Specific Phobia Disorder

WHAT IS IT

A specific phobia, formerly called a simple phobia, is a lasting and unreasonable fear caused by the presence or thought of a specific object or situation that usually poses little or no actual danger. Exposure to the object or situation brings about an immediate reaction, causing the person to endure intense anxiety (nervousness) or to avoid the object or situation entirely. The distress associated with the phobia and/or the need to avoid the object or situation can significantly interfere with the person's ability to function. Adults with a specific phobia recognize that the fear is excessive or unreasonable, yet are unable to overcome it.

SYMPTOMS OF SPECIFIC PHOBIAS

Excessive or irrational fear of a specific object or situation.
Avoiding the object or situation or enduring it with great distress.
Physical symptoms of anxiety or a panic attack, such as a pounding heart, nausea or diarrhea, sweating, trembling or shaking, numbness or tingling, problems with breathing (shortness of breath), feeling dizzy or lightheaded, feeling like you are choking.

Anticipatory anxiety: involves becoming nervous ahead of time about being in certain situations or coming into contact with the object of your phobia. (For example, a person with a fear of dogs may become anxious about going for a walk because he or she may see a dog along the way.)

TREATMENT

Cognitive behavioral therapy : Psychotherapy is the cornerstone of treatment for specific phobias. Treatment usually involves = systematic desensitization or exposure therapy , in which patients are gradually exposed to what frightens them until their fear begins to fade.

Medication : For situation phobias that produce intense, temporary anxiety (for example, a fear of flying) Unless a phobia is accompanied by other conditions such as depression or panic disorder, long-term or daily medicines are generally not used.

Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, may also help reduce anxiety symptoms.

Exposure Therapy: exposure therapy is a type of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy technique that is often used in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and phobias. Exposure therapy is a technique therapists would use to help expose one to the said fear. They would very slowly and carefully be exposed to the fear. During the exposure, there would be discussion of how the person is feeling. It is shown to be the most effective way to overcome one’s fear. It is most often used in concurrence with relaxation exercise therapy. By being exposed to one’s fear, you are training your Amygdala to not react in a negative manner since the amygdala controls your fight or flight response. The only way to train your amygdala is to be exposed to the fear so it creates immunity to it.

References:
Grohol, John M. What is Exposure Therapy? (Psych Central) Retrieved from:
http://psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-exposure-therapy/0001640 (2015)

(2005). Specific Phobias. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/specific-phobias. [Last Accessed Apirl, 8th,2015].

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDvDCqLCdEE

My Extreme Animal Phobia: Tough guy afraid of a puppy The story tells about Marvin and his phobia of pit bulls. All right reserved for their respective owners.

http://www.stjoes.ca/hospital-services/mental-health-addiction-services/mental-health-services/anxiety-treatment-research-clinic-atrc-/treatment-and-evaluation-an-overview

Anxiety Treatment and Research Clinic (ATRC) ;
For Specific Phobia Disorder they provide psychological treatment. A common treatment method they use is cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), provided in either individual or group form. They also have other methods, such as; exposure to feared situations, and applied muscle tension (generally for blood and needle phobias).
Medication options may be offered as well, and in some cases combined with CBT.
Some services they provide are; The family education group: providing education and opportunity to connect family members on the symptoms, treatments, medications, community resources and coping strategies for individuals with anxiety disorders. Some information they cover is;
-What is CBT for anxiety?
-Reviewing do's and don'ts when providing support for their loved one's.
-Crisis planning, along with others.
They provide services for home care, such as; personal care services, companionship services, housekeeping, nursing, safety, and more.

References
Anxiety Treatment and Research Clinic. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14th, 2015 from http://www.stjoes.ca/hospital-services/mental-health-addiction-services/mental-health-services/anxiety-treatment-research-clinic-atrc-/treatment-and-evaluation-an-overview