Phobias

Whether it’s flying, needles, animals, or crowded spaces, a phobia can significantly restrict your life. Even when you know the fear doesn’t match the danger, it can feel impossible to control.

What are Phobias?

A phobia is more than a dislike — it’s a disproportionate fear response that causes significant anxiety or avoidance. People often go to great lengths to avoid the trigger, sometimes limiting their lifestyle, healthcare access, or travel opportunities.

Symptoms of Phobias

• Immediate anxiety when faced with the feared object or situation

• Physical symptoms: racing heart, sweating, trembling, nausea

• Anticipatory anxiety: worrying long before exposure to the trigger

• Avoidance behaviours, which can reinforce and strengthen the phobia

Types of Phobias

• Specific Phobias: fear of animals, insects, needles, blood, heights, flying

• Situational Phobias: e.g. enclosed spaces, public transport

• Agoraphobia: fear of being in places where escape may feel difficult or embarrassing

How Therapy Can Help with Phobias

Therapy can:

• Use graded exposure therapy to safely reduce fear step by step

• Teach relaxation and grounding techniques to manage physical responses

• Apply CBT to challenge catastrophic predictions and beliefs

• Use EMDR when the phobia originates from a past traumatic experience

Phobias are highly treatable — many people achieve lasting improvements with focused therapy.

When to Seek Help

If a phobia is interfering with your work, travel, or relationships therapy can help you regain freedom and control.