Specific Phobias

DO SNAKES FREAK YOU OUT?   DO YOU HATE HEIGHTS?

If so, you might have a specific phobia. Everyone is afraid of something. . .but phobias are excessive and persistent fears that are specific to certain objects or situations. To most people these fears seem irrational, while others cannot seem to face their fears or overcome them. 

Approximately 1 in 10 individuals suffer from phobias. Interestingly, these appear to cluster around particular "themes" (e.g. , blood-injection-injury phobias; natural or environmental phobias), and there are many common phobias.  The most common are listed below:

animal--dogs, spiders, snakes

natural environment--storms, heights, water

blood-injection-injury--seeing blood or receiving an injection; typically these individuals faint upon exposure to the feared stimulus

situational type--bridges, tunnels, elevators, enclosed places

TREATMENT

For many individuals the phobic stimulus is easy to avoid. You don't like snakes? Well, move to a city and you won't have to worry about it. Don't like dogs? Keep a cat! When the feared object is easy to avoid, people with phobias may not feel they need treatment. In certain cases, however, specific phobias can become impairing. Individuals may go to excessive lengths to avoid exposure to the feared object or situation. In these cases, treatment is recommended. This is particularly important because individuals with a single Specific Phobia are likely to develop additional phobias within the same subtype. In other words, an individual with a fear of bridges is likely to also develop a fear of tunnels and elevators.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is extremely effective in treating specific phobias. Please see the Research Programs to find out about a new study for spider phobia, as well as the Treatment web page for more information for other phobias.

If you live in the Tallahassee, Florida area and are interested in learning more about our services please email us or call at 850 / 645-1766.