Phobia Treatment - What Are The Different Methods?

By Belinda H. Begay


Gephyrophobia, also known as bridge phobia, is an unreasoning fear or dread of crossing bridges. There are several reasons for this phobia to exist. In many cases, this is a part of a larger group of phobias, such acrophobia, fear of heights, or a fear of the water. In other cases, this phobia stands alone.Bridge phobia and most other phobias, often develop following a traumatic experience. For example, it was feared that a great number of cases of bridge phobia would be diagnosed following the collapse of the interstate overpasses in San Francisco a few years ago. Whenever people approach the object of their phobias, they begin to experience feelings of anxiety, sometimes leading to a full blown panic attack.

Treatment for bridge phobia consists of antidepressant or anti anxiety medications in conjunction with behavioral therapy to teach one coping mechanisms to employ whenever placed into a situation that would trigger the phobia. Another treatment is called desensitization. This works by putting yourself into the situation that triggers your anxiety a little at a time until it stops bothering you, then going a little further.

Modeling, another component of phobia treatment, is normally used together with systematic desensitization. In this case, the therapist must perform or model the right behavior first before asking the client to do the same. By observing the therapist, the client learns to associate calm responses to the therapist's behavior towards the feared object or situation. The last component of this method is flooding, which entails the client, who is taught relaxation techniques, to be consistently exposed to the feared object until the OCD or phobia is extinguished. This treatment is the least preferred by clients because of the great distress it can cause them.

Bridge phobia is not an uncommon problem. The good news is that there are ways to get over it without having to limit one's self to one area because crossing a bridge is out of the question. Treatment, therapy, and behavior modification are all available methods of dealing with this or any other phobia.

There are other types of phobia treatment available. Cognitive-behavioral treatments combine the behavioral techniques mentioned above with cognitive techniques that help in identifying and challenging distressing thoughts about the feared objects. This type of treatment is very effective for social phobia since it can be administered in a group setting. Biological treatments are the last type of method. People are prescribed with medicines such as benzodiazepines, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors to provide temporary relief, since they cannot extinguish phobias. There are also studies that proved that relapse happens soon after stopping the medication. To sum it up, it eems that behavior therapy, the best method, still involves the adage "confront your fears."

Extremely shy individuals only feel at ease when family members and very close friends are around. However, situations where the people are unfamiliar or if they have to communicate with a group of new individuals are very difficult for them to deal with. Social phobia may get in the way of any individual's life that's why it should be properly dealt with.

A social phobia treatment can consist of three ways,Medications.Medications are usually used to alleviate an anxiety attack symptom but they don't totally cure an individual's social phobia. Some of the most common types of medication used for anxiety attack treatment are beta blockers, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines.

A history of short relationships - he may bolt when he senses you are looking for a commitment. He may be quite satisfied with a long distance relationship and resist suggestions that either of you move to be closer.He will be moody and distant and blame you for his behavior.He refuses to plan ahead because this represents commitment for him.He is evasive and secretive in order to keep you out of his space.He is not willing to socialize with your friends and family for fear this will be construed as commitment.We could go on for pages and pages listing behaviors common to commitment phobics. However one or two of these behaviors in an individual does not make him a candidate for commitment phobia and fear treatment and cure.

You may be wondering what kind of treatment is available for commitment phobia. First the person has to want the help and be willing to work with a therapist.The therapist or counselor needs the determine whether or not the person truly is a commitment phobic or if there is some other personality disorder present. If it is determined that the person truly has a commitment phobia, then the therapist and her client need to work on uncovering what triggered the problem.

Word of mouth is still the most reliable form of recommendation.An orthodontist like those in Brentwood or Hornchurch, or professionals in the dental practice in Brentwood can now perform modern pain-free cosmetic dentistry procedures in Essex to help patients feel at ease. Dental fear varies on different levels. Some patients would be slightly nervous while others suffer from severe phobia. Learn to open up to your cosmetic dentist. Talk to your dentist and express your fears. If you will not conquer your dental phobia, you will never get that smile makeover in Essex that you only dream of.




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