Fear & Phobias
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Fear & Phobias Pastor Dave Tayman Cayman International Assembly April 7, 2013 Video Clip Funny Phobias I have found a list of 538 Phobias in my research for this series. 538 documented, catalogued, certified phobias. A phobia (from the Greek: φόβος, Phóbos, meaning "fear" or "morbid fear") is, when used in the context of clinical psychology, a type of anxiety disorder, usually defined as a persistent fear of an object or situation in which the sufferer commits to great lengths in avoiding, typically disproportional to the actual danger posed, often being recognized as irrational. Alektorophobia (alektorophobia) Fear of chickens. Anglophobia (anglophobia) Fear of England or English culture, etc. Anuptaphobia (Anuptaphobia) Fear of staying single. Ecclesiophobia (ecclesiophobia) Fear of church. Ergophobia (Ergophobia) Fear of work. Panophobia or Pantophobia (panophobia or pantophobia) Fear of everything. Fear injects itself into our lives at the worst possible times almost as if it has orchestrated things for maximum effect. Fear is unique to every person. Fear is rarely rational or reasonable. When it is justified, our fear is often disproportionate to the situation. Yet Fear is a very real emotion that all of us have to face. Fear can also be our friend if we learn to respect it and not allow it to paralyse us. What is it that we fear the most? Is it a phone call? “We have your daughter at the station. You’d better come down.” Is it a letter on the kitchen table? “I’ve left. Don’t try to reach me. Don’t try to call me. It’s over. I just don’t love you anymore.” Is it a diagnosis from the doctor? “I’m afraid our news is not very good.” Is it the “Pink Slip” at work? “We regret to inform you that your services are no longer required” One writer put it this way: We fear nothingness, insignificance. We fear evaporation. We fear that in the last tabulation we make no contribution to the final sum. We fear coming and going and no one knowing. That’s why it bothers us when a friend forgets to call or a colleague takes credit for something we’ve done. They are affirming our deepest trepidation: No one cares. Fearless Lucado, M Matthew 8:23–27 (NLT) 23 24 Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 26 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and 27 rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!” In this account of the storm on the Sea of Galilee there are several interesting things we can learn but one of the most important is the connection between “the absence of faith” and the “presence of fear”. According to Jesus, the disciples were so afraid because they had so little faith. In our world today FAITH has become something that is frowned upon and is constantly criticized and ridiculed. Is it possible that there is a connection between that attitude and the fact that the cases of clinical anxiety is rapidly increasing? Did You Know? ● Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older (18% of U.S. population). ● Anxiety disorders cost the U.S. more than $42 billion a year, almost onethird of the country's $148 billion total mental health bill, according to "The Economic Burden of Anxiety Disorders," a study commissioned by ADAA (The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 60(7), July 1999). ● People with an anxiety disorder are three to five times more likely to go to the doctor and six times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders than those who do not suffer from anxiety disorders. Facts: Anxiety and StressRelated Disorders Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) GAD affects 6.8 million adults, or 3.1% of the U.S. population. Women are twice as likely to be affected as men. Panic Disorder 6 million, 2.7% Women are twice as likely to be affected as men. Very high comorbidity rate with major depression. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 7.7 million, 3.5% Women are more likely to be affected than men. Rape is the most likely trigger of PTSD: 65% of men and 45.9% of women who are raped will develop the disorder. Childhood sexual abuse is a strong predictor of lifetime likelihood for developing PTSD. Social Anxiety Disorder 15 million, 6.8% Equally common among men and women, typically beginning around age 13. According to a 2007 ADAA survey, 36% of people with social anxiety disorder report experiencing symptoms for 10 or more years before seeking help. Specific Phobias 19 million, 8.7% Women are twice as likely to be affected as men. Anxiety disorders affect one in eight children. Research shows that untreated children with anxiety disorders are at higher risk to perform poorly in school, miss out on important social experiences, and engage in substance abuse. Older Adults Anxiety is as common among older adults as among the young. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most common anxiety disorder among older adults, though anxiety disorders in this population are frequently associated with traumatic events such as a fall or acute illness. Perhaps, if we were to take the words of Jesus seriously we could find the solution to the growing prevalence of Fear and Anxiety in our society. Matthew 10:26–32 (NLT) 26 “But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 27 What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear! 28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. 32 “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. Mark 5:35–36, 41–42 (NLT) 35 While he (Jesus) was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.” 36 But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” . 41 Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!” 42 And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed. Faith allows us to take God at His Word and act with the confidence that it assures. If we place our faith in God, He has promised in His Word, the Bible, that He will honor that faith. Matthew 21:22 (NLT) 22 You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” The key here is the object of our faith! Our faith is only as effective as the object in which it is placed! Psalm 20:7–8 (NIV84) 7 8 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. We usually fear what we cannot control but God is in control so when we get to know and understand the true nature of God and His incredible love for us we are then able to place our faith in Him 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. When we come to the realisation that God is in love with us and He is on our side It then becomes possible to Trust Him to do what is in our best interest. Romans 8:31 (NLT) 31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? How do you think you could face your fears if you knew that God is for you? God is on your side! Now it is your turn to embrace Him!.