SPECIFIC PHOBIA (also known as simple phobia)
A specific phobia is an intense fear of a particular thing like
a dog, or a situation like flying in an aeroplane.
People's fear of the object or situation is so severe that they
may experience physical symptoms of anxiety, and even have panic
attacks, when confronted with it, or even anticipating having to
deal with it.
People with a specific phobia either avoid the thing/situation
they fear or endure the situation or object with distress,
The adult phobia sufferers knows their fear of the object or situation
is excessive or unreasonable.
Simple phobias impact on the sufferers ability to function be it at work,
socialise, study or cause significant distress.
Common phobias include:
Fear of the dark
Fear of water
Fear of heights
Fear of animals ( e.g. dogs, birds, insects, mice, spiders)
Fear of enclosed spaces or being trapped (e.g. tunnels, lifts, flying
in a plane)
Fear of blood and injury ( e.g. seeing blood or an jury or having
an injection)
Fear of water
Fear of the dentist
Specific phobias are very common, with 10-20% of the population
developing a phobia during their lives. Phobias often start in childhood
but can occur at any age. Phobias are roughly twice as common among
women than men,
TREATMENT OF SIMPLE PHOBIA
Psychological Treatment of simple phobia involves: education about
anxiety, slow breathing and relaxation training, exposure therapy
and cognitive therapy.
American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic & Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Washington, DC: American
Psychiatric Press.
Burns, D.D. (1999) The Feeling Good Handbook, New York, New York.
Plume.
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Anxiety
Disorders