"Phobia, Mania And Philia....."

It's day 109 of documenting 2025.

Happy Weekend, my friend 🎀
I hope your week was as exciting as mine.
And not as stressful....

By the way, the 10-week period is over!
JAMB is starting next week!
Am I nervous? A little bit...
I believe that whatever happens, it will all turn out fine 🤞🏼

Anyhoo....
Yesterday was the second day I decided to try the no-eating-in-the-morning plan.
AKA intermittent fasting.
Had to leave home early tho...
The English class was slated for 9am and I got there 25 minutes earlier.

My closest friend asked why I didn't eat before going.
I also explained to him about "adding a little discomfort" for a short while, till my exam is done and over with.
I did CBT study on my phone...as well as doing an exercise on oral English.
(I got 47 out of 60, by the way 😁)

By the time it was 15 minutes to 3pm, my phone was charged up and I called my closest friend.
He prayed with me over the phone and sponsored my lunch.
Such a darling 🥰
A few errands and some good food later, I was satisfied and ready for the second phase of the tutorial....the evening class.

Yada yada yada....
I got home by 7pm and my brain was exhausted.
Couldn't even stare at my note....or my head would have exploded.
So I decided to engage Meta AI, who I call Cindy in an interesting chat.
Here's how it started 👇🏼

Me: What does fear actually mean, in a psychologist's point of view?

Meta AI: From a psychologist's perspective, fear is an emotional response to a perceived threat, whether it's physical, emotional, or psychological. It's a natural response that helps protect us from harm, but excessive or irrational fear can be debilitating.

Me: Hmm 🤔
Natural response
So, what are the fears we humans are born with?

Meta AI: According to psychologists, humans are born with two innate fears: the fear of loud noises and the fear of falling. All other fears are learned through experiences and environment.

Me: Really?
I used to be afraid of falling from high places as a kid.
So my initial childhood fear of heights is inborn?

Meta AI: Not exactly.
While it's common for people to develop a fear of heights, research suggests that the fear of heights (acrophobia) is often learned through experiences, like a traumatic event or observing others' behaviors.
It's not considered an innate fear, but rather a common one that many people develop over time. Your childhood fear might have been influenced by various factors, like environment or learned behaviors.

Me: Oh okay
So a phobia is essentially a fear of something?

Meta AI: A phobia is an intense, irrational fear of something that poses little to no actual danger.
It's a type of anxiety disorder that can cause significant distress and impact daily life. Phobias can be specific, like a fear of spiders, or broader, like a fear of social situations.

Me: Anxiety disorder?
Please explain in simple terms

Meta AI: An anxiety disorder is a mental health condition where feelings of anxiety, worry, or fear are overwhelming and interfere with daily life.
It's like having a persistent sense of unease that's hard to control, even when there's no clear reason for it.

Me: It's not a serious case, right?
I'm thinking it's something most of us usually deal with.

Meta AI: Anxiety disorders can range from mild to severe. Many people experience some level of anxiety, and it's common to feel anxious in response to stress or uncertainty.
However, for some individuals, anxiety can be debilitating and significantly impact their daily lives. It's essential to acknowledge and address anxiety, rather than dismissing it.

Me: Okay, let's get into phobias
Is there a phobia for losing someone or something very valuable?

Meta AI: Yes, there is.
Some people experience Thanatophobia (fear of loss or death of a loved one) or Athazagoraphobia (fear of being forgotten or losing someone). There's also a fear of loss in general, which can be related to attachment issues or anxiety. However, the fear of losing something valuable is often tied to specific anxieties or obsessive thoughts.

Duon Ada: Wow 😲
How are these phobias named, by the way?

Meta AI: Phobias are typically named using Greek or Latin roots. The name usually consists of the root word related to the feared object or situation, followed by the suffix "-phobia," which comes from the Greek word "phobos," meaning fear or morbid fear.
For example, "arachnophobia" comes from the Greek word "arachne," meaning spider.

Me: Oh! That's cool
So, what's the fear of success called?

Meta AI: That's an interesting one. The fear of success is often referred to as "achieviphobia" or more commonly, the fear of success can be tied to specific anxieties or psychological dynamics, sometimes it's related to fear of increased responsibility, fear of change, or fear of losing one's current identity.

Me: Interesting.... 🤔
How about the fear of being criticized for one's choice.

Meta AI: That sounds like it could be related to "Allodoxaphobia", which is a fear of opinions or a fear of being judged.
However, a more fitting description might be related to social anxiety or a fear of rejection, where the fear of criticism or judgment from others impacts one's decisions or actions.

Me: Intriguing name...
Are phobias typically studied in Psychology?

Meta AI: Yes, phobias are a significant area of study in psychology, particularly in the fields of abnormal psychology, clinical psychology, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Researchers and clinicians study phobias to understand their causes, symptoms, and effective treatments, such as exposure therapy.

Me: Nice 🙂
I'm going to like that
Now, I want to ask...
What's the difference between a phobia, a mania and a philia?

Meta AI: Phobia refers to an irrational fear or aversion. Mania typically refers to an intense enthusiasm or obsession, often in a positive sense. Philia, on the other hand, refers to a strong liking, fondness, or love for something.

Think of it like a spectrum: phobia (fear) on one end, philia (love) on the other, and mania (obsession) somewhere in between, but leaning towards intense passion.

Me: Give me a summary of our conversation and a befitting conclusion.

Meta AI: Here's a summary:
We discussed phobias, exploring how they're often learned rather than innate, and how they can be intense, irrational fears that impact daily life.
We touched on anxiety disorders, and how they're a common experience for many people.

We also dived into specific phobias, like the fear of losing someone or something valuable, and the fear of success.
Additionally, we talked about how phobias are named using Greek or Latin roots, and how they're studied in psychology. Finally, we compared phobias to manias and philias, highlighting their differences.

In conclusion, phobias are complex and fascinating topics that can reveal a lot about human psychology and behavior.
By understanding and exploring phobias, we can gain insights into our own fears and anxieties, and develop empathy for others who may be struggling with similar issues.

Me: Nice one, Cindy!
Thanks for the chat 😊

Meta AI: You're welcome! It was great chatting with you too! Don't hesitate to reach out if you have more questions or just want to chat. Have a wonderful day! ✨

Yep!....this dialogue reveals a lot.
Psychology can be deep, but it's completely fascinating.
Once in a while, try to read up on phobias and philias.
A little knowledge won't hurt, right?
On that note, it's time for highlights.

365 Days With Self-discipline
📌 On The Size Of Containers

"Moviegoers who were given fresh popcorn ate 45.3% more popcorn when it was given to them in large containers.
This container-size influence is so
powerful that even when the popcorn was disliked, people still ate 33.6% more popcorn when eating from a large container than from a medium-size container."
Quote by Brian Wansink

"Sometimes weird tips can go a long way toward helping you accomplish some common goals, such as losing weight."

"If you want to eat less, and consequently, increase your chances of success when dieting without the need for more willpower, consume in smaller containers: smaller plates, bowls, and glasses."

"As a bonus random dieting tip for today, if you’re struggling not to eat something, go and brush your teeth.
For some strange reason, brushing your teeth — at least in my experience — makes you less likely to indulge, probably because you don’t want to lose the freshness you now feel in your mouth (plus things don’t taste well immediately after brushing your teeth, so it gives you time to pause and think before you cheat)."

I totally agree with this one
After brushing, I tend to move away from anything called food.
That way, the freshness in my mouth stays longer.
It's a nice way to trick the mind into submission.
Try it sometime!

That's all for today's post.
Thanks for reading, my friend 🎀
To catch up on former posts, visit Documenting 2024.
And if you want to learn content writing without joining any group, just follow the Mystique Content Writers channel on Whatsapp.
See you there 😉

I'm Duon Ada
I'm documenting 2025.
And I'll see you tomorrow
Ciao 💕