Phobias

Phobias

Phobias are intense and persistent fears of certain situations or activities that are not dangerous and which most people do not experience to be troublesome.

Symptoms

A phobia is strong feeling of anxiety in situations that frighten you. For example, if you have a phobia of snakes, you feel anxious when there are snakes around, but feel fine at other times.

You tend to avoid the situations that make you anxious - but this makes the phobia worse as time goes on.

Your life gets taken over by the things you have to do to avoid such situations.
You realise that there is no real danger and may even feel silly about your phobia, but still can't control it.

Anxiety and panic are often accompanied by feelings of depression, losing your appetite, or seeing the future as bleak and hopeless.

Treatments

You may want to firstly speak to a friend or relative you trust and respect, and who is a good listener. They may have had the same problem themselves, or know someone else who has.
You may benefit from talking to a UKCP accredited psychotherapist outside your usual circle of friends and family. Psychotherapy is a working relationship in which you are helped to explore and manage what is happening in your life. Key aims are to help you understand and control your anxieties and to find better ways of dealing with life’s continuing challenges. Examples include: integrative and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Some people find it easier to join a group with others who have similar problems. This means you gain valuable experience and feedback in a supportive confidential environment. Groups often focus on themes such as anxiety, panic, relationship and employment difficulties.
Antidepressants can help but often take two to four weeks to work and may have side effects.

Relaxation exercises, laughter and all forms of meditation are helpful in reducing stress. By focusing on positive issues and removing all negative thoughts from your mind for a fixed period, you will soon see a big difference

Self help tools can enable you to continue to function more effectively and confidently. For example, teach yourself books and DVDs.