Archive for February 2011

Treatment For Phobias

I believe that you ever heard about a phobia. But, what is it? If we afraid about something for a long time with unreal reason, that’s called phobia. A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder. It is a strong, irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger. It is a constant, extreme or irrational fear of an animal, object, place or situation that wouldn’t normally worry the majority of people. It is when you have an overwhelming need to avoid any contact with the specific cause of the anxiety or fear. Phobias were the most common mental illness among women in all age groups and the second most common illness among men older than 25.

Before we learn about treatment for phobias, we must kow the types of phobia. It is divided into two types. Simple phobias type is about a single object, situation, or activity. Complex Phobias involves several anxieties, including fear of entering shops, crowds, and public places, or of travelling in trains, buses, or planes. Social phobia is another complex phobia. Social phobia is a fear of social e.g. a wedding, or performance situations e.g. public speaking. 1 to 2 % of men and women have a social phobia and it is usually linked to low self-esteem and fear of criticism.

Many things and situations can cause anxiety. It was also cause nervousness or fright. Anxiety disorders rarely disappear and may grow worse without appropriate treatment. There is some treatment for phobias. Effective treatments are available that may help you to keep your fear in check. Behavioral therapy focuses on changing specific actions and uses several techniques to decreases or stop unwanted behavior. Exposure therapy involves starting to confront the fear and stopping avoiding it. The best treatment for phobias are a psychological treatment called cognitive behavioural therapy, and support from the family.

Medication may be used according to individual need and symptoms. It is sometimes used in addition to psychological therapy. Antidepressants can be effective for severe social phobia. Antidepressants or tranquillisers (benzodiazepines) may be recommended for agoraphobia. Some doctors may prescribe medicines called benzodiazepines (such as diazepam, also known as Valium) to ease symptoms in the initial stages of a psychological programme. However, these can only be taken for short periods because they can lead to dependence. Other drugs, called beta-blockers, are sometimes used to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and have also been used together with psychological treatment programmes.