Do you know the differences between phobia and psychological trauma? These are two very different psychopathological conditions, although both share the fact that the person who suffers from them feels a lot of discomfort.
In this article we will explain what they consist of and we will know 4 differences between a phobia and a psychological trauma, equating psychological trauma to what we know in psychology as PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).
Differences between phobia and psychological trauma
To understand the differences between phobia and psychological trauma, we will first explain what each disorder consists of.
1. Phobias
A phobia is a disproportionate, irrational and exaggerated fear of a specific stimulus or situation Fear is accompanied by behaviors of avoidance of the phobic stimulus (or if the phobic stimulus is endured, it is done with high anxiety).
You can have a phobia of anything, which is why there are as many phobias as there are stimuli or objects. For example, phobia of spiders, public speaking, driving, being in closed spaces, clowns, etc.
Phobias are included in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) as anxiety disorders.
2. Psychological traumas
Psychological traumas, on the other hand, involve the experience, exposure or observation of extremely shocking events, which cause a series of dysfunctional and maladaptive symptoms at a physiological, behavioral and psychological level. These events generally involve death, serious injury, or sexual violation.
In relation to psychological traumas, there are a series of mental disorders related to trauma: The best known and most frequently occurring is PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Thus, the term “psychological trauma”, in everyday language, is generally used to talk about PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder); That is why in this article we will use the concept of PTSD to refer to the term psychological trauma.
That is, we will use both concepts as comparable/interchangeable, although we must take into account that there may be small variations in relation to their meaning in common language (for example, someone may talk about a psychological trauma to refer to an Acute Stress Disorder. (ASD) instead of PTSD; ASD is like PTSD but of shorter duration).
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
As we have seen, many times in everyday language the term psychological trauma is used as a synonym for PTSD. But do we really know what PTSD is?
According to the DSM-5, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) involves exposure to the occurrence of death, serious injury or sexual violation; Exposure may be direct, through observation, through knowledge of the event from a family member or friend, or through repeated exposure to details of the event.
This exposure causes a series of characteristic symptoms, which are basically 3: intrusion, avoidance, cognitive and mood disturbances, and hyperarousal (reactivity).
The first symptom, intrusion, is notable, and usually involves re-experiencing the event through distressing memories or dreams, as well as dissociative reactions, significant psychological discomfort, and intense physiological reactions.
An important change in the DSM-5 is that eliminates the necessary criterion of responding with intense fear, helplessness, or horror in the face of such an event that did appear in the DSM-IV; Now that response is not necessary, although logically it can continue to appear in PTSD.
Differences
In relation to the differences between phobia and psychological trauma, we are going to talk about the 4 most important ones:
1. Type of disorder
The first difference we find is its location (or classification) in psychology reference manuals, such as the DSM-5.
In this way, while in said manual the phobia is classified as an “anxiety disorder,” PTSD is classified as a “trauma- or stressor-related disorder.”
2. Triggering stimulus
On the other hand, the stimuli (or events) that trigger PTSD or psychological trauma are events related to death (for example a murder, suicide or a traffic accident), with sexual violence (for example a rape) and with serious injuries (for example a spinal cord injury).
Instead, the stimuli that generate a phobia are “normal” stimuli, in the sense that they do not have to cause real harm (although in some cases they can). That is, they are generally stimuli (for example a storm) or everyday life situations (for example driving, speaking in public…).
3. Determinants of the disorder
Another difference between phobia and psychological trauma is the fundamental element that determines the appearance or not of the disorder So that we see it more clearly; In the case of phobia, it is the individual’s response to such a stimulus (which is disproportionate and irrational) that determines whether a phobia is diagnosed as such.
On the other hand, in psychological trauma, the DSM-IV considered two elements necessary to diagnose PTSD: on the one hand, a response of intense horror, fear or helplessness to the event on the part of the individual, and on the other, the actual exposure to the event (and this was stressful). The DSM-5, for its part, has modified this criterion and considers only the exposure to the event to be necessary, and not the response (although it may still appear).
4. Duration of the disorder
According to the DSM, the duration of a phobia is a minimum of 6 months; while that of a minimum PTSD (or psychological trauma) has to be 1 month.
Here we must emphasize that an ASD or Acute Stress Disorder can appear (also considered a psychological trauma), and that this lasts from three days to a month (the moment it lasts longer, it becomes PTSD).
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PsychologyFor. (2024). The 4 Main Differences Between Phobia and Psychological Trauma. https://psychologyfor.com/the-4-main-differences-between-phobia-and-psychological-trauma/