What are Specific Phobias?
Specific phobias are unreasonable or irrational fears related to specific objects or situations and are considered anxiety disorders. The fear or anxiety may be triggered both by the presence or the anticipation of the specific object or situation. Examples of specific phobias include:
Here is an interesting list of phobias.
Consequences of Specific Phobia
People tend to develop panic symptoms and avoid direct contact with the feared objects or situations. Phobias can make it hard for people to go to places, be effective at work, and may put a strain on relationships.
Specific Phobia in Children
Children with a specific phobia often become irritable, cry more often, throw temper tantrums, freeze, or may be more clingy to their loved ones when around the feared object or situation. It is also important to note that many children experience developmentally normal fears of certain objects or situations; these fears are not considered phobias unless they continue to be a feared stimulus for an extended period of time.
How We Can Help
Our therapists will use cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to help the individual learn distress tolerance skills and effective self-talk. For children with specific phobias, our therapists will guide parents to effectively implement an incentive plan and decrease accommodating behaviors in order to motivate their child to use their coping skills. Most importantly, exposure therapy and other interventions are used to help the individual gradually practice confronting the feared object or situation without employing safety behaviors (e.g., avoidance, excessive checking, excessive cleansing routines and/or disgust response, rigid routines, mental neutralizing, need for a safety person, or reassurance seeking). Exposure practice and elimination of safety behaviors serve to help the individual change his/her beliefs about the "awfulness" of the outcome or their inability to cope and return to healthy functioning.
Specific phobias are unreasonable or irrational fears related to specific objects or situations and are considered anxiety disorders. The fear or anxiety may be triggered both by the presence or the anticipation of the specific object or situation. Examples of specific phobias include:
- Animals and insects: e.g., dogs, cats, rats, birds, spiders, or snakes
- Natural environment: e.g., heights (acrophobia), thunderstorms (astraphobia), aging
- Situational: e.g., flying, confined spaces (claustrophobia), dark (nyctophobia)
- Blood/injury/injection: e.g., needles (trypanophobia), blood, medical procedures
- Other: e.g., costumed characters, loud noises, vomiting, choking
Here is an interesting list of phobias.
Consequences of Specific Phobia
People tend to develop panic symptoms and avoid direct contact with the feared objects or situations. Phobias can make it hard for people to go to places, be effective at work, and may put a strain on relationships.
Specific Phobia in Children
Children with a specific phobia often become irritable, cry more often, throw temper tantrums, freeze, or may be more clingy to their loved ones when around the feared object or situation. It is also important to note that many children experience developmentally normal fears of certain objects or situations; these fears are not considered phobias unless they continue to be a feared stimulus for an extended period of time.
How We Can Help
Our therapists will use cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to help the individual learn distress tolerance skills and effective self-talk. For children with specific phobias, our therapists will guide parents to effectively implement an incentive plan and decrease accommodating behaviors in order to motivate their child to use their coping skills. Most importantly, exposure therapy and other interventions are used to help the individual gradually practice confronting the feared object or situation without employing safety behaviors (e.g., avoidance, excessive checking, excessive cleansing routines and/or disgust response, rigid routines, mental neutralizing, need for a safety person, or reassurance seeking). Exposure practice and elimination of safety behaviors serve to help the individual change his/her beliefs about the "awfulness" of the outcome or their inability to cope and return to healthy functioning.
P H O N E 219.228.7630 | Call us for a FREE CONSULT
F A X 219.228.1083
E M A I L info@anxietybehavioralhealth.com
A D D R E S S 900 Ridge Road, Suite F, Munster, Indiana 46321
F A X 219.228.1083
E M A I L info@anxietybehavioralhealth.com
A D D R E S S 900 Ridge Road, Suite F, Munster, Indiana 46321