Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

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The best treatment option for specific phobias is exposure therapy. Other therapies for specific phobias include talk therapy and medications. Within talk therapy, there is exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The goal of therapy is to improve the quality of life so that the person is no longer bound by the phobia. As the individual learns how to better cope with their reactions, thoughts, and feelings, anxiety and fear will decrease and no longer control their life. Each treatment usually targets a specific fear factor. Exposure therapy focuses on changing the patient's response to the object or situation being feared. Gradual, repeated exposure to a specific source of fear and the associated thoughts, feelings, and perceptions …show more content…
This gradual exposure helps the patient to confront and manage their fears in a controlled and supportive environment. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) involves gradual exposure, combined with other modalities, to learn how to see and cope with the feared object or situation in a different way. Through CBT, individuals learn how to challenge their concerns and tolerate uncomfortable feelings. This therapy helps individuals learn how to use their thoughts and feelings to build a sense of mastery and self-confidence, rather than being controlled by them. Exposure therapy is typically sufficient to successfully treat specific phobias. However, in some cases, medication can be used to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and panic experienced when thinking about or being exposed to the feared object or situation. Medications may be used during initial treatment or for short periods of time for specific, occasional encounters, such as when traveling by air, public speaking, or undergoing an MRI. The medications mentioned