Living with Phobias: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

Phobias are more than just a fear of something – phobias can cause severe anxiety and have an effect on everyday life. Phobias can lead to stress and interference with daily activities and socialization. Understanding their causes, impacts, and how to manage these issues is extremely important for those who suffer from phobias. 

Let’s discuss exactly what phobias are, how they develop, and treatments for these debilitating fears. 

What Are Phobias and How Do They Affect Daily Life?

A phobia is an intense fear of a particular situation, object, feeling, or place. As a type of anxiety disorder, a phobia is an irrational fear of something that poses no, or very little, danger to someone. There are numerous specific types of phobias¹. Common phobias include fear of animals, water, the dark, confined spaces, and speaking in front of an audience. 

Phobias are more common than many people think. According to the National Institute of Health, a little over 12% of adults in the US experience phobia² at some point in their lives. Additionally, an estimated 9.1% of U.S. adults had a specific phobia in the past year³. 

Phobias can have a severe impact on one’s daily life, both professionally and personally. People who experience a phobia may avoid certain interactions, routines, locations, or activities involving their phobia. Severe anxiety may accompany mere thoughts of the situation, object, etc. 

Causes of Phobias: Why Do They Develop?

• Genetic factors — Those with a family history of anxiety disorders may be more prone to developing phobias.

• Negative experiences — Some phobias form after a traumatic event or negative experience in one’s life. 

• Brain chemistry — Functional imaging research has shown that changes in brain activity⁴ and different brain structure are associated with phobias.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Phobias

Symptoms of various phobias can be physical, emotional, or both. They generally arise when someone is exposed to the feared object/situation. Physical phobia symptoms include trembling, sweating, chest pains, nausea, confusion, elevated blood pressure, and dizziness. People with phobias can also experience increased heart and respiratory rates as well as pupil dilation⁵. Emotional symptoms of phobia may include avoidance behaviors, anxiety, and feelings of dread, terror, and horror⁶.

Effective Treatments for Managing Phobias

Thankfully, there are multiple treatment options for those who struggle with phobias:

• Psychotherapy⁷ — People with phobias may receive emotional support, learn coping strategies, and discover tools to manage symptoms effectively.

• Medication — Medical management⁸ involves ongoing monitoring, assessment, and adjustment of medications to ensure that patients are experiencing maximum benefit with minimal side effects.

• Cognitive Behavior Therapy — This type of therapy enables those with phobias to gradually confront their fears in a safe, controlled environment.

• Telehealth Psychiatry — A convenient, accessible way to receive therapy for phobias is telehealth psychiatry⁹, which involves video and/or phone calls.

Coping Strategies for Living with Phobias

Living with a phobia can be challenging. Learning coping strategies can be an effective way to manage phobias and improve everyday life.

• Yoga — Practicing yoga¹⁰ can help reduce anxiety so that people with phobias can manage their symptoms better. Yoga involves learning about breathing exercises and meditation as well as relaxation techniques.

• Support groups — Opening up to a small group of people who also have phobias can greatly help in managing symptoms and lessening the intensity of fears. In many cases, simply talking about their specific phobias lessens symptoms.
  
• Education about phobias — Learning more about types of phobias and their treatments can ease some of the anxiety associated with them. 

• Exposure therapy — This coping strategy is also a type of therapy and involves an exposure of the source of the phobia to gradually overcome the fear.

Closing Thoughts on Phobias

Living with phobias can greatly impact one’s life. Understanding more about phobias – including what causes them, how to recognize symptoms, and learning coping strategies – can be greatly effective for managing the most common fears and enhancing the quality of life.