Overview
A phobia is an irrational or excessive fear toward an object, behavior, or environment. Some phobias are specific to certain objects, like spiders, snakes, thunderstorms, and flying. One phobia, agoraphobia, is a fear of being in wide public spaces and is a perfect example of how a phobia can truly derail your life. Individuals become preoccupied and afraid of their specific fear object until they get phobia therapy. Another important set of phobias are social phobias, including fear of social or public situations. These too can derail the lives of patients, because they will often not talk, work, or play with others willingly.
Symptoms
Phobias are signs of an anxiety disorder. A phobia counselor often has to teach the patient how to reduce the symptoms of anxiety, including dizziness and an inability to focus on anything but the irrational terror at hand. It is often necessary to avoid the phobia at all costs, as once the trigger has been brought up in conversation or in material form, often only phobia therapy can reduce the anxiety.
Causes
Phobia counselors do not entirely agree as to the cause and risk factors for phobias. It is clear that heredity has something to do with it, as parents can often share the same phobia as their children. Genetics and brain chemical imbalance are both the usual culprits, while traumatic experiences too can influence a patient’s fears.
Treatment
Medication and psychotherapy are usual tactics used by phobia mental health professionals, depending on the patient. Some medications will fight for hormonal balance in the brain, while some traumatic experiences are talked out through cognitive behavioral phobia counseling.
Prevention
In general, phobias are determined by four main risk factors according to phobia evaluations and extensive research. These are age, sex, family, and any traumatic events. Since these can’t be prevented, it is of the utmost importance to get to a phobia counseling center after a phobia begins to develop.
Why Choose New Horizons to Treat Your Phobia?
The New Horizons North Dallas counseling center is the perfect place to be diagnosed and treated for phobias. Our anxiety counselors have the experience and compassion to lead you or a loved one through the healing process. We would love to hear from you, so simply pay our relaxing center a visit or give us a call.
