PHOBIAS
OVERCOMING PHOBIAS
Understanding Phobias
Phobias are a focused fear or anxiety of a specific object or situation that spikes immediate anxiety and is often avoided either directly or indirectly. Common phobias are fear of heights, flying, certain animals, needles, and throwing up. The feared objects or situations are either avoided or faced with intense fear or anxiety.
Other Symptoms of a Specific Phobia:
Preoccupation with the triggering stimulus
Using safety-behaviors
Anticipatory anxiety
Avoiding encountering the triggering stimulus
Experiencing physical sensations like palpitations, difficulty breathing, shaking, falling faint and others
Difficulty functioning and concentrating
Feeling overwhelmed or out of control
Evidence-Based Treatment for Phobias
Those with phobias often realize their fear is irrational, but the anxiety is still overwhelming and can provoke avoidance behaviors that disrupt daily routines, work, travel, and relationships.
While the exact causes differ, phobias often develop due to a combination of genetic tendencies, learned experiences or trauma, and attempts to avoid the object/situation. With proper treatment, even longstanding phobias can be overcome. At our practice, we offer specialized phobia treatment using therapeutically proven techniques, such as:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT assists individuals with specific phobia identify and challenge catastrophic beliefs about danger and recognize automatic thoughts regarding their ability to cope with anxiety. Behavioral interventions such as graded exposure and eliminating avoidance, escape, and safety behaviors are part of the treatment process.
Mindfulness Practices
Practicing mindfulness can help individuals develop a different relationship with their mind and learn how to observe their thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations without getting caught up in ideas and opinions. Being mindful means observing our inner experience non-judgmentally while staying present with what we have chosen to focus on.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on cultivating psychological flexibility. ACT helps individuals develop a different relationship with difficult thoughts and make room for unpleasant feelings, and learn new ways to interact with them while making values-based choices in life.
Exposure Therapy
Through systematic, gradual exposure to the feared stimulus in a controlled setting, individuals will learn how to interact with their inner experiences and find new ways to cope with uncertainties. The goal is to help individuals live a fulfilling, values-based life while embracing uncertainty.
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