Search results
Prompt children to begin a discussion about anxiety and fear using the My Fears anxiety worksheet. This worksheet will give your clients an opportunity to discuss the feelings of fear and anxiety, why they are important, and how they can be harmful.
- Sentence Completion for Children
The Sentence Completion for Children worksheet lists several...
- Where Do I Feel
Use art to teach young clients to name, identify, and...
- Sentence Completion for Children
- Overview
- Types of Phobias
- A–Z List of Some of the More Common Phobias
- Symptoms of Phobias
- Causes of Phobias
- Common vs. Rare Phobias
- Treatment for Phobias
- A Word From Verywell
A phobia is an anxiety disorder involving excessive and persistent fear of a situation or object. Exposure to the source of the fear triggers an immediate anxiety response.
Phobias are one of the most common mental illnesses in the United States. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH), approximately 12.5% of adults in the U.S. will deal with a specific phobia in their lifetime. Women are more likely to experience phobias than men. Typical symptoms of phobias can include nausea, trembling, rapid heartbeat, feelings of unreality, and being preoccupied with the fear object.
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) identifies three different categories of phobias:
1.Social phobias: Now known as social anxiety disorder, this phobia is marked by a fear of social situations in which a person might be judged or embarrassed.
2.Agoraphobia: This phobia involves an irrational and extreme fear of being in places where escape is difficult. It may involve a fear of crowded places or even of leaving one's home.
3.Specific phobias: When people talk about having a phobia of a specific object such as snakes, spiders, or needles, they are referring to a specific phobia.
While not comprehensive, this list of phobias offers a glimpse of the many phobias that can have a serious impact on a person's life. As you may notice while you browse through this list, most specific phobias fall into one of four major categories:
•Fears of the natural environment
Click Play to Learn More About Common Phobias
This video has been medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD.
A
Ablutophobia: Fear of bathing Achluophobia: Fear of darkness Acrophobia: Fear of heights Aerophobia: Fear of flying Algophobia: Fear of pain Agoraphobia: Fear of open spaces or crowds Aichmophobia: Fear of needles or pointed objects Amaxophobia: Fear of riding in a car Androphobia: Fear of men Anemophobia: Fear of air Anginophobia: Fear of angina or choking Angrophobia: Fear of anger Anthrophobia: Fear of flowers Anthropophobia: Fear of people or society Aphenphosmphobia: Fear of being touched Arachibutyrophobia: Fear of peanut butter Arachnophobia: Fear of spiders Arithmophobia: Fear of numbers Astraphobia: Fear of thunder and lightning Astrophobia: Fear of outer space Ataxophobia: Fear of disorder or untidiness Atelophobia: Fear of imperfection Atychiphobia: Fear of failure Automatonophobia: Fear of human-like figures Autophobia: Fear of being alone
B
Bacteriophobia: Fear of bacteria Barophobia: Fear of gravity Bathmophobia: Fear of stairs or steep slopes Batrachophobia: Fear of amphibians Belonephobia: Fear of pins and needles Bibliophobia: Fear of books Botanophobia: Fear of plants
Phobias lead to physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms. Common symptoms include:
•Chest tightness or pain
•Chills or hot flashes
•Choking sensations
•Confusion
•Difficulty breathing
The exact causes of phobias are not known, but it is likely that a combination of factors plays a part. Some factors that increase the risk of developing a phobia include:
•Genetics: People with a close family member with a phobia or another anxiety disorder also have a greater risk of a phobia. It is important to note, however, that people who don't have family members with the condition still develop phobias.
Some phobias are more common, while others are often quite rare. Five of the most common phobias include arachnophobia (the fear of spiders), ophidiophobia (the fear of snakes), glossophobia (the fear of public speaking), acrophobia (the fear of heights), and social phobia (the fear of social interactions).
The fear of public speaking is so common that some researchers have estimated that as much as 77% of people have some level of this fear.
Exposure Therapy
Exposure-based treatments are the first-line approach in the treatment of phobias. In this type of treatment, you are gradually and progressively exposed to what you fear. You might start by just thinking about your phobia trigger and then move slowly toward looking at images of the object and finally being near the object in real life. Types of exposure-based treatments that may be used include: In vivo exposure: This involves being exposed to the source of your fear in real life. Virtual exposure: This involves the use of virtual reality to practice gradual exposure. Systematic desensitization: This involves being gradually exposed until you become desensitized to the source of your fear. During this process, you'll also practice relaxation techniques to help calm your body when your fear response kicks in.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Often referred to as CBT, cognitive behaviorial therapy involves learning to identify the underlying negative thoughts that contribute to feelings of fear. Once you become better at noticing these thoughts, you can then work on replacing them with more positive, helpful thoughts.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy utilizes rhythmic eye movements to help people process and recover from traumatic experiences. It is frequently used in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but can also be effective in the treatment of a variety of other mental health conditions including phobias.
Phobias can have a serious impact on well-being, but it is important to remember that you are not alone. Phobias are common and treatable. If you believe that you have the symptoms of some type of phobia, consult a doctor for further evaluation and treatment advice.
Fear vs. Phobia: What's the Difference?
9 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
1.National Institute of Mental Health. Specific phobia.
2.Regier DA, Kuhl EA, Kupfer DJ. The DSM-5: Classification and criteria changes. World Psychiatry. 2013;12(2):92-8. doi:10.1002/wps.20050
Jun 20, 2023 · 1. Phobia. This Anxiety Hierarchy worksheet has been designed to help you organize a client’s anxiety or fear into a graded hierarchy of responses from the most intense to the least intense. 2. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Types of phobia . Phobias can develop around any object or situation. Some people may experience multiple phobias. They can be broadly categorised into two groups: • Specific phobias • Complex phobias . Specific phobias . These are phobias about a specific object or situation, such as spiders or flying. They often develop in childhood or ...
- 199KB
- 27
Mar 4, 2024 · This worksheet will provide information about the various types of phobias as general awareness about the condition to the public. It can help people realise whether they need to seek help for their irrational fears or not and ensure they get treated at the tight time.
This worksheet will help you think about and share what you fear with someone you trust. It will help you decrease your fear by replacing your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to feel safe, calm, and confident. What to Do. First, write down your fears. Be as detailed as possible.
People also ask
What are some common phobias?
What are the symptoms of a phobia?
What is a specific phobia?
Apr 16, 2024 · Generalized anxiety disorder. Panic disorders. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Specific phobias. Social anxiety disorder. Obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anxiety disorders may be terrifying for their victims, causing physiological, cognitive, and emotional symptoms (Hart, 1999).
