Phobias are the most common type of anxiety disorder. They are characterized by irrational fears that cause a person to avoid a certain object or situation. Phobias can develop at any age and occur at all times, although in most cases, phobias begin in childhood when the mind is immature and vulnerable.
The list of different of phobias is endless, however, the most common phobias include: acrophobia (fear of all heights), claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces), nyctophobia (fear of the dark), ophidiophobia (fear of snakes), arachnophobia (fear of spiders), trypanophobia (fear of medical needles), astraphobia (fear of lightning and thunder), and mysophobia, also known as germophobia (fear of germs). The National Institute of Mental Health suggests that 19.2 million American adults have one or more phobias.
Treating Phobias:
There are many ways to treat phobias which include therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy enables the patient to be aware of their feelings in order for them to realize their fear is irrational; systematic desensitization which is a process whereby patients become accustomed to their phobia, to the extent of overcoming it; medication, and hypnosis.
An example of systematic desensitization with the fear of feathers:
The list of different of phobias is endless, however, the most common phobias include: acrophobia (fear of all heights), claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces), nyctophobia (fear of the dark), ophidiophobia (fear of snakes), arachnophobia (fear of spiders), trypanophobia (fear of medical needles), astraphobia (fear of lightning and thunder), and mysophobia, also known as germophobia (fear of germs). The National Institute of Mental Health suggests that 19.2 million American adults have one or more phobias.
Treating Phobias:
There are many ways to treat phobias which include therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy enables the patient to be aware of their feelings in order for them to realize their fear is irrational; systematic desensitization which is a process whereby patients become accustomed to their phobia, to the extent of overcoming it; medication, and hypnosis.
An example of systematic desensitization with the fear of feathers: