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Specific Phobias
A phobia is an excessive fear of certain things or situations which causes you to avoid those things in your life or suffer extreme symptoms of anxiety if the things are unavoidable.
Common phobias
Common phobias are rats, cats, dogs, birds, spiders, heights, water, storms, blood, injections, injuries, flying, lifts, hospitals and enclosed spaces. Often the fear is related to what might happen, such as vomiting or fainting, if you are exposed to the thing you are trying to avoid.
Help for phobias
Many people with phobias don’t seek treatment, as they can usually manage their lives by avoiding the things that they are afraid of (e.g. spiders).
If the phobia is restricting your life significantly, (for example, fear of flying; or a child with a fear of dogs) then CBT counselling is a very effective treatment. |
