Specific Phobia

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Anxiety is one of the most common reasons that people seek online therapy.

What is a specific phobia?

A specific phobia is a type of anxiety disorder that is typically characterised by an intense fear of a specific place, object, situation or animal, which is disproportionate to the actual threat it poses. Very often, for a person with a specific phobia, emotional responses (such an anxiety symptoms - increased heart rate, sweating, shaking, or shortness of breath) can be activated by thinking or talking about the specific fear.

According to the NHS, specific phobias are one of the most common mental health problems. According to estimates, around 8% of people in the UK experience a specific phobia at some point in their lives. Studies have shown that women are slightly more likely to experience specific phobias than men, and the condition usually begins in childhood or adolescence.

The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition) defines a specific phobia as “an intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation that is significantly distressing and interferes with daily functioning.”

Anticipation anxiety is a key feature of specific phobias, and amount of fear are often related to the proximity of the freightening object or situation, as well as the person’s belief about their ability to escape or keep them safe from it.

Although people with a specific phobia may recognise the fear as excessive, they typically avoid the triggering object or situation, or go towards it with dread.

For a diagnoses of specific phobia, these symptoms must be present for at least six months and significantly disrupt their everyday functioning.

Do you experience any of the most common symptoms of specific phobia?

  • Intense fear or anxiety in response to, or when exposed to (this could be a film, reading about, others talking about) a specific object or situation.

  • Avoidance of the object or situation that triggers the fear.

  • Physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, shaking, or shortness of breath

  • Mental symptoms such as panic, dread, or a feeling of being trapped

  • Significant interference with daily life activities, such as work, school, or your social events

  • Fear that is excessive or unreasonable, given the actual danger posed by the object or situation (do other people find the trigger as distressing?)

Types of Phobias

There are lots of different types of phobia.

  • Situational phobias (lightning, enclosed/open spaces such as lifts, darkness, flying and heights)

  • Social phobia (a fear of social situations and negative social judgement)

  • Animal phobias (dogs, spiders and snakes)

  • Mutilation phobias (injections, dentists, injuries & vaccinations)

  • Agoraphobia (a fear of places seen as dangerous, uncomfortable or unsafe, leading to an urge to avoid or escape).

Some of the most common specific phobias in the UK include:

  • Agoraphobia (fear of open spaces or public places) - High level of fear, anxiety, and avoidance behaviours in response to open spaces or public places, or the thought of being in these types of environments. People with agoraphobia will typically experience physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, or difficulty breathing when faced with the thought of being in open spaces or public places. Agoraphobia can lead to the avoidance of certain activities or situations, such as traveling, shopping, or being in crowded places.

  • Aerophobia / Aviophobia (fear of flying) - This type of phobia involves a persistent and intense fear of flying or being on an airplane. People with Aviophobia may experience severe anxiety, panic attacks, or other physical symptoms when they think about flying or when they are in an airplane. In some cases, the fear of flying can be so severe that it interferes with an individual's daily life and prevents them from traveling by air.

  • Arachnophobia (fear of spiders) - A high level of fear, anxiety, and avoidance behaviours in response to spiders or the thought of spiders. People with arachnophobia may experience physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, or difficulty breathing when faced with the thought of spiders or actual spiders. This phobia can lead to the avoidance of certain activities or situations, such as hiking in areas where spiders are common or going into rooms with spiders.

  • Acrophobia (fear of heights) - An intense fear, anxiety, and avoidance behaviours in response to heights or the thought of being in high places. People with acrophobia may experience physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, or dizziness when faced with the thought of being in high places. This type of phobia can lead to the avoidance of certain activities or situations, such as bridges, tall buildings, or elevators.

  • Claustrophobia (fear of enclosed or small spaces) - This typically involves intense fear, anxiety, and avoidance behaviours in response to small or cramped spaces. People with claustrophobia may experience physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, or difficulty breathing when faced with the thought of being in small or enclosed spaces. Claustrophobia can lead to the avoidance of certain activities or situations, such as lifts, airplanes, MRI machines, or crowded spaces.

  • Dentophobia / Dental Phobia / Odontophobia (fear of dental procedures) - This type of phobia involves an intense and persistent fear of going to the dentist or having dental procedures performed. People with dental phobia may experience anxiety, panic attacks, or other physical symptoms when they think about going to the dentist or when they are in the dentist's office. In some cases, dental phobia can be so severe that it interferes with an individual's daily life and oral health, leading them to avoid or delay necessary dental treatments.

  • Emetophobia (fear of vomiting) - for more information on the specific treatment of Emetophobia and he best treatment for this specific phobia, please go to our information page here. Emetophobia is a specific phobia that can cause significant anxiety and avoidance behaviours, and can interfere with a person's daily life and ability to participate in normal activities. People with Emetophobia may experience intense anxiety when they think about vomiting or when they are in situations where they might be exposed to it. This type of phobia can lead to the avoidance of certain activities or situations, such as eating in public places, or traveling by car or plane. Emetophobia can also lead to physical symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, and rapid heartbeat.

  • Misophonia (fear of specific sounds) - Misophonia is a condition in which a person experiences an intense and irrational dislike or anger in response to specific sounds, such as the sound of someone eating, breathing, or blowing their nose. This type of phobia can cause significant distress, anxiety, and even anger, and can lead to avoidance of situations where the feared sounds are likely to be present. Misophonia is a relatively uncommon condition, and is not yet widely recognized or well understood by the medical and psychiatric communities.

  • Mysophobia / germaphobia / bacteriophobia (fear of germs or dirt) - People with Mysophobia experience intense anxiety, fear, and avoidance behaviours in response to the presence or thought of germs and contamination. They may engage in excessive hand washing, cleaning, or other rituals to avoid contact with germs. In severe cases, Mysophobia can lead to the avoidance of certain activities or environments, such as public restrooms, crowded places, or even leaving the house. This type of phobia can also cause physical symptoms, such as nausea, rapid heartbeat, and sweating.

  • Social phobia / social anxiety disorder (fear of social situations) - You can read more about social phobia here. This is a type of anxiety disorder that involves intense fear, self-consciousness, and embarrassment in social situations. People with social phobia worry excessively about being scrutinised, judged, or embarrassed in social situations, and this fear can cause significant distress and avoidance behaviours. Common social situations that can trigger social phobia include public speaking, meeting new people, going to parties, and eating in public.

  • Trypanophobia (fear of injections or medical procedures involving needles) - This is a type of specific phobia that involves intense fear, anxiety, and avoidance behaviours in response to injections or the thought of having injections. People with Trypanophobia may experience physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, or fainting when faced with the thought of injections. In severe cases, Trypanophobia can lead to the avoidance of necessary medical procedures or treatments, and can have a negative impact on overall health and well-being.

What is the best treatment for overcoming a specific phobia?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is the most evidence based, proven treatment for overcoming a phobia. CBT is a type of therapy that helps people to change their thoughts and behaviours related to their phobia.

Treatment using CBT will typically involve between 6-8 sessions with an accredited CBT therapist, and the goal of CBT is to reduce anxiety and fear related to the phobia and improve the individual's quality of life.

The therapy focuses on supporting you to change the key negative thoughts and behaviours related to the phobia.

During CBT treatment, the therapist will initially complete a full assessment of your problem, including thoughts, feelings and behaviours, as well as a history and gain an understanding of the development of the problem.

The CBT therapist will educate you about the nature of phobias, help you start to observe the most unhelpful negative thoughts and beliefs, learn a range of coping skills, and guide you in gradually and systematically exposing themselves to the object or situation that triggers their phobia.

The therapist will also help the individual you rehearse and practice new behaviours in response to your phobia, and develop strategies to prevent relapse.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy that uses eye movements and other bilateral stimulation to process traumatic memories that are linked to the phobia and reducing the emotional impact of the phobia.

During EMDR, a qualified therapist guides the individual in recalling their traumatic experience while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping the sides of their body (using the butterfly tap is a common way of doing bilateral stimulation when engaging in online therapy), which helps activate the brain's information processing system. This can help the person process the traumatic memory and reduce the emotional distress associated with it.

Over time, this can lead to a reduction in anxiety and fear related to the phobia, as well as improved coping skills and resilience.

EMDR can be used in conjunction with other forms of therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help individuals with specific phobia make lasting changes and overcome their fears.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is one of the psychological treatments that can be used for the treatment of phobias. ACT is a type of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) that helps people to identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and beliefs related to their phobia.

Rather than focusing on changing or eliminating fearful thoughts and feelings, ACT emphasizes the importance of accepting them and learning to live with them in a more flexible and mindful way. In the context of phobias, ACT might involve exposure therapy, in which an individual is gradually exposed to the feared object or situation in a safe and controlled environment. This can help to reduce fear and avoidance over time.

Additionally, ACT can help people to develop a greater sense of purpose and commitment to their values, which can increase their motivation to face their fears and overcome their phobia.

My Therapist Online can help you

If you recognise some of the symptoms above, you may benefit from speaking to one of our therapists. Our therapists are highly trained and experienced in treating the many different specific phobias.

 

Recommended reading about Specific Phobias

  • Overcoming Specific Phobia - Client Manuel - by Edmund J. Bourne

    This is a self-help book for people who suffer from specific phobias, such as fear of flying, public speaking, or elevators. It provides a step-by-step guide to help readers overcome their phobias by using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques.

  • The author Edmund, explains the causes of phobias and how they can be treated through a combination of exposure therapy and mindfulness. The book also includes practical exercises and worksheets to help readers understand and challenge their phobia-related thoughts and beliefs. Throughout the book, the author emphasises the importance of taking a gradual approach to exposure therapy and encourages readers to work at their own pace.

  • The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook - by Edmund J. Bourne is a comprehensive self-help guide for individuals looking to manage anxiety and phobias. The workbook offers practical techniques based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) principles, including worksheets, self-reflection prompts, and practical exercises.

    The author provides step-by-step guidance for overcoming anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias, and helps readers identify and change negative thought patterns that contribute to anxiety and phobias. The book also covers the connection between physical symptoms and anxiety, and provides guidance for managing physical symptoms through relaxation and breathing exercises. With its straightforward and practical approach, "The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook" is a valuable resource for anyone looking to overcome anxiety and phobias.

  • The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety - by John P. Forsyth and Georg H. Eifert

    This is a self-help guide that utilises Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help individuals overcome anxiety and phobias. The book provides a comprehensive overview of ACT and its application in treating anxiety, along with practical exercises and mindfulness practices to help readers develop new coping skills.

    The authors help readers understand the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviour, and show how embracing rather than avoiding uncomfortable feelings can lead to greater psychological flexibility and freedom.

    The book also includes worksheets, self-reflection prompts, and practical exercises to help readers apply the techniques and strategies discussed in the book to their own lives.

    With its combination of mindfulness practices and evidence-based therapy techniques, "The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety" is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to overcome anxiety and phobias.


Therapists who specialise in the treatment of phobias

We make finding the right therapist easy.

At My Therapist Online, we listen to the problems you are facing and match you with the right therapist for your individual needs. You can meet with them for a free initial consultation to be sure it is a good match before starting your therapy.





 

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