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| Specific Phobias |
Aspecific phobia is an intense,irrational fear
of something that actually poses little or no threat. Some of the more common specific phobias are heights, escalators, tunnels, highway driving, closedin places,water, flying, dogs, spiders, and injuries involving blood. People with specific phobias may be able to ski the world’s tallest mountains with ease but be unable to go above the fifth floor of an office building.While adults with phobias realize that these fears are irrational, they often find that facing, or even thinking about facing, the feared object or situation brings on a panic attack or severe anxiety.
Specific phobias affect around 19.2 million American adults1 and are twice as common in women as men.10They usually appear in childhood or adolescence and tend to persist into adulthood.12 The causes of specific phobias are not well understood, but there is some evidence that the tendency to develop them may run in families.
Specific phobias affect around 19.2 million American adults1 and are twice as common in women as men.10They usually appear in childhood or adolescence and tend to persist into adulthood.12 The causes of specific phobias are not well understood, but there is some evidence that the tendency to develop them may run in families.
If the feared situation or feared object is easy to avoid, people with specific phobias may not seek help; but if avoidance interferes with their careers or their personal lives, it can become disabling and treatment is usually pursued.
Specific phobias respond very well to carefully targeted psychotherapy.
Specific phobias respond very well to carefully targeted psychotherapy.
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n at i o n a l i n s t i t u t e o f me n ta l h e a lt h
