Specific Phobias
Specific Phobias affect 8.7% of the population, 19.2 million Americans. Women are twice more likely to develop phobias than men. It can begin in early childhood and adolescence. The medium age of onset is 7 years old.
Many individuals dislike specific situations or items: such as insects, flying in a plane, or heights. People with a specific phobia experience an excessive, unrealistic fear in the presence of or in anticipation of a specific object, place or situation. Their reaction (phobic response) interferes with the persons� activity of daily living due to the attempt to avoid the phobia and anxiety associated with it.
- Fear of driving
- Fear of public transportation
- Aviophobia - fear of flying
- Trypanophobia -fear of medical procedures
- Acrophobia - fear of heights
- Entomophobia - fear of insects
- Phonophobia - fear of loud sounds
- Nomophobia � fear of being out of mobile phone contact
- Anxiety symptoms
- Anticipatory anxiety- anxiety even thinking of the fearful situation
- Fight or flight response to feared situation
- Panic attacks (see above) when confronted with feared situation
- Avoidance of situations where fears have arisen
Causal Factors:
Biologic, Genetic, Sociologic, and/or Situational factors.
Treatment Options:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure Therapy, Medication, and/or Anxiety Management Techniques.