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Phobias

Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder. They are very common, though they may particularly affect people suffering with PTSD and panic disorder. Phobias are irrational, exaggerated fears of a particular thing or experience. Common phobias include fear of spiders, snakes, social situations, driving, flying, and public places. Symptoms range from mild to severe, with some people suffering so severely that their daily life is affected and they find it difficult to function.

Phobias are common, with about 10 million adults experiencing one, according to the American Psychological Association. People living with phobias may believe there is no hope in being cured, however, you don’t have to live with phobias forever. Phobias are treatable and can resolve. 

The most common and effective form of therapy for phobias is called “exposure therapy” where you gradually expose yourself to the thing you are afraid of in a controlled environment and under the care of your therapist. Cognitive behavioral therapy is also commonly employed to treat phobias.

woman sitting with hands on head
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Published on: 16 Mar 2022
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW
  • 6 minute read
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW

Fear vs. Anxiety: How to Tell the Difference

Published on: 16 Mar 2022
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW
  • Written byMinkyung Chung, MS, LMHC
  • Mar 16, 2022
Clinically Reviewed by Reshawna Chapple, PhD, LCSW
Fear and anxiety are similar emotions that often co-occur and are easily mistaken for one another. Fear is…
woman sitting alone hugging legs
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Published on: 31 Jan 2022
Clinically Reviewed by Bisma Anwar, LMHC
  • 6 minute read
Clinically Reviewed by Bisma Anwar, LMHC

Autophobia (Monophobia): The Fear of Being Alone

Published on: 31 Jan 2022
Clinically Reviewed by Bisma Anwar, LMHC
  • Written byKarmen Smith LCSW, DD 
  • Jan 31, 2022
Clinically Reviewed by Bisma Anwar, LMHC
Many different types of phobia can develop due to trauma, such as nosophobia (fear of having a disease)…
woman sitting at desk taking notes
Read More
Published on: 31 Jan 2022
Clinically Reviewed by Meaghan Rice PsyD., LPC
  • 6 minute read
Clinically Reviewed by Meaghan Rice PsyD., LPC

Atychiphobia: The Fear of Failure

Published on: 31 Jan 2022
Clinically Reviewed by Meaghan Rice PsyD., LPC
  • Written byJill E. Daino, LCSW-R
  • Jan 31, 2022
Clinically Reviewed by Meaghan Rice PsyD., LPC
To some extent, we all have a fear of failure at some point in our life. Nobody wants…
couple arguing with moving boxes in background
Read More
Published on: 04 Jan 2022
Clinically Reviewed by Amy Cirbus Ph.D, LMHC, LPC
  • 8 minute read
Clinically Reviewed by Amy Cirbus Ph.D, LMHC, LPC

Fear of Intimacy: Signs, Causes, and How to Overcome It

Published on: 04 Jan 2022
Clinically Reviewed by Amy Cirbus Ph.D, LMHC, LPC
  • Written byCynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S
  • Jan 04, 2022
Clinically Reviewed by Amy Cirbus Ph.D, LMHC, LPC
Updated on 1/11/2023 Fear of intimacy in a relationship isn’t necessarily the result of not wanting to be…
man looking out window
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Published on: 05 Feb 2021
  • 7 minute read

Agoraphobia: What Is It and How Is It Treated?

Published on: 05 Feb 2021
  • Written byDarcey Pittman
  • Feb 05, 2021
Any tourist or local of New York City who has visited the iconic Times Square can tell you…
woman sitting in dark alley
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Published on: 16 Jan 2021
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S
  • 8 minute read
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S

Everything You Need to Know About Claustrophobia

Published on: 16 Jan 2021
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S
  • Written byBisma Anwar, LMHC
  • Jan 16, 2021
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S
Updated on 1/19/2022 In daily life, it is common to sit bumper to bumper in traffic, pass through…
fearful man
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Published on: 30 Oct 2019
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S
  • 4 minute read
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S

How to Overcome a Debilitating Phobia

Published on: 30 Oct 2019
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S
  • Written byJor-El Caraballo
  • Oct 30, 2019
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S
Updated 3/3/2022 Many of us have things that we fear. After all, fear is a normal human emotion…
phobia of flying
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Published on: 30 Oct 2019
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S
  • 5 minute read
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S

Top 10 List of Most Common Phobias

Published on: 30 Oct 2019
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S
  • Written byMeaghan Rice PsyD., LPC
  • Oct 30, 2019
Clinically Reviewed by Cynthia V. Catchings LCSW-S
Updated on 1/11/2023 For humans, and mammals generally, fear of something is inevitable, but when the irrational fear…
honeycomb
Read More
Published on: 24 Aug 2019
  • 3 minute read

What is Trypophobia?

Published on: 24 Aug 2019
  • Written byWendy Wisner
  • Aug 24, 2019
How do you feel when you look at a honeycomb, a spotted animal, an open pomegranate, or the…
legs with flippers under water
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Published on: 30 Mar 2019
  • 6 minute read

Thalassophobia: How to Deal with Fear of the Ocean

Published on: 30 Mar 2019
  • Written byJessica DuBois-Maahs
  • Mar 30, 2019
Updated on 10/15/2020 Are you afraid of being in or around large bodies of dark water? Perhaps this…

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