phobias
Phobias can be attached to "just about anything you can imagine", says Dr Parker. They can be triggered by an event or occur for no obvious reason at all. The more common include dogs, spiders, heights, flying and using lifts.

Phobias involving driving on motorways are common and Dr Parker has seen many people who fear driving over the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Treatment involves breaking the fear down into small steps.

Matthews says bird phobias are also common, and balloon phobias also occur, usually triggered by getting a fright from one popping.

Specific phobias are relatively easy to treat if the sufferer seeks help. Facing the fear in small steps or becoming gradually desensitised to it are usually successful.

Body dysmorphia
Included under the umbrella of anxiety disorders, body dysmorphia is a crippling anxiety about one's appearance and often focused on a specific body part or aspect.

"People with body dysmorphia often go down the route of cosmetic surgery and end up being terribly unhappy with the results," says Parker.

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
Sufferers are often termed "worriers" - they are anxious about almost everything. "There is always a vague or distinct danger or threat that totally consumes them," says Parker.

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Trust instils confidence

Severe phobia ruled the first 31 years of Matthew Stevenson's life.

"From about the age of 4 I noticed a lot of shyness - I would cling to my mother's side in social situations," he says. "I always knew there was an issue there that would prevent me from having a quality of life."

Stevenson, 35, tried to ignore the overwhelming anxiety he felt at school and attempted to make friends.

But in his late teens he began to binge drink to cope. Soon after he started smoking cannabis and hanging around with a "dodgy crowd".

Four years ago he found the Phobic Trust and turned his life around. He was diagnosed with severe social phobia and through a lot of hard work, has begun to improve his quality of life.

The trust's chief executive Marcia Read says the change has been remarkable. "When Matthew first came in, he couldn't look at anything but the floor."

He's now a confident, engaging man who feels an optimism about life he has never felt before.

"I'm gaining confidence to get out there and do what I want and finally kick life up the backside, and not have it kick me up the backside."


* The Phobic Trust runs a 24-hour helpline: 0800 142 694 389