Living Without Your Phobias

The world is full of many things that can cause fear such as snakes, spiders, heights, blood, closed spaces etc. There’s nothing wrong with fear. In fact, it is a natural reaction and is even considered healthy if it is warning you of impending danger.

Fear can become problematic when it begins to feel irrational or if you feel that it is taking over the way you live your life. If you find that you are so afraid of something that you can’t do the things you want to do or you have to change the way you experience life you may be experiencing a phobia. A phobia is an intense and debilitating fear of something, whether a person, an animal, object, place, situation or feeling. A severe phobia can restrict your day-to-day life and can cause you terrible anguish.

If you’re experiencing severe and uncontrollable anxiety related to a person, place or thing help is available. Therapy can be an effective way to face your fears and move forward. 

Establishing the Nature of Your Phobia

It can be difficult to trace the exact cause of your fear. While it is normal to have fears, it is a different matter to be crippled by what instigates your fear. Throughout life, there are certain experiences that may leave you intensely scarred emotionally and psychologically. You may experience overwhelming fear even when there is no imminent danger or threat. Your symptoms may initially manifest as mild and tolerable feelings, then escalate to excessive panic as you get closer to the object, event or situation that you fear. 

Physical signs are visibly marked, such as the pounding of the heart, agitated stomach, nausea, severe sweating, and hot/cold flashes. Psychological symptoms can include anxiety, feeling powerless or even hopeless to make change. 

Freeing Yourself from Phobias

Avoiding the stimulus will not make your phobia go away. Instead, you’re choosing to live with it. Whatever your phobia is, you have the option to stop it from controlling your life. Thankfully, almost all types of phobias can be treated, especially when you see a licensed therapist with expertise in behavioral therapy.

Right now, this idea may be causing you a great amount of anxiety. Fear not! Carolina Counseling Services in Fayetteville, NC contracts with licensed therapists and psychiatric professionals who can help. Phobias are highly treatable with proper interventions, such as therapy and psychiatric medication management. Call now to get started!

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