Phobic Anxiety Disorders - Types and Treatment

Feeling anxious is a natural response to stress, which we all tend to experience. The science says that when your body feels emotionally “threatened” in a stressful situation, your nervous system gets activated - resulting in a feeling of heaviness in the chest or a higher heart rate. This is your body’s way of protecting itself, commonly known as anxiety.

So it is important to remember that if you feel anxious often, it does not mean that you have a Phobic Disorder. If you do feel you may have experienced many of the symptoms mentioned in this blog, it is crucial that you speak to a psychiatrist or therapist for clarity.

This blog will help you understand what symptoms of Phobic Anxiety Disorders look like, and the common treatment methods used for them.

What is Phobic Anxiety?

Phobic Anxiety is not just a fear that seems irrational, but something that also can’t be controlled.  As a result, individuals avoid social interactions or situations where they encounter those specific objects that cause intense fear. 

This behavioural pattern may cause people to isolate themselves from their loved ones, despite being aware of the fact that the fear is not often grounded in reality. This is because the threat alone of the panic attack or anxiety is too much to manage alone. 

Phobic Anxiety Disorders are characterised by excessive avoidance or fear of specific objects, situations, or animals. 

Also Read: 5 Major Types of Anxiety Disorders

Types of Phobic Anxiety Disorders

There are three groups of phobic anxiety disorders - Agoraphobia, Social Phobia, and Specific Phobias. Each group has its own set of symptoms and treatments - with one fundamental similarity - there’s a fear of something that induces immense amounts of distress.   

Social Phobia 

Like social anxiety disorder, social phobia induces an intense fear of being embarrassed in social situations. 

Agoraphobia 

This is characterised by the fear that the current environment is unsafe and that there’s a need to escape. 

Also Read: Agoraphobia: How Can You Treat It?

Specific Phobia 

Those with specific phobias fear specific objects or situations, for example, having an irrational fear of being bitten or harmed by snakes or spiders.

These reactions can be intense by nature, and even the possibility of encounter with these specific objects can feel daunting. 

Other kinds of Specific Phobias include the following: 

• Animal phobias (e.g., fear of snakes, insects, etc.)

• Situational phobias (e.g., fear of a specific situation such as flying, closed-in spaces, etc.)

• Natural environment phobias (e.g., fear of heights, storms, etc.)

• Blood-injection-injury phobias (e.g., fear of injury, blood, etc.) 

Treatment Options for Phobic Anxiety Disorders

There are multiple methods that can be employed in the treatment process of Phobic Anxiety Disorders. These include therapy and psychiatric medications along with some basic lifestyle changes. 

Also read: How Will Therapy and Psychiatry Benefit Me?

Medication is used for the purpose of reducing symptoms - In this case, it eases anxiety related to a particular phobia. Antidepressants are most commonly used; it’s important that you speak with your doctor to create a treatment plan that is specific to your needs. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as a part of psychotherapy can be extremely helpful for Phobic Anxiety Disorders because it works by helping people navigate their thought patterns, feelings, and beliefs causing the phobia. It does so by changing unhealthy beliefs and replacing them with healthy, realistic ones through thought challenging about the object or situation causing them distress.   

Finally, changes in lifestyle like including meditation and yoga in daily routine can effectively manage stress levels.  

Also Read: How Long Will I Need to Be in Therapy for Anxiety?

Conclusion

Phobic anxiety disorders can drastically affect your quality of life, and it is crucial to seek treatment when that happens. There are different modes of treatment and each person may respond differently to each, but psychiatric support and therapy both have been shown to be effective for most. 

Amaha’s clinical team includes psychiatrists and therapists both, who can help you overcome these symptoms and maintain your mental health in the long run. If you are experiencing these symptoms and feel ready to try out these treatment options for support, we are going to be here.