What Is a Phobia?

Phobias are intense and persistent fears of certain objects, situations, or activities. It’s normal for you to feel afraid or anxious at times. However, with  Phobias, the fear is often irrational and baseless since the object, situation, or activity poses no real danger to you.  The fear can be so overwhelming that the person suffering from the phobia will go out of their way to avoid it, thus limiting their movements, adversely affecting their relationships, and disrupting their lives.

Types of Phobias

Some main types of Phobias include:

Specific Phobias : Specific Phobias, as the term suggests, are strong, overwhelming fears of certain objects, animals, or situations, where the fear far exceeds the actual risk involved. Understandably, those with a specific phobia usually go out of their way to avoid the situation or object altogether.

Examples include: 

  • Arachnophobia – Fear of spiders
  • Aerophobia – Fear of flying
  • Autophobia – Fear of being alone
  • Chronophobia – Fear of time 
  • Coulrophobia – Fear of clowns

Social Anxiety Disorder :

Social Anxiety Disorder, also known as Social Phobia, revolves around the fear of social situations or performances that might lead to someone feeling embarrassed, judged, or subject to public scrutiny. 

In the case of those with social phobias, the fear is so intense that they often go out of their way to avoid social interactions of any kind. For such people, even simple, seemingly harmless tasks such as answering the telephone or ordering food at a restaurant can cause panic.

Agoraphobia:

Agoraphobia is an intense, crippling fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or where help might not be available during a panic attack. You tend to avoid large, open spaces, or even crowded places such as malls and public transport where you might end up feeling trapped. 

Those with chronic health problems tend to fear they will have a medical emergency in a public area or a situation where no help is available. In extreme cases, the fear becomes so severe that people avoid leaving their homes altogether.

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Symptoms and Causes of Phobias

Symptoms of Phobias: The symptoms of Phobias can broadly be classified into three subtypes – physical, mental, and behavioural. Let’s look at some symptoms under each subtype:

Physical Symptoms

  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Shaking or trembling
  • Blushing
  • Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Stuttering
  • Sweating
  • Mumbling or speaking too quickly
  • Upset stomach or stomach ache
  • Tightness or pain in the chest
  • Fainting
  • Narrowed vision (also known as tunnel vision)

Mental Symptoms

  • Intense fear or anxiety when exposed to the object or situation
  • Overwhelming dread
  • Feeling extreme panic or the need to escape
  • A sense of impending doom (being convinced something terrible is going to happen)
  • Feeling frozen or paralysed with fear
  • Feeling like you’re in immediate danger
  • Feeling disconnected from your own body (depersonalisation) or the world around you (derealisation)

Behavioural Symptoms

  • Refusing to travel
  • Not making an effort to socialise with others
  • Refusing to leave the house
  • Going out of your way to avoid triggers (eg: Avoiding medical care of any kind because you’re afraid of needles)
  • Making deliberate life changes to avoid triggers (eg: Moving out of a coastal area because of a fear of hurricanes)
  • Avoiding life changes, especially positive ones, to avoid encountering triggers (eg: Not buying a house or taking a job near a water body because of a fear of water, swimming, or drowning)
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Causes of Phobias

Phobias usually don’t have a single cause but arise from a complex mix of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. The most common causes include:

Brain Chemistry: The way the brain processes fear and anxiety is closely linked to the development of Phobias. Imbalances in brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine can make some people more prone to developing Phobias. In such people, the brain’s amygdala, responsible for processing fear, becomes overactive, leading to exaggerated fear responses.

Genetics: Genetics plays a strong role in the development of Phobias, which is why Phobias tend to run in families. If someone in your family has or has had a phobia or Anxiety Disorder, the chances of you developing one are higher.

Traumatic Experiences: Traumatic experiences such as an animal attack like a dog bite may trigger Phobia. Similarly, a near-drowning experience may trigger a fear of drowning. These experiences condition your brain to associate specific situations, objects, or environments with danger, even when no actual threat exists.

Learned Behaviors: It may sound surprising, but Phobias can also develop by observing others with Phobias, even without having a direct traumatic experience. For instance, if the parent or sibling of a child has a strong fear of snakes, the child may also pick up the same Phobia by simply observing the reactions of that family member when exposed to snakes, be it in person (at a zoo, for instance) or on a screen of some kind.

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Diagnosis and Treatment

At Betterplace, we diagnose Phobias through psychiatric evaluations, clinical assessments, and reviews of your medical history. These tests help our psychiatrists and psychologists gain insight into your condition and the symptoms that you might be experiencing. Our medical professionals use specific criteria from the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition) and ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition) to diagnose your Phobias.

Treatment of Phobias

Phobias are highly treatable, and with the right approach, you can overcome your fears and lead a better life. Treatment is tailored to your needs, and often includes a combination of therapy and medication:

Psychotherapy: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the gold standard for treating Phobias and is often the first type of treatment used. CBT teaches you to understand and challenge your malformed thoughts so that you can change your thought patterns for healthier ones.

Medication: While therapy is the cornerstone of Phobia treatment, medication can help manage the physical symptoms of Anxiety that accompany Phobias. Anti-anxiety medications can provide short-term relief in certain situations. Beta-blockers are sometimes prescribed to manage the physical symptoms of Phobia, such as rapid heartbeat or trembling.

Exposure Therapy: Exposure Therapy, a common form of CBT, is where you are gradually exposed to your  Phobia in a safe and structured environment. The goal is to desensitise you slowly and reduce the fear response over time.

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Cost of Phobia Treatments at BetterPlace

The cost of treatment for Phobia varies based on factors such as how often and how long you receive treatment, as well as the specific components of your plan. It costs INR 2,000 to book an appointment at BetterPlace and in your first 90-minute session, you get to meet our psychiatrist and clinical psychologist for a comprehensive understanding of your mental health issues.

Our team of experts carefully analyse your symptoms and accurately diagnose you to prescribe the most effective treatment option for your condition. No two patients are the same, neither will their treatments be. Our team works together to create a completely personalised treatment plan for your unique needs.

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Our Doctors for Comprehensive Phobias Treatment

Ms. Mitali Srivastava

Senior Clinical Psychologist


Therapy Mode Online, In-person

Languages Hindi, English

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5.0 / 5
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Dr. Sunil Mittal

Head of Clinical Governance


Therapy Mode Online, In-person

Languages Hindi, English

Rating
5.0 / 5
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Compassionate Mental Health Care for Phobias

At BetterPlace, our experts have helped over 50,000 people navigate Phobias and other mental health challenges.

  • Depression
  • ADHD
  • Generalized Anxiety
  • OCD
  • Schizophrenia
  • Anorexia
  • Agoraphobia
  • Panic Disorder
  • Social Anxiety
  • Bulimia nervosa
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Personality Disorders
  • Binge Eating
50
k+
Patients treated
10
k+
Conditions treated
5
k+
Assessments administered
Dr. Sunil Mittal
Dr. Mitali Srivastava

What makes our approach 'better'?

Specialised treatment for phobias

Our team includes experts trained in treating phobias, using advanced techniques like graded exposure and desensitisation therapy to help you face your fears safely and effectively.

Compassionate and non-judgmental environment

Overcoming a phobia can feel overwhelming, but our empathetic team provides a supportive and non-judgmental space where you can work through your fears at your own pace.

Customised pace and approach

We understand that everyone faces fears differently. That’s why we customise your treatment to match your comfort level, gradually guiding you towards overcoming your phobia without pressure.

Flexible and accessible care options

Whether you prefer in-person sessions, virtual therapy, or a combination of both, our flexible treatment options are designed to fit into your life, making it easier for you to focus on overcoming your phobia.

Visiting BetterPlace?

When visiting BetterPlace, you can expect a welcoming environment where there is 0% judgment.

Detailed initial session (90 min)

Meet with both a psychologist and a psychiatrist

Comprehensive testing

Get an accurate understanding of your mental health

Treatment phase (3-8 weeks)

Get a personalised treatment plan

Long-term support

Get ongoing care with regular follow-ups

Transformation Stories at BetterPlace!

Start your journey
I’m finally able to go out in public

My friends could never understand why I was so scared of leaving home, or going to a mall or restaurant. They used to think I was pretending! But after I finally told them about seeing Dr Akul at BetterPlace, they realised how serious my condition was. It’s been about 3 months now since my treatment began and things are already looking positive. Went out for coffee the other day after a loooong time. It felt great 🙂

 

Kruti K
Only those who have it will understand

I never thought I would get over my fear of closed spaces. It had got so bad I would walk 5 kms to work every day because I couldn’t sit in cars, trains or even a rickshaw! I tried ten different therapists before I met Dr Akul. I was pretty sure he wouldn’t be able to help either. All I’ll say is I’m very glad he proved me wrong. Very very grateful to him and Better Place.

 

Abhishek G
I ran out in the middle of a shower

Spiders always creeped me out, to the point I could not even look or even think about one. I was once taking a shower and upon seeing one I ran out with soap on my face and shampoo on my hair. I knew something had to be done at that point. I have been taking therapy at BetterPlace for the past 2 years and I feel much better. I can finally face my fear and remove them from my house!

 

Utkarsh K

Mental Health Partners to the prestigious National Heart Institute

Visit our Experts today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Fear is a normal response to a real or perceived threat, while a Phobia is an exaggerated and irrational fear of a specific object or situation. So, while fear might make you cautious around spiders, a Phobia could cause an intense, overwhelming reaction, like screaming at the sight of one.

Phobias can develop due to a combination of genetic predispositions, traumatic experiences, and learned behaviours. These factors can contribute to intense and irrational fears about specific objects or situations.

Yes, Phobias are treatable. Various therapies and strategies, such as Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), medication, and self-help techniques, can help you manage and overcome your  Phobias effectively.

Yes, Phobias can develop in adulthood. While some Phobias may emerge in childhood, others can develop later in life due to traumatic experiences, stress, or major life changes that aren’t perceived as positive.

Phobias are diagnosed through a comprehensive assessment by a mental health professional. This typically involves discussing symptoms, triggers, and their impact on daily life. The DSM-5 criteria are often used for formal diagnosis.

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