Phobias

Phobias are intense, irrational fears brought about by a stimulus.

There are hundreds of phobias, and they are often characterized by an unreasonable fear that can cause avoidance and panic. Phobias are a relatively common type of anxiety disorder.

Here are a list of some of the more common fears:

1. Arachnophobia:
The fear of spiders.
This phobia tends to affect women more than men.

2. Ophidiophobia:
The fear of snakes.
Often attributed to evolutionary causes, personal experiences, or cultural influences.

3. Acrophobia:
The fear of heights.
This fear can lead to anxiety attacks and avoidance of high places.

4. Agoraphobia:
The fear of situations in which escape is difficult.
This may include crowded areas, open spaces, or situations that are likely to trigger a panic attack. People will begin avoiding these trigger events, sometimes to the point that they cease leaving their home. Approximately one third of people with panic disorder develop agoraphobia.

5. Cynophobia:
The fear of dogs.
This phobia is often associated with specific personal experiences, such as being bitten by a dog during childhood.

6. Astraphobia:
The fear of thunder and lightening.
Also known as Brontophobia, Tonitrophobia, or Ceraunophobia.

7. Trypanophobia:
The fear of injections.
Like many phobias, this fear often goes untreated because people avoid the triggering object and situation.

8. Social Phobias:
The fear of social situations.
In many cases, these phobias can become so severe that people avoid events, places, and people that are likely to trigger an anxiety attack.

9. Pteromerhanophobia:
The fear of flying.
Often treated using exposure therapy, in which the client is gradually and progressively introduced to flying.

10. Mysophobia:
The fear of germs or dirt.
May be related to obsessive-compulsive disorder.

There are many ways to treat phobia, however at DFPsych we prefer to use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to break down the source of the fear, examine it, and treat it without drugs or hypnosis.

To find more about how we can treat your phobia, contact us today: Toronto Psychologist link.