Tackling Fears and Phobias - Time For Professional Help?

by Arun Chintis

It is important to understand that fears and phobias are far from being uncommon. We all have a dread of something or the other. We may have a fear of flying or driving, a fear of speaking in public, of open or enclosed spaces or even of specific objects such as bees or tall buildings.

Though they can immobilize, the fact is that fears and phobias are a result of our body's defense mechanism. The body seeks to protect itself from threats and dangers and throws up a response that seems appropriate for the situation. However, there are also irrational fear - which, when they remain unaddressed and become chronic, result in the birth of phobias.In most cases, you can control a fear with the reasoning part of your mind. In other words, when you recognize a certain panic response to be inappropriate and not in line with reality, you can often curb it. However, you may also find that you are unable to control a certain anxiety reaction just by being rational about it.

Your response may become debilitating and uncontrollable, and it may seriously affect your daily functioning. For instance, if you have a chronic dread of traveling in elevators and live in a large city for of skyscrapers, you are definitely in trouble.There are definitely instances where fears and phobias require professional intervention. This is especially true if you find that your phobia renders you incapable of socializing and communicating with your family or friends, or if it impacts your work life and causes you to neglect your personal needs.You may need professional help if these debilitating responses are the result of abuse, a traumatizing death of someone close, abandonment by parents or spouse, divorce, loss of your job or a serious accident. In such cases, anxiety responses can be quite overwhelming and can often not be tackled without psychotherapy.If you are in such a situation and need professional help, you should put in efforts to find the right therapist. This therapist should be experienced in tackling phobias and anxiety disorders, and should have expertise in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and relaxation exercises to tackle fear responses.

A psychiatrist may also prescribe medications for phobias that are extremely uncontrollable, though this should not be the first line of treatment. A good therapist will also put you in touch with support groups, which are an effective way to overcome the feeling of isolation that those who suffer from irrational anxieties usually experience.

Arun Chitnis is a professional content and copywriter, proof-reader and editor. He wields his pen on a diverse range of topics, but his primary areas of interest are medical and lifestyle issues, family dynamics, parenting, natural health, home improvement, real estate, humor and fiction. Visit his site for more self-help articles and resources.