No need to panic
Many of phobias and minor obsessions share the same root - anxiety. But Jian noted that the causes can be complicated.
For example, the environment that one grew up in can be very important.
Strict, cautious parents may cause their children to have compulsive behaviors. There are biological and physiological reasons too, and the part of the brain that controls anxiety is more sensitive in some people.
Using trypophobia as an example, Jian recommended that if a person thinks about the pictures all of the time for a period of months and cannot focus on their work, they should seek treatment. However, she said most people can get over it without professional help.
"I am afraid of the pictures but sometimes I cannot help looking them up online. I feel more nauseated and creepier each time. It's like I'm spellbound," Li said.
On a forum where people who suffer from trypophobia gather to talk about their problem, Li recently learned about a method to overcome the phobia, called "systematic desensitization." This refers to overcoming fears through gradually increasing exposure. So he started looking up more pictures.
Jian had a word of caution about this technique. "It is a common kind of psychological therapy, but it should be used under strict conditions," she said. "If you use it yourself, you don't know what will happen."
Jian emphasized that quirks like being obsessed by creepy pictures are not a big deal, but if people feel distressed by them to the point that their daily lives are affected, seeking professional help is recommended. "Everybody lives with all sorts of symptoms, and nobody is completely healthy."
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