Specific phobias

A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder. Specific phobias manifest themselves when a person anticipates contact with, or is exposed to, the object, situation, or event they fear.

What are they?

Specific, simple phobias (as opposed to the complex ones, agoraphobia and claustrophobia, pp.50–51) are the most common psychological disorders in children and adults. A phobia is much more than fear and arises when a person develops an exaggerated or unrealistic sense of danger about a situation or an object. The fear may not make any sense, but the individual feels powerless to stop it. Anticipated or actual exposure (even to an image) can cause extreme anxiety or a panic attack. Symptoms include rapid heart rate, breathing difficulties, and a feeling of being out of control. A combination of genetics; brain
chemistry; and other biological, psychological, and environmental factors can give rise to a phobia. It can often be traced back to a frightening event or stressful situation a person either witnessed or was involved in during early childhood. A child can also “learn” a phobia through seeing other family members demonstrate phobic behavior. Specific phobias often develop
during childhood or adolescence and may become less severe with age. They can also be associated with other psychological conditions such as depression , obsessive compulsive disorder , and post-traumatic stress disorder .

How are they diagnosed?

Many affected individuals are fully aware of their phobia, so a formal diagnosis is not necessary and they do not need treatment—avoiding the object of their fear is enough to control the problem. However, in some people habitual avoidance of a feared object can also maintain or worsen the phobia, and seriously impact aspects of their lives. A GP can refer them to a specialist with expertise in behavioral therapy.

Types of specific phobia

There is a wide variety of objects or situations that can trigger a phobia. Specific, so-called “simple,” phobias fall into five groups: blood-injectioninjury, natural environment, situational, animal, and “other” types. With the exception of the first type, specific phobias are two to three times more common in females than males.

ANIMAL This group of phobias includes insects, snakes, mice, cats, dogs, and
birds, among other animals. It could be rooted in a genetic predisposition
for survival from animals that were a threat to human ancestors.

• SNAKES
• SPIDERS
• RATS

BLOOD-INJECTION-INJURY

A unique group of phobias in which the sight of blood or needles causes a vasovagal reaction—a reflex action that slows down the heart rate, reducing blood flow to the brain—that can
result in fainting. Unlike all other phobias, this is as common in males as it is in females.

• NEEDLES
• BLOOD

SITUATIONAL

These are a group of phobias of being
in a specific situation, which can range from visiting the dentist’s office to
stepping into an old elevator, flying, driving over a bridge or through a tunnel, or getting into a car.

• FLYING
• BRIDGES

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

A person with a phobia from this group has
an irrational fear of a natural event, which they often associate with imagery of potentially catastrophic outcomes. Examples of this type of phobia include
storms; deep water; germs; and fear of heights, such as being near a cliff edge.

• WATER
• HEIGHTS
• LIGHTNING

OTHER PHOBIAS

Thousands of people are tormented by an array of phobias, including fear of
vomiting; a specific color, for example, anything that is yellow or red (including foodstuffs); the number 13; the sight of a belly button or toes;
sudden loud noises; costumed characters, such as clowns; trees; or contact with cut flowers.

• TREES
• CLOWNS

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TREATMENT

• ❯ Cognitive behavioral therapy to overcome a phobia using a system of graded steps to work toward the goal of confronting the feared object or situation without fear; anxiety management techniques to master each step.
• ❯ Mindfulness to raise tolerance of anxiety and of thoughts or images associated with the distress.
• ❯ Anti-anxiety medication or antidepressants alongside therapy if the phobia is impairing day-to-day living.

8.7%
of adult Americans are affected by a specific phobia