What Are Phobias?
A phobia is an intense and irrational fear of an object or living creature (e.g. spiders, snakes), situation (e.g. heights) or place. They are a common problem, but vary greatly in type and level of impairment caused. Some people may avoid all encounters with the feared object or situations, while other people may endure encounters despite high levels of fear, distress and discomfort. In some cases, individuals find it distressing even thinking about their fears, which can impact their every day life and sometimes lead to panic attacks.
People who suffer from a phobia tend to organise their lives to avoid the object of fear which triggers their anxiety. While some people may not come in contact with their fear like snakes, it will not affect their daily activities, other objects of fear are more complex such as social phobia or agoraphobia.
Common symptoms include:
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Sweating
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Hot and/or cold flashes
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Shortness of breath
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Nausea
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Sensation of butterflies in the stomach
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Pain or tightness in chest
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Fear of losing control
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Fear of fainting
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Feeling of dread
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Fear of dying
Our Expertise
Our team of experienced clinicians can help you learn to function effectively through therapeutic treatments. The type of Phobia treatment used will depend partly on the severity of the phobia – no single treatment works for everybody. With proper treatment, most phobias can be managed effectively. Please read our team bios or contact our admin team to discuss your needs and the best match for you.
As with most things that involve feelings of upset which impact our ability to live our lives in the way that feels most healthy, the best approach is to seek out help sooner rather than later. No matter how long you’ve been experiencing these symptoms, it is never too late to start taking your life back from chronic anxiety. If any of the above sounds familiar, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to set up an appointment.