What is a specific phobia?
A specific phobia is a heightened fear of a specific object or situation, and the feared entity is either avoided or endured with extreme anxiety. Examples of feared objects or situations include the following:
Animals
Natural environments
Blood/Injection/Injury
Situations – airplanes, elevators, enclosed spaces
Other examples include fears of vomiting and/or choking, loud sounds or costumed characters (in children)
How are specific phobias treated?
The most effective treatment for specific phobias is cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT is a collaborative, action-oriented, skills-based approach that teaches an individual effective ways of coping with their anxiety.
Specifically, phobias are treated using a form of CBT called exposure therapy. In exposure therapy, individuals gradually confront feared objects or situations. For example, a person might first look at a picture of a dog and then videos of dogs before they are ready to approach a live dog.
The more the person confronts these feared situations, the less uncomfortable they become in those situations.