A phobia is a fear about a specific object or situation. Some phobias are very specific and limited (arachnophobia – fear of spiders only occurs when a spider is seen), others are more general (fear of heights – can occur when looking out a high window or driving over a bridge). There are approximately 19 million Americans diagnosed with phobias. Phobias are typically first seen between the ages of 15-20. Children diagnosed with a phobia are more likely to have those phobias disappear within a few months. 80% of people diagnosed with a phobia as an adult are likely to have that phobia become a long-term issue if not treated by a professional.
Types of Phobias
There are over 400 types of phobias. Common phobias include fears of specific animals (snakes, dogs, or spiders), environmental conditions (storms or tornados), situations (public speaking), and blood related (seeing blood, blood test or having a wound). There are many less common fears such as a fear of large things, fear of the dark, fear of death, and fear of imperfection.
Going From Fear to Phobia
Fear is not considered to be a phobia unless it meets very specific criteria. The fear must always create immediate fear and/or anxiety. The fear/anxiety must be out of proportion to the actual danger that is present. Situations or objects are intentionally avoided and when unavoidable there is severe fear/anxiety. There is significant impairment in multiple areas of life (school, work, social situations). The issue lasts for more than six months.
How does someone get a phobia? There can be genetic reasons or environmental reasons people develop phobias. Some phobias start due to an extremely bad first encounter with the feared object or situation.
Treatment may vary depending on the individual and severity of the phobia. Some treatments include:
- exposure therapy
- cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)
- systematic desensitization
- eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- relaxation techniques
- applied muscle tension
Exposure therapy is typically the treatment of choice; however, the combination of CBT and exposure therapy can be very effective for several phobias. With treatment, there is a very good outlook for those diagnosed with a phobia.
Resources
Phobias. Phobias | Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/phobias#:~:text=What%20is%20a%20phobia%3F,can%20be%20a%20panic%20attack.
Phobias: DSM-5, types, diagnosis and treatment – psycom. (n.d.). https://pro.psycom.net/assessment-diagnosis-adherence/phobia