Specific Phobias
When someone has a strong, illogical dread of a creature, thing, or circumstance that presents little to no actual risk, they are said to have a specific phobia. A person may develop a particular dread of a wide range of objects; however, some of the most prevalent ones are as follows:
- Storms
- Heights/Flying
- Injections or needles
- Blood or wounds
- Vomiting
- Dental treatments
- Confined areas
- Costumed individuals
- Dogs, snakes, spiders, or insects
A person must experience persistent fear or anxiety for at least six months to be diagnosed with a specific phobia. The dreaded circumstance must nearly always elicit fear or worry. There are various ways that people with specific phobias may try to control their anxiety. Individuals may altogether avoid the thing or circumstances they are afraid of. When this isn’t an option, people could resort to “safety behaviors,” which are routines or acts designed to make the environment feel “safer” to “get through” the circumstance. Examples include averting one’s gaze, hunching over and protecting oneself, or gripping tightly to avoid falling or fainting. These safety practices help people with specific phobias feel safer, which reduces anxiety in the short term. In the end, these safety measures keep people with Specific Phobias from understanding that the feared circumstance is safe, which causes anxiety to rise. Specific phobia symptoms might differ from person to person; however, they could include any or all of the following:
- When faced with the feared scenario, panic and anxiety attacks
- Anxiety or worry about perhaps encountering the anticipated scenario
- Higher heart rate
- Breathing difficulty
- Crying out or trembling when the frightening object is nearby
- Averting the feared scenario (Examples include avoiding public parks because of a fear of dogs, going to the doctor because of a fear of blood injections, and skipping holidays because of a fear of flying)
- Shrinking or freezing in the dreaded circumstance
- Escaping the scary object or avoiding it altogether
- Avoiding eye contact with or avoiding the frightening item
At Connected Care Behavioral Health LLC, we are experts in treating anxiety disorders, including Specific Phobias. We have the skills and resources required to provide evidence-based care to sufferers of Specific Phobias of all ages. We utilize Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP) to treat social anxiety disorder since it is the most successful therapy for treating various anxiety disorders. Through ERP, people gradually learn to confront their dreaded circumstances, giving them confidence in their ability to cope and in the reality of their feared scenario’s safety. Please call us at (443)-219-9236 if you or someone you know could benefit from our expert Specific Phobia therapy services.