Researchers are still unclear on exactlywhat causes phobias. The latest studies show that there is likely a complex interaction of factors includinggenetics, brain chemistry, environmental triggers, andlearned behavior. Two main approaches to treating phobias are the use of medications and psychotherapy.
MedicationThemedical modelplaces emphasis on the genetic and brain chemistry components of phobias. Medications are prescribed to reduce the symptoms associated with phobias, such as anxiety.Studies show that in phobias, cognitive behavioral approaches tend to be more effective long-term than medication approaches.The latter, however, can help render your symptoms less impactful and allow the space and time for therapy to work.Below are some examples of medications that a doctor may prescribe to help treat a phobia.AntidepressantsThere are two classes of antidepressant medications that are sometimes used to treat phobias: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). While anti-depressants are most commonly associated with the treatment of mood disorders like depression, they also have anti-anxiety effects that can potentially be helpful in phobias.SSRIs like includingCelexa(citalopram),Zoloft(sertraline),Prozac(fluoxetine), andPaxil(paroxetine) are often used for anxiety disorders.Potential side effects include:HeadachesDry mouthDrowsinessSexual dysfunctionDiminished sex driveWeight gainBenzodiazepinesBenzodiazepines, includingValium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam), and Ativan (lorazepam), are generally used for the short-term acute treatment of anxiety associated with phobias.Common side effects include:DrowsinessCognitive issuesImpaired coordinationBeta BlockersBeta blockers, including Tenormin (atenolol) and Inderal LA (propranolol), are sometimes prescribed as a short-term treatment to help control trembling, sweating, and other physical symptoms of phobia-related anxiety.While medication is helpful for some, others find the benefits aren’t worth the side effects. If you’re experiencing unpleasant side effects of your medication, it’s always best to consult your doctor prior to stopping.Those who choose to use medications to treat their phobias must visit a psychiatrist or other doctor for medication management, even if they also see a therapist.In most states, psychologists are not permitted to prescribe medications, although this is slowly changing. However, no mental health practitioner with less than a doctoral degree is permitted to prescribe medication in any state.How Medication Can Help Treat Different Phobias
Medication
Themedical modelplaces emphasis on the genetic and brain chemistry components of phobias. Medications are prescribed to reduce the symptoms associated with phobias, such as anxiety.
Studies show that in phobias, cognitive behavioral approaches tend to be more effective long-term than medication approaches.The latter, however, can help render your symptoms less impactful and allow the space and time for therapy to work.
Below are some examples of medications that a doctor may prescribe to help treat a phobia.
Antidepressants
There are two classes of antidepressant medications that are sometimes used to treat phobias: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). While anti-depressants are most commonly associated with the treatment of mood disorders like depression, they also have anti-anxiety effects that can potentially be helpful in phobias.
SSRIs like includingCelexa(citalopram),Zoloft(sertraline),Prozac(fluoxetine), andPaxil(paroxetine) are often used for anxiety disorders.
Potential side effects include:
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines, includingValium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam), and Ativan (lorazepam), are generally used for the short-term acute treatment of anxiety associated with phobias.
Common side effects include:
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers, including Tenormin (atenolol) and Inderal LA (propranolol), are sometimes prescribed as a short-term treatment to help control trembling, sweating, and other physical symptoms of phobia-related anxiety.
While medication is helpful for some, others find the benefits aren’t worth the side effects. If you’re experiencing unpleasant side effects of your medication, it’s always best to consult your doctor prior to stopping.
Those who choose to use medications to treat their phobias must visit a psychiatrist or other doctor for medication management, even if they also see a therapist.
In most states, psychologists are not permitted to prescribe medications, although this is slowly changing. However, no mental health practitioner with less than a doctoral degree is permitted to prescribe medication in any state.
How Medication Can Help Treat Different Phobias
TherapyMany professionals believe that the most important causes of phobias are environmental triggers and learned behaviors. They argue that a phobia is ultimately a learned response to a stimulus. By “unlearning” the response, the phobia can be cured. This model favors psychotherapy as a preferred treatment.Many people who live with phobias are best treated with a combination of medication and psychotherapy.Cognitive Behavorial TherapyCognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is often the first-line of treatment for phobia. It can help you overcome the negative automatic thoughts that lead to phobic reactions, teaching you to gradually change the way you think to help you overcome your fear.Exposure TherapyLike the name implies, exposure therapy gradually exposes you to the situations you fear with the goal of desensitizing and reducing anxiety. Exposure therapy is often part of a cognitive behavioral treatment program, but can also be incorporated into your daily life.Before the exposure process begins, people first learn relaxation techniques to use to stay calm when facing their fears, including deep breathing,progressive muscle relaxation, visualization, andguided imagery. The next step is to practice using these relaxation strategies gradually and progressively facing the feared object or situation.For example, if you have aphobia of public speaking, your therapist may help you gradually face difficult public speaking scenarios to overcome your fears perhaps starting with reading a passage aloud to a friend and ending with giving a public presentation.Therapy Options for Phobia Treatment
Therapy
Many professionals believe that the most important causes of phobias are environmental triggers and learned behaviors. They argue that a phobia is ultimately a learned response to a stimulus. By “unlearning” the response, the phobia can be cured. This model favors psychotherapy as a preferred treatment.
Many people who live with phobias are best treated with a combination of medication and psychotherapy.
Cognitive Behavorial Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is often the first-line of treatment for phobia. It can help you overcome the negative automatic thoughts that lead to phobic reactions, teaching you to gradually change the way you think to help you overcome your fear.
Exposure Therapy
Like the name implies, exposure therapy gradually exposes you to the situations you fear with the goal of desensitizing and reducing anxiety. Exposure therapy is often part of a cognitive behavioral treatment program, but can also be incorporated into your daily life.
Before the exposure process begins, people first learn relaxation techniques to use to stay calm when facing their fears, including deep breathing,progressive muscle relaxation, visualization, andguided imagery. The next step is to practice using these relaxation strategies gradually and progressively facing the feared object or situation.
For example, if you have aphobia of public speaking, your therapist may help you gradually face difficult public speaking scenarios to overcome your fears perhaps starting with reading a passage aloud to a friend and ending with giving a public presentation.
Therapy Options for Phobia Treatment
Alternative Treatments
Increasingly, mental health professionals and patients are turning to alternative treatments to augment traditional means of treating phobias, but these options are not considered first-line treatments and often come with their own set of side effects. Some alternative therapies include:
How to Face Your Fears When You Want to Tackle Them Head-On
TakeawayGetting help for your phobia may feel uncomfortable and anxiety-provoking—but you can take comfort in the fact that you are taking the best first step to alleviate your anxiety, manage your phobia, and start enjoying your life.The Goals of Phobia Treatment
Takeaway
Getting help for your phobia may feel uncomfortable and anxiety-provoking—but you can take comfort in the fact that you are taking the best first step to alleviate your anxiety, manage your phobia, and start enjoying your life.
The Goals of Phobia Treatment
1 SourceVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.van Dis EAM, van Veen SC, Hagenaars MA, Batelaan NM, Bockting CLH, van den Heuvel RM, Cuijpers P, Engelhard IM.Long-term Outcomes of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety-Related Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2020 Mar 1;77(3):265-273. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.3986
1 Source
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.van Dis EAM, van Veen SC, Hagenaars MA, Batelaan NM, Bockting CLH, van den Heuvel RM, Cuijpers P, Engelhard IM.Long-term Outcomes of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety-Related Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2020 Mar 1;77(3):265-273. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.3986
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
van Dis EAM, van Veen SC, Hagenaars MA, Batelaan NM, Bockting CLH, van den Heuvel RM, Cuijpers P, Engelhard IM.Long-term Outcomes of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety-Related Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2020 Mar 1;77(3):265-273. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.3986
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