Therapy For Fears And Phobias – Everyone has certain things that make them nervous or afraid. Spiders, clowns, and the dark are just a few examples of common fears and phobias among individuals. For the most part, these are normal and understandable reactions, which pass once the source of the fear is alleviated. However, occasionally individuals can suffer from phobias so intense that they trigger debilitating reactions such as depression or anxiety and have severe impacts on daily function. Typically, these more disabling and severe phobias involve complex emotions or triggers that are difficult to avoid, such as open spaces or social interactions. Some common fears and phobias that may require professional help include:
- Agoraphobia: A fear of open spaces, crowded areas, or spaces where immediate escape would prove difficult, often resulting in the individual not leaving their home
- Social phobia: A fear and avoidance of social interactions of any sort
- Claustrophobia: A fear of closed in or confined spaces
- Thanatophobia: A debilitating fear of dying, causing the individual to withdraw from normal daily activities
- Vehophobia: A fear of driving, either in general or surrounding particular features such as bridges or highways
- Acrophobia: A fear of heights that goes far beyond the typical unease associated with high spaces
When should I seek help for my phobias?
When your phobias begin to impact the manner in which you live your daily life, it can be a sign that you may need to seek professional counselling in order to learn to overcome your phobias and regain control of your life. But how do you know when the line has been crossed between ordinary fears and clinical phobias? Although fear manifests itself differently in every individual, there are some common signs that can be used to indicate a bigger problem. These signs and symptoms may include:
- Experiencing physical and mental symptoms of panic at the mere thought of the trigger
- Crippling anxiety or feelings of dread
- Physical symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, sweating, or headaches
- Chest tightness or difficulty breathing
- Changing your routine and daily activities, or going far out of your way in order to avoid the potential threat of a trigger
How can I overcome my fears and phobias?
At their roots, phobias are irrational feelings of fear regarding a specific trigger or triggers. Traumatic events that cause panic and fear reactions to certain triggers are considered separate, as treatment for phobias centres on helping you learn to control your irrational reactions. Fortunately, reaching out to a counsellor, such as one of the experienced therapists at Horizon Plymouth, can be all you need to do in order to begin the journey towards overcoming your phobias. Forms of talking therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy have been shown to be highly beneficial when it comes to helping individuals recover from debilitating phobias and fears. With the guidance of a experienced counsellor, you can begin to investigate the source of your phobias, understand your triggers, and reframe your thoughts surrounding these triggers so that you are able to better comprehend and control your reactions to them. A counsellor might also employ desensitization or exposure therapy to help you decrease your sensitivity surrounding your phobias and reduce the resultant feelings of anxiety and panic.
If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of phobias on daily life functioning, reach out to the experienced counsellors at Horizon Plymouth today. Our team are experts in the field and are ready to help you regain control of your life by learning to control your phobia once and for all. We recognise that every phobia impacts the individual differently, and though the resulting reactions may be irrational, the impacts on your life are valid and can be profound. Don’t wait, contact Horizon Plymouth to schedule your initial consultation and begin the road to recovery as soon as possible.