Phobias
Phobias are the most common type of anxiety disorder. In the UK an estimated 10 million people have phobias. Phobias can affect anyone regardless of their age, sex and social background.
A phobia is an anxiety disorder. It is an extreme or irrational fear of:
- Animals
- Places
- Objects
- Situations
Phobias are more than simple fears. They develop when a person begins to organise their life around avoiding the things they are afraid of. If you have a phobia you will feel the need to avoid all contact with the source of anxiety. Coming into contact, or even thinking about coming into contact with the phobia may cause you to panic.
You may not come into regular contact with your phobia, however if you have more of a complex phobia, such as agoraphobia or social phobia (the fear of open spaces and public places), you may find it difficult to lead a normal life.
Agoraphobia is a fear of open spaces or public places and can involve anxieties about leaving the home, going into shops or travelling on public transport. It can also involve a fear of being unable to escape immediately to a place of safety, usually the home.
Social phobia is a fear of social situations where they have a fear of embarrassing themselves or of being humiliated in public. For example, at weddings or performing in social situations such as public speaking.Phobias can be treated through a process of desensitisation or self-exposure therapy whereby treating simply phobias usually involves being exposed to the animal, object, place or situation that causes fear. Treating complex phobias often takes longer and involves talking therapies, such as counselling, psychotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
