PhobiaA phobia is an irrational, intense fear to an object or situation. Some of the more common fears include fear of crowds, animals, blood, dental procedures, heights and closed-in places. Many fears appear during childhood, but others may not present until adolescence or adulthood. It does appear that the later in life one develops a fear, the harder it is to manage without professional treatment. In fact, some childhood fears will eventually disappear without any type of intervention. A specfic fear falls under the category of anxiety disorders, with many shared symptoms to other types of anxiety-related issues. For example, panic attacks can be a characteristic of specific fears as well as other types of anxiety disorders. If the source of the fear is one that is fairly easy to avoid, a person may not every seek help in dealing with that specific fear. However, some fears cause an individual to make life choices that affect career and personal relationships. In these cases, treatment is often pursued. The first step is to understand what a specific fear looks like and what the precise source of the fear might be. Symptoms of A PhobiaThere are both psychological and physical symptoms of a specific fear. These might include:• An irrational, intense fear of an object or situation • The knowledge that the fear is irrational but an inability to control it • Avoidance of the source of the fear at all costs • Physical symptoms when exposed to the source like rapid heartbeat, sweating and difficulty breathing • These physical symptoms can sometimes begin at just the thought of the fear When these symptoms begin to affect professional and personal relationships, it may be time to seek professional help for managing a specific fear. TreatmentPsychotherapy is an effective treatment for specfic fears, and might include cognitive behavioral therapy that will help a patient develop new thought processes about the source of the fear.Exposure therapy is another common treatment for a specific fear, because it provides the patient a safe environment to confront and work through his fear. It generally involves a gradual exposure to the fear until it can be completely overcome. Return From Phobia To Anxiety Disorders
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