Can phobias be rationalized and eliminated?
Dr Lim says most people with phobias recognize that their fears are irrational. There’s more.
“Specific phobias are very likely to co-occur with other mental illnesses,” he said. “About 60 percent of people with lifelong phobias also have other mental illnesses, such as depression, other anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.”
So it’s not as simple as rationally eliminating fear, Dr. Lim says. “Effective treatment that is tailored to an individual’s specific needs and circumstances is often needed.” If your phobia is affecting your life, it’s best to see a doctor.
A commonly recommended treatment is exposure therapy, which can involve gradual exposure to the feared object or situation in a safe and controlled manner, Koh said. “This helps patients overcome their fear by learning that the object or situation they are afraid of is not as scary as they thought,” she says.
For example, if you’re afraid of riding in an elevator, you can start by simply thinking about riding in an elevator. Next, while looking at the picture of the elevator, go near the elevator and actually get into the elevator. Once you get used to all this, you can take the elevator to one floor, then several floors, and finally to a crowded elevator.
In some cases, Dr. Lim said drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may be prescribed to help manage symptoms.
