Encountering certain obstacles or situations may leave one frightened, such as being afraid of the dark, high heights, or animals. Most of us can remain calm, rationalize the situation, and find a way around it, but this does not work for everyone. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 10 million adults live with phobias.
What is a phobia?
Phobias, according to the American Psychological Association, are intense fears that result in distress and can be intrusive. Individuals with this anxiety disorder have an irrational fear of things that do not pose any real threat.
Here are a few examples of common phobias:
- Arachnophobia is the fear of spiders
- Acrophobia is the fear of heights
- Agoraphobia is the fear of being in a situation you cannot escape from
The American Psychiatric Association simplified the symptoms into two points:
- An out-of-proportion reaction inappropriate for the age of the person experiencing the fear
- The individual’s capacity and ability to behave normally is compromised
Treatment options
- Therapists treat phobias by using psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy. For instance, with CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) patients learn how to think, react, and behave to negotiate their fears and reduce the feeling of overwhelming anxiety.
- EMDR has been shown to be effective with phobias.
- Somatic Experiencing assists to resolve the emotional origin of the behavior.
- Medications, on the other hand, are not a cure but may help patients deal with symptoms.
- Individuals can learn stress-management techniques, such as meditation, yoga, or other holistic approaches.
While one of these methods may work for some, professionals may provide their patients with a combination of these treatments and remedies.
Western psychology traditionally considers the cause of anxiety disorder to be unknown. It may be due to genetics, the environment, or even developmental conditioning.
In eastern Ayurvedic psychology it is understood as a Vata Dosha imbalance of the mind and stored in the kidneys. It is treatable through Marma therapy, Tanmatra Chikitsa, pranayama, diet, and action yoga.
It is my clinical experience that a phobia is a conditioned response to an unresolved life threatening situation, imagined or real. This phobic energy is carried in the cellular memory, along with the intention to resolve the fear that blocks a healthy exploratory orientation to life. Simply stated, by resolving the phobia, the individual can once again explore their life with curiosity and wonder.
I assist people dealing with phobias through processing conscious awareness and subconscious material with Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, and Ayurvedic treatments.
Contact me for assistance in establishing a portal of self healing.
