Innovative Methods of CBT (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy) for Phobia
Psychology is an interesting science that explains and illustrates to us many phenomena and situations that occur in front of our eyes everywhere around us, whether on the street, at school, at university, or at work. Likewise, psychology explains to us the feelings of sadness, fear, anger, or anxiety that may come to us suddenly without any apparent cause. We hear a lot of people saying "I'm sad, but I don't know why," "When I get into the elevator, I sweat so hard and my heart almost jumps out of my body."
In this article, we will address one of the most important of these feelings, which is fear or anxiety that does not fit the situation, which is known in psychology as phobia, and what we will focus on more is(CBT) the strategies of cognitive-behavioral therapy for various phobias.
Examples of Phobia:
The types of phobia are different and varied. There is a fear of snakes, spiders, high places, narrow places, thunder, darkness, open and public places, and deep waters. That is, it is a fear that is not commensurate with the seriousness of the situation. What distinguishes the phobia is that it is very real for the sufferer.
When Should Phobia Be Treated?
Many doctors around the world agree that phobia should only be treated in cases where the person is in clinical distress, or when phobia prevents them from working, hinders them from performing necessary day-to-day tasks, or prevents them from establishing healthy social relations.
In What Cases Does Treating Phobias Not Work?
For example, some people have a high fear of tigers, but this fear or phobia is not a justification for spending time and money on treating them with drugs or other drugs. It is better to avoid places where tigers are found, such as the zoo. However, if you have a phobia of flying, and your work requires you to travel from one region to another or from one country to another, here you cannot completely dispense with the plane, but rather, you have to treat this phobia as soon as possible with a specialized psychiatrist or psychotherapist.
How Does Phobia Happen?
A person with a phobia believes that this feared situation is dangerous in nature, and this belief generates automatic thoughts that come out to consciousness and manifest in the form of intense feelings and emotions that cannot be controlled once facing the feared situation.
Why Are Most Phobia Cases of Animals and not Cars?
In terms of recent statistics, it is rare for one to die from a snake bite. The most common cause of death is traffic accidents, but we are never afraid to get in the car although the rate of death when we get on a bus or car is twice as high as that of other snakes, spiders, or animals.
One of the psychologists says that the most dangerous thing he did in his life was to drive a car, and when he got behind the wheelو he tried to make himself feel the gravity of the situation, but he failed miserably. Rather, he felt a wave of energy and enthusiasm when the car took off, instead of the feeling of fear and anxiety that should exist about the most dangerous risks that any ordinary person can take in daily life. However, human beings have been programmed with the fear of a snake and a scorpion for an unlimited number of years to sustain their lives, and this fear has contributed to shaping their instincts, feelings, and behaviors, while the car is a recent invention compared to harmful animals from time immemorial.
What Is the Underlying Principle of CBT for Phobia?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you manage your concerns by motivating you to change your thinking patterns while emphasizing that this process is gradual and slow, and it cannot take place between day and night or even weeks and months. Instead, it proceeds from the treatment of thoughts and beliefs as a way to reach the modification of feelings, and then to modify and control behavior, even if partially.
This type of treatment requires the patient's patience and understanding because it needs several sessions to correct the wrong patterns of thinking that have been wrongly formed over many years.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Phobia Through Exposure:
There is a common type of cognitive-behavioral therapy for phobia called exposure therapy. The psychotherapist helps their patients to confront their fears and then overcome them by following gradual steps in terms of exposure.
A practical example explaining CBT for phobia through exposure:
For example, a man with a dog phobia comes to the clinic of a psychotherapist. He feels sweating, palpitations, and shortness of breath when he sees a dog, and this fear increases when the dog runs, barks, or plays. The therapist asks the patient to read some books, magazines, or articles about dogs, and then watch any movie that talks about dogs. As the last step to get rid of this fear, daily sessions are set in which the patient plays with a small pet puppy, which does not have any aggressive tendency.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Phobia Through Group Therapy:
Group therapy is an effective component of the CBT strategy in treating phobia, and the session may require a group seminar of one-hour duration and several days.
A Practical example explaining CBT for phobia through group therapy:
For example, a group of people suffering from flight phobia or plane phobia may meet in an area close to the airport as a first step, and then take a group vacation in an airport hotel, in which psychological educational classes are conducted. Exposure sessions may be partially conducted inside the airport in preparation for a final exposure test inside a stationary plane, then a static plane with the take-off sound and the natural engine sound on before engaging in a real flight. However, not everyone may need all of these steps.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Phobia through Individual Therapy:
Individual therapy allows the psychotherapist to focus mainly on the patient's condition, and build a successful therapeutic relationship between them that achieves the desired benefit for the patient. Some types of individual therapy explore and psychoanalyze the underlying conflicts within the patient's conscience, thereby linking them to the patient's symptoms, and may last for months or even years.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Phobias through Family Therapy:
Family therapy is one of the most important types of CBT, especially when the psychological problem concerns children. The child is a mirror for their parents, and the majority of mental disorders in children are due to parents. Family therapy is, therefore, an integral part of plans for treating children with a phobia, and family therapy is not limited to children. If a psychotherapist feels that the condition of phobia may be improved by involving family members, you may be asked to do so.
What Drugs May Be Used to Treat Phobia?
Most cases of phobias from specific places or situations do not need drugs, in contrast to social phobias that often require drug treatment through one of the following drugs:
- Beta-blockers, which prevent the effects of adrenaline.
- Antidepressants, such as serotonin blockers.
- Sedatives for relaxation and to reduce symptoms of anxiety in the absence of control.
There is no doubt that CBT is one of the basic treatments for phobia, but it is not the only cure. So, you should coordinate with your specialist doctor to determine the treatment method that suits your condition.
In Conclusion:
Psychiatric illness is a real problem, no matter how simple it is, not because it is difficult to treat or that psychiatric illnesses are serious or incurable, but because in many cases the patient refuses to see the psychiatrist until the illness reaches a late stage with which medication does not work. Patients may reach this stage and not seek help from a psychiatrist. Therefore, what is more important than spreading awareness about mental illness is to spread the culture of reviewing the psychiatrist in the event of facing any problem stubbornly receiving treatment for more than three weeks. Here, we may need some tips for a full recovery, while coming after three years may be pointless despite all the treatments and medications.