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What Causes Fear Of Unknown Phone Calls And Emails?

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Posted on Sat, 21 Nov 2015
Question: hi,
i am 33yrs old unmarried from last 5yrs i face some wierd problem,whenever i see a new phone number or email i will be afraid.I will think like what if i send them wrong messages.Till now i am calming down by thinking without typing nothing can be typed wrong so be relaxed.But i want to know why this is happening to me all the time now i try to avoid listening if anyone spells out phone numbers or email ID.But while working i freely send messages to emails in my office and i can send messages freely to my friends from my phone without any worry.

hope you understood my problem.Is this depression ? anxiety ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
It is phobia

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.

The problem described by you is classically meets criteria for phobic disorder or a irrational fear without any base.

The problem is quite common and almost every fifth person experiences one or another phobic disorder in his life.
This happens because we attach fear kind of emotions to a neutral stimulus. In your case you have attached fear to unknown XXXXXXX and SMSs which are neutral to almost all of us.

Having said this the problem can be corrected by systemic desensitization a kind of psychotherapy. I hope you will find one expert for this therapy in your city. In case no one is available you can approach any of psychiatrist in your city as they are well versed in treatment of phobic disorders.

I hope this helps you.
If you have more questions feel free to write back to me.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (4 hours later)
Hi XXXXXXX

Thanks for your reply.

As per my symptoms will you consider my condition is severe ? Did i get these symptoms due to depression ? Due to these symptoms i am experiencing excess gas also,i feel stomach burn at that moment but i dont feel stomach burn when i am relaxed.

Currently i am going to gym regulary and will do strengthening exercises for 1hr excluding threadmill for 15mins along with these i am doing breathing exercises.

Is there any way to control these without psychotherapy ?

psychotherapy means how long it should be done ?




doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (43 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
They are not serious at present but there is risk of becoming serious

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for reverting back to me.

I will not call them serious but if remain untreated they can be quite serious to affect your functioning. As you can understand that if the current fear is multiplied by two or three it will be difficult to function properly.

The depression is different thing from what you experiencing. Gas problem, stomach burn are manifestation of stress rather than depression. We all experience stress but it becomes excessive it brings out negative changes in our body.

The only treatment for phobic disorder is psychotherapy which can be called talk therapy. In this an expert changes your thinking process in positive manner to detach the association of fear with neutral stimulus.

What you are doing is relaxation in form of exercise and all these things. This is helpful in phobic disorder but not complete treatment.

I am writing down few of the strategies that will help you in management of stress leading to reduction of your phobic problem.

1. Diet: Ensure intake of adequate quantity of fiber. 2 servings of vegetable salad and 2 servings of fruits( One preferable citrus fruit). Avoid junk food and fast food especially pizza, burgers and excessive sweets

2. Ensure adequate water intake: Follow rule of 1 which i usually advise. 1 glass of water 1 hour before and 1 glass of water 1 hour after every meals will ensure adequate consumption of water . Recommended intake of water is 2 to 3 liter a day.

3. Early morning Exercise: Brisk walking for 30 minutes at a stretch preferably in garden will be very helpful. Walking is the best exercise, it also promotes release of Endorphins( naturally occuring pain killers released in brain) which causes mood elevation and generalized feeling of well being.

4. Avoid tea/coffee/ nicotine and alcoholic beverages: If at all you want to drink something, drink fresh lime water. It is very much refreshing.

5. Start your day with a glass of Lemon water with 2 spoons of honey added. have a good breakfast.
T
6. Don't take work so seriously: We all have the feeling to excel in our respective fields and don't spend adequate time with our own self trying to understand our own needs.
Spend time with your family and friends.

7. While working take frequent regular breaks: Taking regular breaks will not waste the time, but it will definitely increase the productivity, concentration and reasoning. Take break for 5 minutes every 30 minutes.
Close your eyes and rotate the eye balls for couple of minutes

8. Avoid late night socialization

9. Avoid starring for longer time at the computer screen or TV for longer time

10. Steam inhalation before going to sleep will be very refreshing

11. Multivitamin and Calcium supplement.

12. Meditation and Yoga


I hope this helps you.
Thanks and regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (45 minutes later)
hi XXXXXXX

thanks for detailed answer.

how long the entire psychotherapy takes ?

Any reason why i am experiencing these kind of symptoms ? as you said its common just curious to know.

I am guessing due to watching lot of news i might have lead to this negative thinking.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (53 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
it takes 8-10 weeks

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up.

Although duration of treatment depends on the severity of the problem but in most cases it takes almost two to three months or 8-12 weekly sessions.

As I explained above it occurs due to establishment of wrong emotional associations with neutral stimulus due to some childhood experiences.

Childhood experiences are not in our control and can happen to anybody that's why they are common.

I do not approve your guess as mechanism of development is different as explained.

I hope this completes your query.
Thanks and regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (9 hours later)
hi,
thanks for your clarification.

I dont have any issues or experiences in my childhood.

Anyway i will also meet a doctor here in USA.

doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Mostly the issues are trivial and not known

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up.

Mostly the issues are trivial and do occur in a period when we can not preserve memories. Upto five years of age we do not have any recall and that is the most crucial period in development of phobia.

I hope this clarifies.
Thanks and regards
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2000

Answered : 3355 Questions

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What Causes Fear Of Unknown Phone Calls And Emails?

Brief Answer: It is phobia Detailed Answer: Dear XXXXXXX Thanks for using Healthcaremagic. The problem described by you is classically meets criteria for phobic disorder or a irrational fear without any base. The problem is quite common and almost every fifth person experiences one or another phobic disorder in his life. This happens because we attach fear kind of emotions to a neutral stimulus. In your case you have attached fear to unknown XXXXXXX and SMSs which are neutral to almost all of us. Having said this the problem can be corrected by systemic desensitization a kind of psychotherapy. I hope you will find one expert for this therapy in your city. In case no one is available you can approach any of psychiatrist in your city as they are well versed in treatment of phobic disorders. I hope this helps you. If you have more questions feel free to write back to me. If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback. In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link: http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386 Thanks and regards