Tackling The Problem Of Phobia

Phobias are rarely of a severity and of a subject that would impede the sufferer’s daily life. You could live life perfectly normally if you have a fear of clowns. However, if you suffer from claustrophobia and you are offered a job on the 23^rd floor of Canary Wharf, you may have to turn it down because you would not be able to face the lift ride every day, or in fact the tube ride to work. If your efforts to avoid the thing that causes you panic erode your enjoyment of life, or prevent you from doing things that you must, then it is time to consider your options for managing the condition.

The most common therapies for tackling phobias are:

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

This is the gradual exposure of the sufferer to the thing that they fear in a safe and secure environment. Also known as desensitisation or exposure therapy, you are re-teaching your mind how to handle something and therefore reduce or eradicate your fear of it.

Hypnotherapy

Much the same process as cognitive behavioural therapy, but carried out whilst the subject is under hypnosis by a clinical hypnotherapist.

Group therapy

Once again this is the same as CBT, but instead of going through it on your own, you will have a small group of fellow phobia sufferers from whom you can draw strength and confidence.

Virtual reality exposure therapy