A phobia is a particular type of fear. Just as people fear many things, there is a large range of
things that can become a phobic concern. However, a phobia is different from a fear for three
reasons. The first of these is that the fear is intense and includes many of the following
sensations:
BODILY SENSATIONS
· Heart racing
· Sweating
· Trembling
· Rapid breathing
· Breathlessness or shortness of breath
· Muscular tension
· "Butterflies" in the stomach
· Nausea
· Weakness in muscles
· Tingling in hands and feet
· Hot and cold flushes
· Chest tight or sore
ACTIONS
· Feeling like fleeing or doing so
· Feeling frozen to the spot
· Crying or screaming
THOUGHTS
· Fear
· Worry "what if . . ."
· Embarrassed or irritated
· Shame
· Confused thinking
· "Something might happen"
· "This is dangerous" or "I might act in a dangerous way"
All of these actions, thoughts, and feelings are indications of fear and anxiety. It is important to
note that while they are unpleasant to experience, on their own they are not dangerous or lifethreatening.
We will discuss later why these experiences occur, but before we do, the second
feature of a phobia needs to be described.
Phobias involve avoidance of what is feared (or, at the very least, the object or situation is
endured with distress). Because anxiety is unpleasant and people worry what might happen when
they confront what they fear, people with phobias avoid the objects or
situations that make them afraid. This avoidance may take many different and subtle forms, such
as:
· Not going near the feared object or situation
· Escaping the situation
· Making excuses for not doing what scares you
· Imagining yourself somewhere else
· Thinking about something else
· Looking the other way
· Drinking alcohol or taking other drugs
· Taking antianxiety medications
· Seeking the presence of others
· Talking to the people you are with about anything
Many of the ways in which people with phobias avoid what they fear are subtle and this, in part,
may be due to the final important characteristic of a phobia, its "irrationality." As you may have
found, people who do not have phobias have difficulty understanding those who do; they may
say that the fears are silly, childish, and nonsensical. And while you also know that the situation
does not represent a real danger, at another level you may believe that it may do so. You may
even be able to agree with your family and friends and say that "I know that nothing will
happen" but it doesn't help. There is still this other part of you that is afraid a nagging doubt
that says "what if . . ."
To summarize what we have covered so far, phobias are characterized by three things. First,
there is an intense fear and anxiety about some object or situation. Second, there is an avoidance
of the feared object or it is endured with great difficulty. Finally, there is a conflict between
the knowledge that the situation is relatively safe and the belief that it may not be.
1.1 Rationale the Program
The program will focus on the three aspects of the phobia and you will be given skills that
specifically target each of them. As such, the treatment is like a tripod. It requires all three legs to
be present to stand firmly. This means that you will need to learn, practice, and keep using all of
the techniques to control your anxiety. The three strategies that this program covers are
techniques designed (1) to control your physical sensations, (2) to help you face more
comfortably the things that you currently fear and avoid, and (3) to modify what you say to
yourself. A further module will cover skills that have specific relevance to controlling
the fainting in the presence of blood and injury.
It is important to realize that achieving control of anxiety is a skill that has to be learned. To be
effective, these skills must be practiced regularly. The more you put in, the more you will get out
of the program. It is not the severity of your fear or avoidance, how long you have had your
phobia, or how old you are that predicts the success of the program. Rather, it is your motivation
to change your reactions. Using all three techniques, you will be able to master your fear.
things that can become a phobic concern. However, a phobia is different from a fear for three
reasons. The first of these is that the fear is intense and includes many of the following
sensations:
BODILY SENSATIONS
· Heart racing
· Sweating
· Trembling
· Rapid breathing
· Breathlessness or shortness of breath
· Muscular tension
· "Butterflies" in the stomach
· Nausea
· Weakness in muscles
· Tingling in hands and feet
· Hot and cold flushes
· Chest tight or sore
ACTIONS
· Feeling like fleeing or doing so
· Feeling frozen to the spot
· Crying or screaming
THOUGHTS
· Fear
· Worry "what if . . ."
· Embarrassed or irritated
· Shame
· Confused thinking
· "Something might happen"
· "This is dangerous" or "I might act in a dangerous way"
All of these actions, thoughts, and feelings are indications of fear and anxiety. It is important to
note that while they are unpleasant to experience, on their own they are not dangerous or lifethreatening.
We will discuss later why these experiences occur, but before we do, the second
feature of a phobia needs to be described.
Phobias involve avoidance of what is feared (or, at the very least, the object or situation is
endured with distress). Because anxiety is unpleasant and people worry what might happen when
they confront what they fear, people with phobias avoid the objects or
situations that make them afraid. This avoidance may take many different and subtle forms, such
as:
· Not going near the feared object or situation
· Escaping the situation
· Making excuses for not doing what scares you
· Imagining yourself somewhere else
· Thinking about something else
· Looking the other way
· Drinking alcohol or taking other drugs
· Taking antianxiety medications
· Seeking the presence of others
· Talking to the people you are with about anything
Many of the ways in which people with phobias avoid what they fear are subtle and this, in part,
may be due to the final important characteristic of a phobia, its "irrationality." As you may have
found, people who do not have phobias have difficulty understanding those who do; they may
say that the fears are silly, childish, and nonsensical. And while you also know that the situation
does not represent a real danger, at another level you may believe that it may do so. You may
even be able to agree with your family and friends and say that "I know that nothing will
happen" but it doesn't help. There is still this other part of you that is afraid a nagging doubt
that says "what if . . ."
To summarize what we have covered so far, phobias are characterized by three things. First,
there is an intense fear and anxiety about some object or situation. Second, there is an avoidance
of the feared object or it is endured with great difficulty. Finally, there is a conflict between
the knowledge that the situation is relatively safe and the belief that it may not be.
1.1 Rationale the Program
The program will focus on the three aspects of the phobia and you will be given skills that
specifically target each of them. As such, the treatment is like a tripod. It requires all three legs to
be present to stand firmly. This means that you will need to learn, practice, and keep using all of
the techniques to control your anxiety. The three strategies that this program covers are
techniques designed (1) to control your physical sensations, (2) to help you face more
comfortably the things that you currently fear and avoid, and (3) to modify what you say to
yourself. A further module will cover skills that have specific relevance to controlling
the fainting in the presence of blood and injury.
It is important to realize that achieving control of anxiety is a skill that has to be learned. To be
effective, these skills must be practiced regularly. The more you put in, the more you will get out
of the program. It is not the severity of your fear or avoidance, how long you have had your
phobia, or how old you are that predicts the success of the program. Rather, it is your motivation
to change your reactions. Using all three techniques, you will be able to master your fear.
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