A phobia is a constant, irrational anxiety surrounding specific objects, activities, or situations. The most common ones are social phobia, agoraphobia, and specific phobias (for example, a fear of flying). Researchers are still attempting to determine what exactly causes them. In some cases, they are treated or managed with medications. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is also a useful phobia treatment that teaches coping skills.

Phobia: An Introduction

Phobias are a group of disorders that include persistent, recurring, irrational severe anxiety surrounding specific objects, activities, or situations. A phobia also involves specific avoidance of the particular phobic stimulus.

 

A phobia is a relatively common condition, and a diagnosis is usually made only when fear or avoidance behavior is a significant source of distress to the individual or when it interferes with social or occupational functioning.

 

Types of Phobia

The common types of phobias include:

 

Social phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, is a disorder characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. People with social phobia have a persistent, intense, and chronic fear of being watched and judged by others and of being embarrassed or humiliated by their own actions. Their fear may be so severe that it interferes with work, school, or other ordinary activities.

 

While many people with social phobia recognize that their fear of being around people may be excessive or unreasonable, they are unable to overcome it. They often worry for days or weeks in advance of a dreaded situation.

 

A specific phobia is an intense fear of something that poses little or no actual danger. Some of the more common specific phobias are centered around:

 

Agoraphobia is the fear of being alone or in public places. This type of phobia rarely occurs in the absence of panic disorder.

 

Possible Causes of Phobia

Ongoing research is being performed to define the causes of phobias. Some researchers believe a small structure in the brain called the amygdala is responsible for the symptoms of phobias. The amygdala is believed to be a central site in the brain that controls fear responses.

 

Animal studies are adding to the evidence that suggests phobias can be inherited.

 

Another area of research is investigating a biochemical basis for phobias. Scientists are exploring the idea that heightened sensitivity to disapproval may be physiologically or hormonally based.

 

Other researchers are investigating the role of environment on the development of phobias. People with phobias may acquire their fear from observing the behavior and consequences of others, a process called observational learning or social modeling.

 

Symptoms of Phobia

A person with symptoms of phobia experiences extreme anxiety when exposed to the feared object or situation. He or she recognizes that this fear is excessive or unreasonable, and finds that normal routines, social activities, or relationships are significantly impaired as a result.

 

Other common symptoms of phobias can include:

 

Different Treatment Options for Phobia

Depending on the type of phobia, there are two effective forms of treatment available: certain medications and a specific form of short-term psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

 

Medications include antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), as well as drugs known as high-potency benzodiazepenes.

 

Some people with a condition called performance phobia have been helped by beta-blockers, which are more commonly used to control high blood pressure.

 

Cognitive behavioral therapy is also useful in treating phobias. The central component of this treatment is exposure therapy, which involves helping patients gradually become more comfortable with situations that frighten them. The exposure process often involves three stages. The first involves introducing people to the feared situation. The second increases the risk for disapproval in that situation so that people are able to build confidence that they can handle rejection or criticism. The third stage involves teaching people techniques to cope with disapproval. In this stage, people imagine their worst fear and are encouraged to develop constructive responses to their fear and perceived disapproval.

 

Cognitive behavioral therapy for phobias also includes anxiety management training -- for example, teaching people techniques such as deep breathing to control their levels of anxiety. Another important aspect of treatment is called cognitive restructuring, which helps individuals identify their misjudgments and develop more realistic expectations of the likelihood of danger in social situations.

 

Phobia and Other Conditions

A phobia can cause lowered self-esteem and depression. In an attempt to reduce their anxiety and alleviate depression, some people with a phobia may use alcohol or other drugs, which can lead to addiction.

 

Also, some people with phobias may have other anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

 

Phobia Statistics

Approximately 5.3 million American adults ages 18 to 54 (about 3.7 percent of people in this age group) have social phobia in a given year. It typically begins in childhood or adolescence.

 

Approximately 3.2 million American adults ages 18 to 54 (about 2.2 percent of people in this age group) have agoraphobia in a given year.

 

Approximately 6.3 million American adults ages 18 to 54 (about 4.4 percent of people in this age group) have some type of specific phobia in a given year.