Specific Phobias

What are Specific Phobias?

Individuals with Specific Phobias experience extreme fear or distress, when they encounter certain objects or situations (unique to their phobia). The severity of the distress is significantly beyond what most would find appropriate given the specific object or situation, and the impact on the person can be long-lasting. When someone has a specific phobia, they tend to go through great lengths to avoid the object, or situation that causes them distress, despite personal, academic, social or other consequences. Phobias can additionally have a significant impact on a person’s relationships and/or general sense of wellbeing.

Examples of Specific Phobias include:

• Agoraphobia: Fear of public spaces
• Acrophobia: Fear of heights
• Aerophobia: Fear of flying
• Algophobia: Fear of pain
• Arachnophobia: Fear of spiders
• Astraphobia: Fear of Thunder and Lightning
• Claustrophobia: Fear of enclosed spaces
• Coulrophobia: Fear of clowns
• Cynophobia: Fear of dogs
• Emetophobia: Fear of vomiting
• Entomophobia: Fear of insects
• Ophidiophobia: Fear of snakes
• Trypanophobia: Fear of needles

There are a countless number of potential specific phobias, and this list is therefore not all-inclusive. If you are struggling with a specific phobia not included on this list, please reach out to discuss – we can likely help you with your unique struggles, or refer you to someone who can.

How Common are Specific Phobias?

Approximately 5-10% of individuals in the US have symptoms consistent with a specific phobia. Research indicates that rates outside of the US may be lower (2-5% of individuals).

Specific phobias typically develop by age 10, and typically decrease over time. For example, in the US rates of specific phobias decrease to about 4% of individuals over the age of 65.

Women are Twice as likely as men to suffer from Specific Phobias.

What Symptoms Might a Person Experience with a Specific Phobia?

Individuals with Specific Phobias may exhibit a range of physical and emotional symptoms, when thinking about, or exposed to, the object or situation, that causes distress.

Symptoms of panic and anxiety are often prevalent when triggered:

• Racing heart
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• A feeling as if one is going to pass out
• Subjective feelings of anxiety
• Tremor
• “Tunnel Vision”
• Upset stomach
• Sweating/ feelings of warmth / Chills

Specific Phobias are also generally categorized by avoidance behaviors, which may limit personal, social, occupational and academic function. Avoidance may also severely limit personal relationships.

Example One: Sally is a 25 year old woman with an intense fear of heights, or Acrophobia. She does not recall if her phobia stems from a specific incident, but remembers having panic symptoms and crying spells as a young child, when riding in glass elevators and escalators, at a local mall with her mom when growing up. As an adult, her fear of heights has prevented her from driving over bridges, flying for job interviews or vacations, and taking scenic hiking trips with her partner (along a rocky mountain side). She calls our office to discuss a once daily medication for anxiety (an SSRI), and to inquire about exposure therapy for her fear of heights.

Example Two: John is a 40 year old man, who remembers vomiting on a table at a public restaurant, when he was about 8 years old. He recalls feeling incredibly embarrassed and guilty about this event, and for the last 30 years he has avoided eating in public restaurants because of a fear that this would re-occur. Additionally, if he feels nauseous, overly full, or if someone around him mentions nausea, he will start to panic and suffer from extreme distress. His fear of vomiting (or Emetophobia) is not specific to situations where it would be difficult to escape (which may be diagnosed as agoraphobia), but is triggered by any mention or thought of anyone vomiting, in any location. His specific phobia has resulted in missed work meetings, social engagements and prevented him from having dates in public with his significant other. He calls our office to discuss exposure therapy, as he would like to treat his illness without the use of medications.

Example Three: Rita is a 35 year old woman who has avoided medical professionals and routine blood work, due to a fear of needles (or trypanophobia). She has a family history of elevated cholesterol, and her father had a heart attack at the young age of 50. She knows that she is at elevated risk of heart disease from elevated cholesterol, but has avoided having her cholesterol checked, due to her phobia. She calls our office, to discuss as needed medications for a one-time lab draw, and she’d like to consider CBT with exposure therapy, to decrease future avoidance of medical professionals.

When Should I get an Evaluation for Treatment of a Specific Phobia?

We recommend that individuals schedule a psychiatric evaluation for a Specific Phobia, if they experience any of the following symptoms:

• Avoidance of situations due to symptoms
• Symptoms interfering with academic or occupational life
• Symptoms interfering with social life or relationships
• Anxiety related to fears affecting sleep, energy, focus, or appetite.
• Feelings of hopelessness
• High levels of anxiety or stress
• Crying episodes
• Difficulty being present with friends or loved ones, due to a preoccupation w/ one’s phobia
• If one is utilizing poor coping mechanisms (alcohol or substance use, gambling, self-harm) in an attempt to cope
• Suicidal thoughts
  • If you have suicidal thoughts, call 911 or 988. Do not wait for an appointment.

What Types of Treatment are Available for Specific Phobias?

Treatment for an Specific Phobias should be tailored to the individual. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment in psychiatry. Your treatment for your Phobia may include:

• Psychotherapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure Therapy, to increase functioning and desensitize from triggers.
• Medication Management. Medication management may be part of your Phobia treatment. Specific medication utilized for an individual’s Phobia may include SSRI’s/ SNRI’s or others. At times, as needed medications such as beta blockers (which decrease the sympathetic nervous system’s tone (fight or flight) or other as needed medications may be appropriate.
• Behavioral modification: Recommendations regarding sleep hygiene, exercise, diet, social outlets and others, may be part of a patient’s treatment.

Do You Offer Both In-office and Virtual Online Psychiatric Appointments for the Treatment of Specific Phobias?

Yes, we offer both in-office and virtual online psychiatric appointments for the treatment of Specific Phobias.

Why Choose Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates for Treatment for my Specific Phobia?

The providers at Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates are academically oriented providers, most of whom teach, or have taught, at academic institutions. Our providers are Board Certified Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners and we have several licensed and doctoral level therapists and psychologists. We are experienced in working with individuals who struggle with various psychiatric conditions, including Specific Phobias.

• Licensed Therapists and Doctoral Level Psychologists
• Board Certified Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners
• Academically Oriented providers, most of whom teach, or have taught, at local Academic Institutions, such as Johns Hopkins Hospital & The University of Pennsylvania.
• Appointments generally available within 2 weeks.
• In-office and online Virtual Appointments for the treatment of Phobias.
• Providers experienced in treating co-occurring psychiatric conditions.
• Providers who are welcoming to all individuals.