Areas of Expertise

PHOBIAS
From the Mayo Clinic Website:
"A phobia is an overwhelming and unreasonable fear of an object or situation that poses little real danger. Unlike the brief anxiety most people feel when they give a speech or take a test, a phobia is long-lasting, causes intense physical and psychological reactions, and can affect your ability to function normally at work or in social settings.

Several types of phobias exist. Some people fear large, open spaces. Others are unable to tolerate certain social situations. And still others have a specific phobia, such as a fear of snakes, elevators or flying.

Not all phobias need treatment, but if a phobia affects your daily life, a number of therapies are available that can help you overcome your fears - often permanently."

Phobias can be broken down into three main categories including specific phobias, social phobia, and agoraphobia. Specific phobias include claustrophobia, or a fear of closed spaces; zoophobia, a fear of animals; acrophobia; fear of insects; and aviophobia a fear of flying. The list of specific phobias is seemingly endless and includes storms, dentists, bridges, heights, and many others.
Social phobias or social anxiety affects 15 million Americans in any given year. Social phobia involves an exaggerated sense of self consciousness in public situations, fear of being humiliated in public situations, and fear of being negatively evaluated by others. It can have significant impact on a person's ability to perform adequately in school, work or social gatherings of any sort.

Agoraphobia is essentially a fear of open spaces. In its most extreme form, agoraphobia can cause a person to become afraid to leave the perceived safety of their home, effectively preventing them from engaging in work, shopping, school and any outside activities. Agoraphobia typically develops as a result of an individual experiencing a panic attack in a public place or while driving or riding in a vehicle.

All phobias are characterized by uncontrollable anxiety when exposed to the feared object or situation, the need to avoid the feared object at any cost, and the inability to function normally in the face of fear. Symptoms can include sweating, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, a feeling of panic and intense anxiety.

Phobias are treatable with a variety of methods including exposure therapy, progressive relaxation, hypnosis, desensitization, and mental rehearsal. Often times the phobia can be entirely eradicated through psychotherapy alone.