Phobias

• flooding is a technique used to treat phobias by exposing the patient to the feared stimulus immediately after it has been identified
• systematic desensitization is a form of exposure therapy that involves gradually exposing the patient to the phobic stimulus
• social phobias are characterized by a persistent fear of social situations
• agoraphobia is a fear of being in places where escape is difficult or where help is not available
• phobias are irrational fears of specific objects or situations that cause anxiety
• There are three stages to systematic desensitization are:

  1. relaxation training
  2. establishment of an anxiety hierarchy
  3. Gradual exposure
• Gradual Exposure: Starting with the least anxiety-inducing situation, the individual is exposed to each item while employing relaxation techniques. They move up the hierarchy only when they can remain relaxed at the current level.
• Establishment of Anxiety Hierarchy: The individual and therapist collaboratively create a list of fear-inducing situations related to the specific phobia, ranking them from least anxiety-provoking to most. The list is crucial as it provides a structure for the therapy.
• Relaxation Training: The individual learns deep muscle relaxation techniques and breathing exercises to control anxiety and physical reactions to stress.