Phobias

What are Phobias?

Have you heard the words’ claustrophobia’? It’s a fear of enclosed spaces, or ‘arachnophobia’ – a fear of spiders. Each word ends with the word “phobia”, which means an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something.

According to NHS UK, phobias are an overwhelming and debilitating fear of an object, place, situation, feeling or animal.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) describes phobias as marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation.

Symptoms of Phobias

A phobia is an anxiety disorder, and you may not experience any symptoms until you come into contact with your phobia.

Some of the symptoms may be:

• Unsteadiness, dizziness and lightheadedness
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Increased heart rate
• Shortness of breath, trembling or shaking
• Upset stomach

Treatments for Phobias

Most phobias were treated successfully. Simple phobias like the fear of a particular object can be treated through gradual exposure to the object, animal, place or situation that causes the fear or anxiety of the person. This is known as either self-exposure therapy or desensitisation.

Treatments of more complex phobias often take more time and involve talking therapies like counselling, psychotherapy, or cognitive behavioural therapy.

Medication for Phobias

The medications that could be prescribed usually help with the anxiety caused by the particular phobias.

Medicines that may be used include:

• Antidepressants
• Tranquillisers
• Beta-blockers.