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Phobias develop by attaching our anxiety / fear to a place, object, person, or animal, often even the thought of that thing can create a feeling of fear.
Phobias are not difficult to understand when you understand what they are. Under panic attacks we understand about the 'fight or flight' process. With phobias we attempt to control our feeling of panic by avoiding objects, places, things, etc. We then convince ourselves that we are in control of our anxiety, in fact we are avoiding a situation because we perceive it as threatening, even though it maybe of no threat at all. When people are confronted by a real threat they have some anxiety,it is normal for a human to prepare for action 'fight or flight' responce, this gets us out of danger. With phobias we attempt to control the feeling of panic by avoiding the objects, places etc, we convince ourselves that we are in control of our anxiety, in fact we are avoiding a situation because we perceive it as threatening even if it may be no threat at all.
Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. Luke 8:37 NIV
When people are confronted by a real threat they have some anxiety to prepare them for action a fight or flight response, and when the danger is removed the anxiety level drops.
The problem with a phobia is avoidance, so as long as we believe that a danger exists (even if it doesn’t) and that it will make us anxious we will continue to avoid it, we can self talk our way into believing our anxiety (feeling of fear) is because of a thing, when in fact it’s because of our own body’s faithful reaction to danger even if it comes to us by thought. You can have a phobia of anything in the universe as long as you associate it with your feelings of anxiety (fear)
But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Luke 12:5 NIV
People who undergo exposure therapy learn that the thing that they were frightened of is not frightening after all, they relax, they have changed their belief and so no longer see a danger. It is important to understand how anxiety works as this destroys the mystery of fear, and without fear comes peace.
Social Phobias
Social phobia is a phobia in the same way as explained in phobias except that is a fear of socializing or being in a social setting.
People can develop social phobia due to what they may have learned, mistaken beliefs or low self confidence, in any event they will feel anxiety of some kind and intensity, from blushing to not being able to talk, through to worried about doing something unacceptable or stupid. All these are based on fear, so the main point is to gain an understanding of why that fear exists and where it came from, so people may need special therapy or counseling to increase self confidence or to look at unresolved issues.
Often understanding how anxiety works in all aspects will help in reducing social phobia, as the mystery of anxiety is revealed.
The bible has some amazing teaching to do with who we are, and how we should act. Christians find great strength in knowing that we are special and important to God and no matter what other people say or think he still loves use for who we are. As we develop in our Christian life we grow in confidence as we exchange our old baggage for a new confidents and belief in ourselves.
Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
Isaiah 12:2 KJV
The apostle Paul found his strength in God, He reminds us that, “I …have …been in prison …frequently, been flogged …severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. …I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. …Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. …I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. [God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 11:23-12:10).
A simple prayer:
Dear Jesus, I thank you and put my trust in you, you are always at my side even when I am frightened; I know that you will never let me down, forgive me for the times that I have disappointed you, guide me and teach me, fill me with your power, I pray for healing and peace in the love and assurance that you died and rose again for me, amen
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