Phobia treatment Bristol

Specific phobias

People can develop fears about a wide range of things, from common situations to unique objects or experiences. But when does a fear become a phobia? A phobia is an irrational fear of a specific situation or object that triggers an extreme anxiety response. This response can be severe, often including symptoms of panic such as a racing heart, sweating, dizziness, or shaking. Phobias occur because the brain perceives the fear as a threat to the person’s survival, activating the body’s natural fight-or-flight response. While some people can manage their phobias by avoiding the trigger, others find that their fears significantly impact their ability to engage with everyday life. For those individuals, seeking phobia treatment in Bristol can help them regain control and reduce the impact of their fears.

Common specific phobias

Phobias come in many forms, but the symptoms they display share common themes. Some examples of common phobias can be found below, but NOSA can help no matter the phobia you’re living with.

Emetophobia (fear of vomiting)

Emetophobia is a prolific problem that is estimated to affect up to 8% of the population. It can be triggered by a fear of oneself vomiting and/or witnessing someone else vomit. People who suffer from this problem can often have issues related to being in control. If left untreated, avoidance behaviours associated with this phobia can cause significant problems related to completing daily living tasks.

Animal phobias

Animal phobias are the most common of all phobias, with a prevalence of up to 12% of the population. Some of the most prevalent fears include spiders, snakes, rats and dogs. For most people, they will be satisfactorily able to avoid their fear, meaning they do not require treatment. However, for some this may not be an option.

Blood-injection-injury phobias

This phobia includes the fear of seeing blood, taking an ejection, receiving medical interventions, going to hospital and visiting the dentist. It is a particularity impacting phobia, as it often prevents people from receiving medical attention. People who experience this phobia sometimes worry that they will faint if they come into contact with their fears. For some, they may have experience of this happening.

Natural environment phobias

Natural environments include heights, storms, water and the dark. A fear of heights is perhaps the most common of these and can present real problems for people. For example; crossing a high bridge to get to work daily, can be a very challenging situation for some.

Situational phobias

These phobias are any fear triggered by a specific situation (e.g. flying, driving and going through tunnels). It also includes claustrophobia, which is a fear of enclosed spaces. Situational phobias can inhibit people from carrying out activities they would otherwise engage with (e.g. going on holiday, changing job, taking driving lessons etc).

Other phobias

People have been know to develop many kinds of unusual fears that impact negatively on their lives. Some examples of these include; a fear of loud noises, balloons, buttons, plants and clocks.

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Treatment for specific phobias

Many people believe they will always have to live with their phobia or that phobias are untreatable. However, this is not the case. The interventions used to treat phobias are highly effective and have an excellent success rate.

At NOSA, we offer a one-session treatment method for specific phobias where possible. This approach, based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques, involves addressing the phobia in a single extended session (usually up to four hours), followed by short weekly review sessions. It is a proven and efficient method for managing and overcoming specific fears.

If you’re looking for phobia treatment in Bristol or want to learn more about our services, please contact us using the details on this website.

Our phobia treatment in Bristol

How does it work?

1

Make contact

Reach out via phone, email, or our website. We’ll take some basic details about your phobia and discuss how we can help.

2

Initial consultation

Meet with a therapist to explore your specific fears, your goals, and how they impact your daily life. This session helps us understand your unique needs.

3

Treatment recommendations

Following the consultation, you’ll receive a personalised letter outlining the recommended phobia treatment in Bristol, tailored to your situation and goals.

4 Your decision

Take the time to review the recommendations and decide whether to proceed with the proposed treatment plan.