How To Treat Common Phobias

Medication

Seeking therapy from a professional is a pivotal part of overcoming phobic tendencies. While our instinct is to muscle through issues alone, the truth is a mental illness is a real condition that requires medical intervention to treat. In this way, therapy alone may not be the only source of reprieve.

Used in conjunction with therapy, medication can become a powerful tool. Ultimately, its job is to tone down the intensity of painful emotions so that one can experience a state of equilibrium and clarity. It can take some trial and error to get right, but once you have found the right dose of the right medicine, the intense anxiety and panic associated with a phobia will diminish and you will find life more manageable.

Before beginning a new medication, it is important to have an honest consultation with a psychiatrist who can assess symptoms and prescribe the proper dosage. Antidepressants are commonly used to treat anxiety and depression and may be given to treat various phobias. It may be difficult, but allowing yourself to be vulnerable by speaking from the heart to your mental health care team will net you the best results and treatment plan.

Mindfulness

The anxiety and dread associated with a phobia can be very intense, but there are simple ways one can distract themselves from the discomfort. Practicing mindfulness is one way to bypass negative emotions without indulging in maladaptive coping mechanisms. It relies on becoming aware of yourself in the present, particularly with respect to your body in space.

For instance, if you are afraid of flying, mindfulness can help you feel grounded even while soaring through the air on a plane. Begin by closing your eyes and taking deep breaths from your diaphragm. It may help to do this in counts of five or ten. As you focus on breathing, think about your body. Focus on how your feet are planted on the floor, the feeling of your fingers on an armrest. Consider the temperature, if there is wind and what you can hear, feel, and smell.

By concentrating on your body and its senses, you can become desensitized to the droning spike of anxiety. A phobia can make you feel detached and being mindful can help you find peace.