“talking to someone who is outside of your usual circle of family or friends can create a sense of containment,” says lorraine. “with a therapist you’re in a safe setting that’s set up for you to give voice to any thoughts, feelings and concerns that you might be embarrassed to share with those close to you. "speaking to a trained therapist can help you start a treatment plan to enable you to manage and better understand your concerns. They'll also help you to identify and change the unhelpful coping skills you’re using to manage your phobia.
"the aim is to help you feel more grounded, understood and better able to manage your distress.
“Normal” fears vs. phobias or “irrational” fears
Phobias are persistent and extreme fears that are out proportion with the actual threat posed. A phobia may be of an object or situation, with a strong desire to avoid the fear and, in some cases, an inability to function at normal tasks (such as a job or a social situation). Phobias are among several anxiety disorders , which also include panic disorder , post-traumatic stress disorder , obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalised anxiety disorder.
Unlike general anxiety disorders, a phobia is usually connected with something specific. Common specific phobias include those related to animals (e. G.
Common fears for children include: loud noises and strangers (babies) imaginary creatures and the dark (preschool) natural disasters and animals (early primary school) illness and death (upper primary school). Learning to manage these fears is a normal part of growing up. However, children can develop specific phobias. They’re often too young to understand that their fears are irrational or exaggerated. They may even experience panic attacks.