Phobia Therapy and Counseling in San Francisco

Phobia Therapy

 Your sanity is not in question here.

Do you feel “crazy” at times when faced with the terror of something or a particular situation, knowing your fear is irrational, but still feeling just as afraid? 

Do you feel a deep sense of dread or panic when you encounter the source of your fear? 

Or have your friends and family downplayed and brushed off your intense fears as simply ‘nerves’?

We know this isn’t about overcoming a ‘fear’, it’s much deeper than that.

A fear may be confronted and dealt with, but a phobia many times requires the assistance of a mental health professional to overcome.

The fear can be of a certain place, situation, or object. Unlike general anxiety, a phobia is usually connected to something specific.

Fears and phobias are different due to the debilitating effects phobias can have over you everyday life such as:

-Your relationships

-Ability to work or go to school

-Ability to perform daily tasks

Carolyn Rodriguez, MD, PhD, a psychiatrist at Stanford Health Care, said: “Normal fears don’t interfere with an individual’s ability to work, go to social outings or have relationships, whereas phobias might. Being around the feared situation or object can also cause panic attacks, which are accompanied by symptoms such as heart palpitations, sweating and trembling.”

If you struggle with a phobia, you’re not alone.

About 19 million Americans have a phobia that causes difficulty in some area of their lives.

10 Most Common Phobias

  1. Arachnophobia (fear of spiders)

  2. Ophidiophobia (fear of snakes)

  3. Acrophobia (fear of heights)

  4. Aerophobia (fear of flying)

  5. Cynophobia (fear of dogs)

  6. Astraphobia (fear of thunder and lightning)

  7. Trypanophobia (fear of injections)

  8. Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder)

  9. Agoraphobia (fear of being unable to escape a difficult or embarrassing situation)

  10. Mysophobia (fear of germs)

There are many other sources of phobias along with this list.

Common Symptoms:

  • Pounding heart

  • Rapid speech or inability to speak

  • Dry mouth

  • Shortness of breath

  • Upset stomach

  • Nausea

  • Trembling

  • Chest pain or tightness

  • Choking sensation

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness

  • Excessive sweating

  • Sense of impending doom

The good news is, Phobias are highly treatable, sometimes in as little as a few sessions.

Here at Calm Again Counseling, we specialize in Anxiety and Anxiety Related issues ALONE. You can rest assured we have extensive experience with your issue and are trained in the most effective evidence based treatments like CBT and Exposure Therapy. 

Don’t let anxiety make decisions for you. 

Take back control over your life by getting in touch with us today!