Phobia Therapy in Greenwich, CT - Phobia Therapy in NYC

What is a Phobia?

A phobia is a fear that causes significant anxiety and avoidance of an object or particular situation. Phobias can become so overwhelming that they interrupt your life. People with phobias (approximately 10% of the population) usually realize that their fears are ‘irrational’ but still cannot control them. Even simply thinking about the feared object or situation can create anxiety. Understandably, this can seriously impede your lifestyle and create inconveniences for those you love. Help is available.

Understanding your phobia is the first step to overcoming it, and it is important to know that phobias are highly treatable. Studies have shown that treatments can reduce your anxiety caused by your phobia, and you can overcome your fears, no matter how out of control they may feel. You can learn strategies in therapy to help you take away your fears and start living a fuller life.

Types of Phobias

Social phobia

Social phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, is a fear of social situations where you expect to feel embarrassed or judged. This phobia is very common: more than one out of eight people suffer from a social phobia at some point in their life. If you have social phobia, you may feel excessively self-conscious and afraid of humiliating yourself in front of others. Your anxiety over how you will look and what others will think may lead you may lead you to avoid certain social situations you’d otherwise enjoy. Fear of public speaking is one type of social phobia. Others include fear of eating or drinking in public, talking to strangers, taking exams, mingling at a party, or being called on in a classroom setting.

Fear of flying

Many people find the mere thought of boarding a plane to be utterly terrifying. Whether it has to do with being in the air, boarding the aircraft among a crowd of people, or even just being in an airport, therapeutic exercises can help you feel freer to travel for business or pleasure, unencumbered by fear.

Fear of germs

This type of phobia involves being unable to enjoy things like close contact with others, eating in restaurants without constantly worrying about contamination, or shaking hands with colleagues.

Claustrophobia

Claustrophobia is a fear of confined spaces. Being in a restricted area—for example, an elevator—can lead to a severe panic attack. Talking about the fear can provoke anxiety, but with proper exercises that move at your own pace, our anxiety specialists can help you manage and triumph in situations like these.

Treatment

Greenwich Psychology Group treats adults and children who would benefit from treatment for social anxiety and phobias. After an evaluation, we will collaborate to determine the best therapeutic approach for you. Under the guidance of our highly trained clinicians, you will improve your ability to regulate emotions and help you recognize negative thoughts.

Gradually, you will be able to face the situations you have been afraid of in the past, and through that process, you will discover that your fears usually do not come to fruition. Specific, customized exercises, relaxation, and breathing techniques, and self-help skills are used in homework assignments are all ways in which Greenwich Psychology clinicians can help you fight and conquer your phobia and related anxiety and help you gain independence and enjoy life.

Take the GPG Symptom Checker

At Greenwich Psychology Group, our symptom checker helps clients track their symptoms of depression or anxiety. Taking the assessment doesn't provide a formal diagnosis, but it can help you determine what next steps you may need to take. The evaluation uses a series of questions to review the feelings and symptoms you've experienced over the past two weeks. The results will help you distinguish if professional help is the best next step.

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