You Don’t Have to Manage A Phobia Alone

Phobias represent a real mental health problem for millions of Americans. Many phobias come with symptoms and side effects that can be overpowering and alienating. However, if you suffer from a phobia, you don’t have to deal with it by yourself. Many treatments can help desensitize you to your triggers and help you recover from your fear.

At Thriving Center of Psychology in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, our experienced and caring professionals understand how a phobia can disrupt your life, erode your self-confidence, and keep you from enjoying many enriching experiences. We offer cutting-edge treatments that can be tailored to address your specific needs.

What Is a Phobia?

A phobia is ingrained anxiety or fear connected to a person, place, object, or situation. A phobia can emerge from a fear of virtually anything, but some of the most well-known phobias include:

• Acrophobia (fear of heights)
• Agoraphobia (fear of open spaces)
• Aviophobia (fear of flying)
• Claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces)
• Dentophobia (fear of dental work)
• Hemophobia (fear of medical care)
• Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)

Negative or traumatic past experiences can give rise to phobias and so can learned behaviors from parents or influential others. In some instances, genetics or changes in brain chemistry can contribute to phobias.

When Should I Get Treatment for a Phobia?

Many individuals don’t realize that they can get help with a phobia and instead suffer for years without relief. Thriving Center of Psychology recommends getting a phobia assessment if your symptoms adversely affect your work, relationships, or overall enjoyment of life. A phobia can also lead to one or more physical side effects:

• Fast heart rate
• Chest tightness and pain
• Uncontrollable trembling or shaking
• Panic
• Breathing difficulties
• Gastrointestinal discomfort

These symptoms can diminish your personal life, physical health, and work functioning. Depression, isolation, and other mental health issues can also develop within a phobia sufferer who feels compelled to limit their activities because of their overwhelming fear.

Getting Help for a Phobia

At Thriving Center of Psychology, our practitioners often treat phobias with customized virtual-reality videos, which are part of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET). These videos can simulate a real-life situation that would typically trigger your phobic responses. However, you would experience the scenario in a safe, controlled environment, with your provider closely tracking your physical symptoms and helping desensitize you to the triggers.

In addition to VRET, we offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychotherapy (talk therapy). Both treatments allow you to discuss your phobia with your provider to uncover and cope with the underlying issues that lead to your fear and anxiety.

You might also inquire about neurofeedback therapy, which uses EEG biofeedback or electroencephalographic technology. Neurofeedback is a non-invasive procedure that treats various mental health conditions. Your provider might recommend it in addition to your other therapies.

You don’t have to struggle with your phobia alone. For your convenience, we offer in-person or online virtual TeleTherapy appointments. Contact Thriving Center of Psychology in Midtown Manhattan today to learn more about phobia treatments.