Phobia is a common anxiety disorder in which individuals with specific phobia are fearful or anxious about or avoidant of circumscribed objects or situations. The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is almost always immediately induced by the phobic situation, to a degree that is persistent and out of proportion to the actual risk posed.
Types of Specific Phobia
There are various types of specific phobia, such as animal; natural environment; blood-injection-injury; situational; and other situations.
Causes of Phobia
- Specific phobia sometimes develops following a traumatic event (e.g., being attacked by an animal or stuck in an elevator), observation of others going through a traumatic event (e.g. watching someone drown), an unexpected panic attack in the to be feared situation (e.g., an unexpected panic attack while on the subway), or informational transmission (e.g., extensive media coverage of a plane crash).
- Early childhood experiences, such as being separated from a caregiver or experiencing neglect or abuse, can increase the risk of developing phobias later in life.
- Phobia-related disorders can also emerge due to psychological factors like cognitive and behavioral habits. People who have the propensity to overanalyze or catastrophize may be more likely to acquire fears. Similarly to this, people who practice avoidance behaviors, like avoiding circumstances that make them feel anxious or afraid, may strengthen their phobic reaction and make it harder to get over.
Symptoms of Phobia
- Marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation (e.g., flying, heights, animals, receiving an injection, seeing blood). Note: In children, the fear or anxiety may be expressed by crying, tantrums, freezing, or clinging.
- The phobic object or situation almost always provokes immediate fear or anxiety.
- The phobic object or situation is actively avoided or endured with intense fear or anxiety.
- The fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual danger posed by the specific object or situation and to the sociocultural context.
- The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is persistent, typically lasting for 6 months or more.
- The fear, anxiety, or avoidance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
- The disturbance is not better explained by the symptoms of another mental disorder, including fear, anxiety, and avoidance of situations associated with panic-like symptoms or other incapacitating symptoms (as in agoraphobia); objects or situations related to obsessions (as in obsessive-compulsive disorder); reminders of traumatic events (as in posttraumatic stress disorder); separation from home or attachment figures (as in separation anxiety disorder); or social situations (as in social anxiety disorder).
Treatment for Phobia
- Exposure therapy: This involves gently exposing the patient to the thing or circumstance that causes their phobia in a secure and monitored environment. The exposure can aid in the person’s progressive desensitization to the anxiety reaction and train patients in anxiety management.
- Mindfulness-based therapies: These therapy techniques, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) or mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), can help individuals learn to manage their anxiety by increasing their awareness of their thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations. Implementing mindfulness techniques can also help individuals learn skills to cope with stressful situations.
- Medication: Antidepressant medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or benzodiazepines, can be prescribed to help control the symptoms of phobia-related disorders. However, medication alone is usually not enough to address phobias and is often used together with psychotherapy.
- Virtual reality therapy: This is a more recent form of therapy that involves using virtual reality technology to simulate exposure to a feared object or situation. This treatment can be helpful for individuals who have difficulty accessing or exposing themselves to real-life situations.
The specific treatment approach used will depend on the individual’s specific phobia, the intensity of their symptoms, and their personal preferences. A mental health professional can help individuals determine the most appropriate treatment plan for their needs. It’s essential to seek treatment if phobia-related symptoms are interfering with daily life, as untreated phobias can worsen over time and significantly impact a person’s quality of life.
The symptoms of the phobia-related disorder can be debilitating and seriously impede a person’s ability to go about their everyday lives. If you or someone you know is experiencing similar symptoms, it’s important to seek professional help from a mental health provider for an effective treatment plan that is available at the nearest mental healthcare center.
