What are phobias and how are they treated?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are most often prescribed to treat anxiety, social phobia or panic disorder. These can include: escitalopram (Cipralex) sertraline (Lustral) paroxetine (Seroxat) Venlafaxine (Efexor), a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) may also be prescribed for anxiety.
Can phobias ever be treated completely?
· Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered to be an effective method of treating phobias, as CBT helps people in therapy identify and address thought patterns that can have a negative impact on...
What medication is used for the treatment of phobias?
How Behavioral Therapy Plays a Role in the Treatment of Phobias Practicing Thought Stopping Can Keep Unwanted Thoughts Away Successful Mental Health Treatment Depends on Good Therapeutic Rapport How to Find the Right Therapist If You Have a Phobia The Goals of Therapy for Phobia to Help You Reclaim Your Life
What are the treatment options for phobias?
· The most effective treatment for phobias is psychotherapy. This involves working with a specially trained therapist to change your beliefs …
What is the main treatment for phobias?
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 medication is used to treat phobias?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are a group of antidepressants effective for treating anxiety, social phobia, and agoraphobia....Antidepressants (SSRIs) for Social PhobiaCelexa (citalopram)Zoloft (sertraline)Prozac (fluoxetine)Paxil (paroxetine)
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.
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.
Can phobias be curable?
In this instance, you may decide to get professional help and advice to find out about treatment options. Most phobias are curable, but no single treatment is guaranteed to work for all phobias. In some cases, a combination of different treatments may be recommended. The main treatment types are: self-help techniques.
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 CBT for phobias?
This is known as desensitisation or exposure therapy.
How does exposure therapy work?
Exposure therapy works by gradually increasing the level of exposure to your fear, which allows you to gain control over your phobia. As the treatment progresses, you should begin to feel less anxious about 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.
How to help a phobia?
Relaxation techniques, including breathing and physical exercises and visualization may also be practiced as a part of therapy to treat phobias. Visualization in particular may help an individual become better able to carry out tasks, as it may be easier to face a phobia when one first mentally plans each step.
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 a phobia?
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, and other effects of the phobia so they can be less affected by fear as they move ...
Is phobia a mental health condition?
Addressing Phobias in Therapy. For the most part, phobias are a treatable mental health condition. Once treatment has begun, a phobia is likely to improve and generally does not have long-lasting effects. Those experiencing a phobia may obtain significant benefits from therapy, especially when a specific phobia occurs along with another form ...
What is the best treatment for phobias?
Another treatment option for specific phobias that is being explored is glucocorticoids. These are a type of steroid hormone that regulate immune, inflammatory, and stress responses while also potentially affecting learning and memory processes.
Can medications be used for phobias?
As mentioned above, it is believed that medications by themselves are of limited use in the treatment of specific phobias. But there have been investigations into whether some medications might be effective at enhancing therapy treatment of specific phobias when taken alongside, before, or after exposure therapy.
What is the most common antidepressant?
Antidepressants are used to treat depression, but they can also be helpful for treating anxiety disorders. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are the most common antidepressants used as first-line treatments for anxiety.
What is the best medication for anxiety?
Anti-anxiety medication can help rapidly reduce the symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks. The most common of these are called benzodiazepines, which are a type of sedative. These include Klonopin (clonazepam), Valium (diazepam), and Ativan (lorazepam) .
What is the best herbal medicine for anxiety?
The most widely studied herbal medication in relation to anxiety disorders is a compound called kava. This comes from the kava kava plant, which is a member of the pepper family.
Can you avoid phobias?
While avoidance can be useful for some with specific phobia, it can be damaging if it involves changing your life dramatically. Seeking treatment from a medical professional may help you live a healthier and less restrictive life.
What is DCS used for?
One medication that has been explored is D-cycloserine (DCS), which is an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis. It is thought to affect certain receptors, namely NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors, in a part of the brain associated with fear.
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 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 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. ...
What are the symptoms of a phobia?
sweaty palms. an increased heart rate. quick breathing. Phobias magnify those symptoms even further. About half the people who have specific phobias describe them as mild. The other half say their symptoms are moderate to severe. Sometimes, simply thinking about the source of a phobia can prompt a flood of anxiety.
What is exposure therapy?
Exposure therapy is a way of gradually bringing you closer to something you fear. It usually begins first in your imagination, then in various representations, perhaps cartoons, drawings, or photographs. As you approach each one, your therapist guides you in using your relaxation skills to calm your anxiety.
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.
Why is CBT important for anxiety?
This can amplify your anxiety . CBT helps you identify cognitive distortions. These are unhelpful thought patterns that aren’t accurate.
What are the best treatments for phobias?
These should be included in your options: talking treatments. medication.
What is the best medication for phobias?
There are currently three types of drugs considered useful in managing anxiety: Antidepressants. Tranquillisers. Beta-blockers. These are only available through your GP, not over the counter.
Can you seek help for a phobia?
It can sometimes be very difficult to seek help for a phobia. Especially if your triggers include doctors, medical settings, phone calls or leaving the house. If seeking help involves the situation or object you fear, try some of the ideas below: Book a different type of appointment.
What is CBT therapy?
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) aims to: identify connections between thoughts, feelings and behaviour. help develop practical skills to manage any patterns that are causing you problems. CBT can include a range of techniques when used to treat phobias. It may include exposure therapy (known as desensitisation).
What is exposure therapy?
Exposure therapy. Exposure therapy means gradually exposing you to the object or situation you fear. This is carried out in a safe and controlled way. For example, if you have a phobia of the dentist, in exposure therapy you might: read about the dentist. look at pictures of a dentist’s chair. sit in the waiting room.
Can SSRIs cause anxiety?
Unfortunately, you might find increased anxiety is another possible side effect. If SSRIs don't work or aren't suitable, you may be offered alternative medication. For social phobia, you may be offered a reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressant. It may be called moclobemide, or Manerix.
What to do if SSRIs don't work?
If SSRIs don't work or aren't suitable, you may be offered alternative medication. For social phobia, you may be offered a reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressant. It may be called moclobemide, or Manerix. Some foods can have a dangerous reaction with MAOI antidepressants.
What is the best treatment for phobias?
The two main treatments for phobias are: Psychoanalytic therapy . Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) Psychoanalytic therapy to treat phobias. Psychoanalytic therapy is an effective means of phobia treatment because it aims to examine the root cause of a phobia.
Can phobias be treated?
However, a complex phobia can prevent people from universal parts of day-to-day life. There are several explanations for what causes phobias and all phobias can be treated with psychological therapy. Phobias are often thought of as ‘irrational’ fears. In fact, phobias can be better characterised as an anxiety disorder.
Is phobia an anxiety disorder?
Understanding Phobias. Phobias are often thought of as ‘irrational’ fears. In fact, phobias can be better characterised as an anxiety disorder. When a person has a phobia, exposure to that phobia – or even the anticipation of exposure – creates an overwhelming sense of danger.
Is phobia an irrational fear?
Phobias are often thought of as ‘irrational’ fears. In fact, phobias can be better characterised as an anxiety disorder. When a person has a phobia, exposure to that phobia – or even the anticipation of exposure – creates an overwhelming sense of danger.
What does it mean when you have a phobia?
When a person has a phobia, exposure to that phobia – or even the anticipation of exposure – creates an overwhelming sense of danger. For example a photograph of the object the person is phobic of or being in an environment where they’re likely to come across the object.
Is arachnophobia a phobia?
Arachnophobia (fear of spiders) is a common phobia, as is ophidiophobia (fear of snakes). There are also situational phobias such as aviophobia (fear of flying) as well as environmental, like acrophobia (fear of heights). Many people with ‘simple’ phobias often don’t find it to be a hindrance to their day-to-day lives.
What is the fear of crowded spaces?
For some, the anxiety can be so severe that they may find it debilitating. A common example of this is agoraphobia, the fear of open and crowded spaces. People who experience agoraphobia may find themselves having panic attacks in such spaces. It’s our psychological instinct to avoid the subjects of our phobias.
What is the best treatment for phobias?
The best treatment for specific phobias is a form of psychotherapy called exposure therapy. Sometimes your doctor may also recommend other therapies or medication. Understanding the cause of a phobia is actually less important than focusing on how to treat the avoidance behavior that has developed over time.
How does treatment help with phobias?
The goal of treatment is to improve quality of life so that you're no longer limited by your phobias. As you learn how to better manage and relate to your reactions, thoughts and feelings, you'll find that your anxiety and fear are reduced and no longer in control of your life. Treatment is usually directed at one specific phobia at a time.
What is cognitive behavioral therapy?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) involves exposure combined with other techniques to learn ways to view and cope with the feared object or situation differently. You learn alternative beliefs about your fears and bodily sensations and the impact they've had on your life.
How to deal with phobias?
Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation or yoga, may help cope with anxiety and stress. Physical activity and exercise may be helpful in managing anxiety associated with specific phobias.
How to overcome phobias?
You can also take some steps on your own: Try not to avoid feared situations. Practice staying near feared situations as frequently as you can rather than avoiding them completely.
How to help a child who is scared?
Don't trivialize the problem or belittle your child for being afraid. Instead, talk to your child about his or her thoughts and feelings and let your child know that you're there to listen and to help.
What are the effects of benzodiazepines on the body?
These drugs block the stimulating effects of adrenaline, such as increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, pounding heart, and shaking voice and limbs that are caused by anxiety. Sedatives. Medications called benzodiazepines help you relax by reducing the amount of anxiety you feel.
What is the treatment for phobias?
Those with a clinically diagnosed phobia might consider seeking professional treatment using one of the following treatment methods: Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT): a form of psychotherapeutic treatment that focuses on exploring the patterns of thinking that lead to inappropriate responses in an individual.
How effective is phobia therapy?
Thankfully, phobias are highly treatable, and treatments are usually very effective. Many who receive therapy for phobias see significant results in as little as 1-4 treatment sessions. Some utilize self-help strategies for dealing with and treating phobias, which may be effective for certain individuals.
What is the difference between phobia and anxiety?
Anxiety and Phobias. A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder that describes an excessive and irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation. Phobias involve intense fear surrounding an object or situation that realistically poses little or no real danger. They are different from common fears in that the associated anxiety is so strong ...
What is a specific phobia?
Specific Phobia: Going to extreme lengths to avoid an activity or object because of fear of danger or harm. Examples: Fear of heights, snakes, spiders. Social Phobia: A fear of being humiliated or underperforming in social situations. Also known as social anxiety disorder.
How do you know if you have a phobia?
When faced with the specific object, activity, or situation that is the subject of intense fear, an individual with a phobia may exhibit the following symptoms: Uncontrollable feelings of anxiety, dread, and panic. Rapid heart rate. Difficulty breathing.
What are the symptoms of phobia?
When faced with the specific object, activity, or situation that is the subject of intense fear, an individual with a phobia may exhibit the following symptoms: Uncontrollable feelings of anxiety, dread, and panic. Rapid heart rate.
What are some examples of social anxiety?
Also known as social anxiety disorder. Examples: Fear of public speaking, public restrooms, eating in front of others. Agoraphobia: Feeling discomfort in situations where escape is difficult or help is not readily available. Examples: Fear of leaving the house, public transportation, small spaces.
Therapies
Prescription Medications
Adjunctive Treatment
- As mentioned above, it is believed that medications by themselves are of limited use in the treatment of specific phobias. But there have been investigations into whether some medications might be effective at enhancing therapy treatment of specific phobias when taken alongside, before, or after exposure therapy.
Alternative Treatments
- A number of alternative treatments are thought to be useful in the treatment of specific phobias and other phobia-related disorders.
Summary
- The first-line treatment for specific phobia is exposure therapy. Prescription medications are not considered to be effective as the only treatment. But antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and beta blockers might be used in addition to therapy or to treat comorbid conditions. Treatments with D-cycloserine and glucocorticoids have been studie...
A Word from Verywell
- If you are struggling with specific phobia, effective treatment is available. While avoidance can be useful for some with specific phobia, it can be damaging if it involves changing your life dramatically. Seeking treatment from a medical professional may help you live a healthier and less restrictive life. If you have a loved one experiencing specific phobia, remember that it is a m…