Signs Of A Phobia

Rapid Heartbeat

When fear sparks in the brain, the 'fight or flight' response is activated. Adrenaline fills the body, muscles contract, and the entire system is poised to either fight the source of the fear or to run from it. This is a survival instinct shared among most animals. The body requires a great deal of energy to burn for this response, and as a result, the heart is working a great deal to keep the body poised to fight or retreat. In fact, a rapid heartbeat is often the first sign of a phobia. If a person examines something that causes them great fear, their heart starts to pound in response to it, and that survival instinct is switched on. Because of how the mind works, when it detects a rapid heartbeat and the response of the body, in turn, you can become very aware of the condition of your body. This may only further increase the rate of your heart and cause the problem to worsen. So, if you ever look at or experience something and your heart suddenly starts to increase its pulse, you may be experiencing an episode from a phobia.

Continue reading to learn how fear can affect your everyday life.