how many people get treatment for phobias

Common Causes

Phobia statistics reveal that only 23% of all people with phobias;seek treatment for their anxiety. Social phobias affect people of all ages, though they usually begin in adolescence. If phobia statistics and facts are to be believed, then nearly 40% of them begin before the age of 10, while 95% start before the age of 20.

Related Conditions

However, treatment should be continued for as long as required since phobia statistics reveal that 50% of these people also tend to relapse. Specific phobias are characterized by an irrational or unwarranted fear about a specific situation, object or animals. In some cases, these objects of dread can prove to be dangerous.

What are the statistics on phobias?

Only about 40 percent of people with social phobia are being treated. More than a third of those with this disorder wait for 10 years or more before they seek treatment. Only slightly more women than men have a social anxiety disorder.

How long should you treat specific phobias?

Types of Therapy for Phobias Many therapeutic approaches to phobia treatment involve slowly exposing a person to the thing they fear and addressing underlying beliefs that may be contributing to the phobia. Exposure therapy, also known as systematic desensitization, has been shown to be an effective phobia treatment method.

What percentage of people with social anxiety are being treated?

What are the different types of phobia therapy?

What percent of people with phobias seek treatment?

Only about 40% of people with social anxiety disorder are being treated. More than a third of those with this disorder wait for 10 years or more before they seek treatment.

How many people deal with phobias?

Who is affected by phobias? About 19 million Americans have one or more phobias that range from mild to severe. Phobias can happen in early childhood. But they are often first seen between ages 15 and 20.

What percent of the population is affected by phobias?

Prevalence of Specific Phobia Among Adults An estimated 9.1% of U.S. adults had specific phobia in the past year. Past year prevalence of specific phobia among adults was higher for females (12.2%) than for males (5.8%).

What percent of the world's population has a phobia?

Results. The cross-national lifetime and 12-month prevalence rates of specific phobia were, respectively, 7.4% and 5.5%, being higher in females (9.8% and 7.7%) than in males (4.9% and 3.3%) and higher in high and higher-middle income countries than in low/lower-middle income countries.

Which gender has more phobias?

Total point prevalence of any specific phobia was 19.9% (26.5% for females and 12.4% for males). In total, 21.2% women and 10.9% men met criterias for any single specific phobia. Multiple phobias was reported by 5.4% of the females and 1.5% of the males.

What famous person has a phobia?

Celebrities with phobiasKaty Perry: Nyctophobia.Matt Damon: Herpetophobia.Madonna: Brontophobia.Adele: Laridaphobia.David Beckham: Ataxophobia.Britney Spears: Herpetophobia.Rafael Nadal: Nyctophobia.Nicole Kidman: Lepidopterophobia.More items...•

How are phobias treated?

Talking treatments, such as counselling, are often very effective at treating phobias. In particular, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness have been found to be very effective for treating phobias.

What is the number one fear in the world 2020?

Economic hardship, societal anxiety, increased online activity, and renewed debate over the role of police stoked fears of criminal activity. Mass shootings, which decreased during pandemic lockdowns, were still the most feared crime and the third overall fear.

How many teens have phobias?

The Most Common Types of Phobias Just over 15 percent of teens ages 13 to 18 experience specific phobias, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

What is the #1 phobia?

Arachnophobia – Arachnophobia is possibly the most well-known of all phobias. It is the fear of spiders, or arachnids. Estimates put arachnophobia at affecting roughly 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men.

What is the rarest phobia in the world?

21 Rare and Weird Phobias You've Likely Never Heard OfArachibutyrophobia (Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth) ... Nomophobia (Fear of being without your mobile phone) ... Arithmophobia (Fear of numbers) ... Plutophobia (Fear of money) ... Xanthophobia (Fear of the color yellow) ... Ablutophobia (Fear of bathing)More items...•

Can phobias be cured?

Almost all phobias can be successfully treated and cured. Simple phobias can be treated through gradual exposure to the object, animal, place or situation that causes fear and anxiety. This is known as desensitisation or self-exposure therapy.

What are the most common phobias?

Situational phobias, as the name suggests, are linked to a specific situation. Phobia facts state fear of flying (aerophobia) and fear of closed spaces (claustrophobia) are the most common phobias in this group. In contrast, the most common medical phobias are fear of blood (hemophobia) and fear of needles (trypanophobia). 2.

What are some unusual phobias?

The list of unusual phobias is so extensive that we’ll mention only a few of them, starting with a ulophobia (the fear of flutes) and kinemortophobia (fear of zombies). Then, there are symmetrophobia (fear of symmetry), ablutophobia (fear of bathing), and perhaps the most unusual one, arachibutyrophobia.

What is phobia 2021?

By Marija Kovachevska. February 10, 2021. Phobias belong to the class of mental disorders known as anxiety disorders. Phobia statistics show that they are rather common, especially among women. Far from being just irrational fears, they are complex conditions with significant consequences on the everyday life dynamics for the sufferers.

Why do people have peanut butter phobias?

3. The main causes of phobias can be traumas, stress, genetics, learned responses, and responses to fear. (Mind.org) Various factors can cause phobias.

What is the last resort for phobias?

Medications are the last resort for treating phobias because they offer only short-term relief. Antidepressants are prescribed for anxiety, panic disorder, and social phobia; tranquilizers for severe anxiety, while beta-blockers help with anxiety symptoms (e.g., palpitations).

What is a specific phobia?

Specific phobias are fears of specific objects or situations that are usually harmless and not life-threatening. Among the many types of phobias, the most common specific phobias include fear of animals (dogs, snakes), situations (flying), natural environments (storm), blood, etc.

What is the fear of being embarrassed?

Gelotophobia is the fear of being embarrassed or laughed at in social interactions. Various research shows that people who have this phobia more often have problems developing close relationships. Consequently, they tend to feel more lonely than the average population.

What is the best therapy for phobias?

Many therapeutic approaches to phobia treatment involve slowly exposing a person to the thing they fear and addressing underlying beliefs that may be contributing to the phobia. Exposure therapy , also known as systematic desensitization, has been shown to be an effective phobia treatment method.

How to deal with a phobia?

It it often the case that the object of a phobia might present itself without warning. In these instances, there may not be time for a person to seek professional help, and it may be necessary for them to use relaxation techniques in order to cope and avoid escalating their fear response. Coping strategies people may use when forced to expose themselves to a phobia include: 1 Focusing on or slowing down breathing. 2 Learn about your phobia. Sometimes, education about the object of a phobia may help slow down the fear response associated with it. 3 Progressive muscle relaxation. Practice tensing up and relaxing different muscle groups, focusing all attention on that activity.

How to overcome a phobia?

Hypnotherapy may help some manage and overcome a phobia. Most often led by a therapist, hypnotherapy involves taking the person with a phobia through the process of guided visualization. They may imagine they are encountering the object of their phobia and then practice self-soothing techniques. Eye movement and desensitization ...

What is Claudia's phobia of hot water?

Addressing phobia of hot water in therapy: Claudia, 23, enters therapy, reporting an extreme fear of being burned by hot water. Her phobia is such that she experiences extreme anxiety when showering, doing dishes, or washing her hands because she worries the water will suddenly become hotter and burn her.

What is content vs phobia?

Contents v. Phobias. Treatment for Phobias. Types of Phobias. A phobia is a fear related to certain objects or situations. When a phobia is so severe that it interferes with a person’s ability to function, a therapist or other mental health professional may be able to help them address and explore ways to overcome fear, anxiety, ...

Can phobias present themselves without warning?

It it often the case that the object of a phobia might present itself without warning. In these instances, there may not be time for a person to seek professional help, and it may be necessary for them to use relaxation techniques in order to cope and avoid escalating their fear response.

Does Claudia remember her phobia?

The therapist asks Claudia if she remembers when the phobia began, but she cannot tell him. It takes some time in therapy, but eventually Claudia is able to recall several instances from early childhood—the memories of which she had buried—of her mother punishing her by holding her hands under running water.

How many people have phobias?

About 19 million Americans have one or more phobias that range from mild to severe. Phobias can happen in early childhood. But they are often first seen between ages 15 and 20. They affect both men and women equally. But men are more likely to seek treatment for phobias.

What is the best treatment for phobias?

When phobias interfere with a person's life, treatment can help. For specific phobias, cognitive- behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure treatment is advised. In exposure therapy, people are gradually exposed to what frightens them until the fear starts to fade.

What is the fear of panic attacks called?

What is agoraphobia? Agoraphobia involves the fear of having a panic attack in a place or situation from which escape may be hard or embarrassing. The anxiety of agoraphobia is so severe that panic attacks are not unusual. People with agoraphobia often try to avoid the location or cause of their fear.

What is a person's fear of being humiliated?

Social phobia is an anxiety disorder in which a person has significant anxiety and discomfort related to a fear of being embarrassed, humiliated, or scorned by others in social or performance situations. Even when they manage to confront this fear, people with social phobia usually:

What is the fear of people with agoraphobia?

People with agoraphobia often try to avoid the location or cause of their fear. Agoraphobia involves fear of situations like the following: People with agoraphobia typically avoid crowded places like streets, crowded stores, churches, and theaters.

What is a specific phobia?

Specific phobia is an extreme fear of an object or situation that typically isn't harmful. Examples may include a fear of: Flying (fearing the plane will crash) Dogs (fearing the dog will bite or attack) Closed-in places (fear of being trapped) Tunnels (fearing a collapse)

What does it feel like to have a social phobia?

Even when they manage to confront this fear, people with social phobia usually: Feel very anxious before the event or outing. Feel intensely uncomfortable throughout the event or outing. Have lingering unpleasant feelings after the event or outing . Social phobia often happens with the following: Public speaking.

What is a phobia?

What Is It? A phobia is a persistent, excessive, unrealistic fear of an object, person, animal, activity or situation. It is a type of anxiety disorder.

Can phobias dictate your life?

People with these phobias may need to alter their lives drastically. In extreme cases, the phobia may dictate the person's employment, job location, driving route, recreational and social activities, or home environment. To continue reading this article, you must log in.

Examples Of Causes Of Phobias

TOP 10 COMMON PHOBIAS MANY PEOPLE. – 10 Common Phobias Most Of People Have.

Specific Phobia Risk Factors

Risk factors for developing a specific phobia are temperamental, environmental, and genetic. For instance, negative affectivity or behavioral inhibition are temperamental risk factors for a variety of anxiety disorders, including specific phobias.

What Are The Complications Of Phobias

If not treated, a phobia can worsen to the point in which the person’s quality of life is seriously impaired, both by the phobia itself and/or by attempts to avoid or hide it. For example, a fear of flying can result in the sufferer being unable to travel.

Different Kinds Of Phobias

There are many different kinds of phobias. The most common kind is a; social phobia, which can make someone feel scared of being embarrassed in front of other people.

What Percentage Of The Population Has A Phobia

Many people have a specific phobia, a common anxiety disorder that often precedes other psychological issues.;

How Do Phobias Develop

We dont know exactly why phobias develop. Specific phobias tend to begin during childhood, likely because a child’s brain is still learning how to react to certain stimuli.

What Is Social Phobia

If you have social phobia, you will feel a sense of intense fear in social situations. You will often try to avoid them. You might worry about a social event before, during and after it has happened. It is also known as social anxiety or social anxiety disorder.

What is the best treatment for phobias?

Exposure therapy is the gold standard for treating phobias. Many people have also had success with cognitive behavioral therapy, which aims to replace cognitive distortions with realistic ideas about what scares you. If you’ve ever experienced a phobia, you probably already know that the terror you feel isn’t rational.

How to help someone with phobias?

It may be a good idea to work with a therapist to learn mindfulness techniques. Practicing them often on your own as well can help you use them when you’re face-to-face with a phobia. Here are some mindfulness techniques that may be helpful: meditation. deep breathing.

How to reduce anxiety and phobias?

Mindfulness training. Mindfulness techniques can help reduce the level of stress you feel. This technique may not stop the initial rush of anxiety a phobia can release, but mindfulness training may help you lessen the severity of the fear. It may be a good idea to work with a therapist to learn mindfulness techniques.

What is CBT therapy?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) often incorporates the same systematic desensitization methods used in exposure therapy. CBT also focuses on the specific thoughts and beliefs you have associated with the phobias.

How to calm a phobia?

Once you’re equipped to calm yourself when under stress, you and your therapist can build a hierarchy of experiences related to your phobias. Include the least scary ones at the bottom and the biggest fears at the top. Exposure therapy is a way of gradually bringing you closer to something you fear.

How do you know if you need therapy for a phobia?

How to know when you need therapy for a phobia. Lots of people have an unconventional fear or two. Spiders may give you the heebie-jeebies. Your chest may tighten as the airplane you’re on taxis along the runway. Sometimes, being confronted with these fears brings on a barrage of anxiety symptoms like: sweaty palms.

What is a phobia?

SDI Productions/Getty Images. A phobia is a strong but irrational fear of something specific — usually an object, a situation, a person, or an experience. Having a phobia is not uncommon: According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 12.5 percent of U.S. adults will experience a phobia at some point in their lifetimes. ...

How many people have specific phobias?

Here are some specific phobia statistics: Specific phobias begin during childhood and can persist all throughout one’s life. Nearly 15-20% of us experience specific phobias at least once in our life. In the U.S., nearly 8.7% of people (aged 18 and over) have at least one extreme specific fear and nearly 25 million Americans report having ...

What is the best treatment for social phobias?

Apart from prescription medication, Cognitive Behavior Therapy is also a known effective treatment for overcoming social phobias. Many people suffering from these phobias have experienced an impact in their personal and professional lives.

How many people with social phobias are depressed?

Nearly 17% of people with social phobias develop depression. The majority of them turn to medication, even substance abuse with illegal drugs (nearly 17%) or alcohol (nearly 19%). However, the fact remains that anti anxiety medication and antidepressants are the most effective treatment for social phobias.

When do people start having phobias?

Social phobias affect people of all ages, though they usually begin in adolescence. If phobia statistics and facts are to be believed, then nearly 40% of them begin before the age of 10, while 95% start before the age of 20. The more common social phobias include: fear of writing or eating before someone, meeting people of higher authority, ...

What is social phobia?

Social phobia is defined as the extreme fear of social situations where the individual is afraid of being judged by or embarrassed in front of other people. These are some of the most common phobias, affecting nearly 3% of the world’s population. More social phobia statistics:

What are the symptoms of social anxiety?

Typical symptoms of social anxiety phobias are heart palpitations, dry mouth, hot cold flashes and trembling.

How many people have a phobia of flying?

In the U.S., nearly 8.7% of people (aged 18 and over) have at least one extreme specific fear and nearly 25 million Americans report having the fear of flying phobia. Specific phobias, namely Zoophobias, can affect people of all ages, backgrounds or social-economic statuses.

How to help phobias?

Talking treatments. Talking treatments, such as counselling, are often very effective at treating phobias. In particular, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness have been found to be very effective for treating phobias.

What is CBT for phobias?

This is known as desensitisation or exposure therapy.

What is CBT therapy?

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) CBT is a type of counselling that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave. It can be used to develop practical ways of dealing with your phobia.

What is the name of the drug that is used to treat phobias?

Clomipramine (Anafranil) is a type of tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) that's licensed to treat phobias. Side effects include: Moclobemide (Manerix) is a type of antidepressant from the monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) group of antidepressants. It's sometimes prescribed to treat social phobia.

What is the best medication for anxiety?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are most often prescribed to treat anxiety, social phobia or panic disorder. These can include: Venlafaxine (Efexor), a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) may also be prescribed for anxiety. Common side effects of these treatments include:

Can you avoid flying phobias?

However, it may not always be possible to avoid certain phobias, such as a fear of flying. In this instance, you may decide to get professional help and advice to find out about treatment options.

Can you take medication for phobias?

Medication isn't usually recommended for treating phobias, because talking therapies are usually effective and don't have any side effects. However, medication is sometimes prescribed on a short-term basis to treat the effects of phobias, such as anxiety.

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