According to HelpGuide.org, phobias are irrational fears of something that actually causes little or no danger. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), the most common types of phobias are animals, situational, blood-injection-injury and natural environment. The most popular animal phobias are snakes and spiders. An example of a situational phobia is public speaking. Blood-injection-injury phobias are fears of blood, injections or needles or getting hurt. Common natural environment phobias are fears of falling or storms.
Systematic Desensitization
Systematic desensitization is treatment technique commonly used for the treatment of phobias. In this treatment module, you gradually face what you fear with a professional in a safe, controlled, environment, according to HelpGuide.org. The exposures start in the patient's imagination. For example, if you have a phobia of snakes, you will first imagine a snake. Then you will look at a cartoon picture of a snake, then a real picture of a snake. Next, a patient will look at a video of snakes. Finally, the patient will look at a snake from far away, then up close. These types of exposures are often combined with relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or taking breaks when necessary. According to HelpGuide.org, it can also be combined with participant modeling, which is when a clinician interacts with the feared object in a way that shows you the object is not dangerous. The repeated exposures of the feared object will help you gain a sense of control over the object and realize that the fear is irrational, according to HelpGuide.org.
Flooding
Flooding is the opposite of systematic desensitization. Flooding is the last step of systematic desensitization, without the previous steps involved. For example, if you are afraid of bugs, a therapist will have you hold a bug as the only step of treatment. This module is not recommended, for it may induce too much fear in the patient, leading to panic attacks, overemotional responses or even heart attacks.
Challenging Negative Thoughts
Challenging negative thoughts is another way of treating phobias. This is a type of technique used in cognitive therapy. For example, if you are afraid of elevators and think that it will break down and you will die, try to challenge that thought. Think of what evidence you have for that to happen, suggests HelpGuide.org. According to HelpGuide.org, examples of evidence questions or statements to ask yourself are, "I see many people use the elevator and nothing happens to them" or "I have never heard of an elevator breaking down and people dying". You can think of ways to resolve the problem if it does occur, such as pushing the alarm button. You can also try to think of what you would say to a friend that would have the same fear, according to HelpGuide.org.
References
- HelpGuide.org: Phobias and Fears: Symptoms, Treatments, and Self-Help.
- "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision". 2000, American Psychiatric Association.
