Phobias and Panic Disorder Treatment
A phobia is a psychiatric disorder in which the patient suffers a lasting, irrational fear precipitated by a harmless object or situation. A patient with a phobia experiences intense anxiety upon exposure to the trigger and may experience anticipatory anxiety as well. Patients with phobias may be aware that their fear is irrational, but may nonetheless find it overwhelming or even disabling. Phobias which develop in childhood, such as a fear of bees or of thunder, are frequently outgrown, while phobias that develop in adulthood may be longer lasting. Nonetheless, about one-fifth of all phobias resolve without treatment.
Phobias are the most common psychiatric disorder, experienced at some time by as much as 10 percent of the population, and are found with slightly greater frequency in women than in men. Patients may be troubled by more than one phobia.
Symptoms of Phobias
Patients with phobias experience extreme anxiety or even terror upon exposure to trigger object or situation. Fear may even develop when the trigger is discussed or observed as a two-dimensional image. The emotional and physical symptoms adult patients with phobias experience when confronted with the objects or situations they fear are similar to those experienced during anxiety or panic attacks. The difference is that, in the case of patients with phobias, the precipitating factor is constant and known.
Symptoms of phobias include:
- Feelings of horror or dread
- Desire to escape
- Sweating, chills, tachycardia
- Shortness of breath or chest pain
- Gastrointestinal distress
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Inability to function normally
Children with phobias may express their fear differently than adults, either by crying, clinging to adults, or having tantrums.
Common Types of Phobias
It is possible to have a phobia based on anything, but some of the more common ones include:
- Animal phobias, such as fear of dogs, spiders, snakes, birds, cats or rodents
- Situational phobias, such as fear of closed in spaces (claustrophobia)
- Fear of activities, such as flying or entering a tunnel
- Fear of social interactions or public speaking
- Fear of natural phenomena, such as storms, earthquakes or floods
- Fear of bodily invasion by injections, dental work or surgery
- Specific idiosyncratic fears, such as fear of clowns, nuns, or computers
Treatment of Phobias
Whether a particular phobia requires treatment depends on how severe the problem is and whether it interferes with the patient’s everyday life. Many people have phobias that rarely bother them and therefore never have to be treated. Sometimes a particular fear, such as a fear of flying, is not troublesome until the patient is suddenly expected to travel extensively to meet the requirements of a new job and the phobia becomes crippling.
Whenever a phobia intrudes on daily life, employment or relationships, it should be therapeutically addressed. Certain medications, usually tranquilizers and antidepressants, can be helpful in addressing the terrible anxiety patients with phobias experience. There are also several types of psychotherapy that have been found to assist in overcoming phobias. These include: cognitive behavioral therapy, desensitization, flooding, graded exposure and biofeedback. Support groups are also often helpful.
Additional Resources
Featured Services
Medication
Management
Psychiatric medications are invaluable in achieving recovery from mental illness and safe treatment of symptoms. Our practice offers comprehensive medication management delivered by board certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners. Our clinicians utilize a holistic approach that incorporates in depth knowledge of how pre-existing medical conditions can influence and trigger psychiatric symptoms. The decision to begin medication management is a combined effort between the Provider and the individual patient.
Therapist
Referrals
Our board certified Nurse Practitioners work with a select group of well experienced Licensed Therapists in the Las Vegas area. Depending on the patient’s symptoms and goals, the patient and the Provider will determine if therapy could offer solutions to the current situation. Therapy can include individual, group or family for adults and children. Finding the right Licensed Therapist for your individual needs is very important. The Therapy referrals available at Mighty Mental Health will ensure that every available tool is being utilized to help reach each patient’s goal.
ADHD Testing and
Treatment
Our office offers both in office and online ADHD Testing for both children and adults. Our board certified Nurse Practitioners are trained to administer the tests and discuss the results with the patients and family. Testing is a great tool for Providers to use to help determine the best treatment plan for all patients. Our office uses the state of the art software created by QbCheck to help diagnose and track our ADHD patients.
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2685 South Rainbow Blvd
Suite 206
Las Vegas, NV 89146
- 702-479-1600
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