Most people experience a certain degree of anxiety or nervousness from time to time. Whether related to family issues, jobs, health or finances, stress is a normal part of life that many people learn to effectively manage. For some, however, extreme anxiety disorders, such as phobias, are much harder to manage and can become quite debilitating.
A phobia is defined as “a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it.” For example, it’s normal for a person who is anxious about heights to be nervous or to feel queasy when riding a tall escalator, but a person who has an actual phobia of heights would probably not attend a job interview on the 30th floor of an office building. Phobia symptoms vary from person to person and can include frightening feelings, extreme anxiety, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, sweating and dizziness. Though the list is extensive, typical phobias include fear of animals, airplanes, storms, heights, claustrophobic spaces, medical procedures and accidents.
While it is difficult to pinpoint exactly when a phobia develops, most form during adolescence or early adulthood. Though the specific cause of phobias may be unknown, they are often associated with traumatic events that a person either experienced or witnessed. In other cases, phobias are learned from others and are most often passed down by a parent or family member. For example, a parent who suffers from an extreme fear of dogs may pass the fear on to their child. Interestingly, most patients who suffer from phobias are highly aware of their irrational behavior, yet they remain unable to change.
The good news for people who suffer from phobias is that they are often very treatable. Cognitive behavior therapy is the most common form of treatment for specific phobias like fear of animals. The treatment involves psychotherapy, as well as methods like exposure therapy, which gradually reintroduce the patient to his or her fear until the comfort level is increased. In addition to psychotherapy, patients who suffer from situational phobias, such as a fear of flying, may be prescribed medication to use on a short term, as-needed basis.
David Lowenstein, Ph.D. is a Psychologist and the Clinical Director of Lowenstein & Associates, Inc. in Columbus, Ohio. In addition to providing therapeutic services to individuals and families, he offers training and consultation to numerous associations, schools and agencies around the country. Additionally, he is a frequent radio and TV guest and a resource and contributing writer for numerous newspapers and magazines nationwide.
Contact Dr. David Lowenstein at 691 South Fifth Street in Columbus, Ohio, or by phone at 614.443.6155 or 614.444.0432. Like his Facebook page at Dr. David Lowenstein or follow him on Twitter at @LowensteinDr.
