ANXIETY DISORDERS SPECIFIC Brian Bexton, M.D., Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst, Vice-President of Revivre

What is specific phobia? Some may be innate, and may have Warning signs contributed to our survival as a species by helping us to better adapt to our environ - Specific phobia, or simple phobia, is an ment thousands of years ago, but they are When the of an object interferes with intense, unreasonable, and persistent fear no longer useful in the modern world. someone’s daily habits, ability to function at caused by the presence or anticipation of a Examples include the fear of spiders, snakes, work, or social life, or if the fear causes the specific object or situation. It provokes an and heights. person great distress, this might be a sign of immediate response that can some - a phobic disorder, and treatment may be times take the form of a . This Sometimes, the fear is associated with a fac - necessary in order to regain a sense of well- intense fear often leads to avoidance, and tor than is connected to the object of the being. However, if the fear does not cause causes severe distress when the situation phobia, such as the fear of fainting in the any serious problems (e.g.: a for can’t be avoided. case of a blood phobia, or the fear of expe - someone who doesn’t travel), the person will riencing dizziness in the case of a phobia not be diagnosed as having specific phobia. Phobias are classified into different about heights. subtypes. It is not uncommon for several members of According to the various studies, phobias the same family to have the same phobia. •Situational type: concerns a specific affect 7% to 11% of the population at some This may be due to learning through obser - situation, such as the fear of flying, point in their life, and are generally more vation. A phobia can also be conveyed by bridges, elevators, driving, etc. common among women, with percentages other people (e.g.: parents warning their varying depending on the type of phobia. It children about certain dangers). In addition, • Blood-injection-injury type: also includes is interesting to note that the objects of pho - when a family adapts to a child’s avoidance any invasive medical procedure. This kind of bias vary from culture to culture. behaviour and lets the child avoid the object phobia is often associated with a feeling of of the fear, the family may be playing a role light-headedness that may be followed by Children often experience related to in perpetuating the phobia. Finally, phobias fainting in certain cases. their stage of development (fear of stran - are often caused by traumatic events or gers, monsters, being separated from direct unpleasant experiences. • Natural environment type: fear of parents, the dark, sleeping alone, physical storms, heights, the dark, water, etc. danger, school, social rejection, etc.). These are generally temporary, and should not be Symptoms • Animal type: fear of insects, dogs, considered to be phobias unless they cause snakes, rodents, spiders, etc. significant problems in terms of normal func - tioning. For example, a child who is so afraid The first symptoms of phobia often appear • Other type: phobias can be caused by a of physical danger that he won’t go out of during childhood or adolescence, but pho - wide variety of objects or situations that the house may have a phobia. bias that are caused by traumatic events can don’t fit the categories listed above. These appear at any age. The anxiety response include a fear of choking, loud noises, almost always occurs immediately when the contracting an illness, vomiting, etc.

Support • Information • Referral 514 REVIVRE (738-4873) • Toll free: 1 866 REVIVRE • Revivre.org person is confronted with the object of the techniques that is used in psychotherapy is Where to go for help phobia. This can sometimes cause symptoms exposure, which involves having the person of panic, such as rapid heart rate, dizziness, face the phobia-causing object or situation light-headedness, chills or hot flashes, the in a controlled, gradual, and regular manner If you think you have specific phobia and you fear of dying, going crazy, or losing control, until the fear recedes, rather than avoiding it. want to learn more about the available sweating, trembling, chest pain, a choking treatments, one of the first steps may be to sensation, or a feeling of unreality or being In certain cases, medications such as benzo - talk to a doctor. For psychological help, you detached from oneself. Simply anticipating diazepines can be helpful in reducing the can consult a psychotherapist who is reco - contact with the object of the phobia can be intensity of the reaction in the presence of gnized by a professional association, such as enough to trigger these symptoms. the object of the phobia. However, they a psychologist or a social worker. should be used with caution and sparingly, because they can cause tolerance and addic - In complex cases, the primary care doctor Treatment tion problems. In addition, although these can refer children and their families to the medications can provide temporary relief various paediatric psychiatric services in from anxiety, therapy will help the person to Québec for more specialized care. Psychotherapy is the treatment of choice for suffer less from the phobia over the long specific phobias. There are several types of term. therapy that are potentially beneficial. The quality of the bond with the psychotherapist Self-help groups – such as those at Revivre – is an important factor. Certain techniques can help to break the isolation by bringing used in cognitive-behavioural therapy are people who are going through similar situa - recognized as being particularly effective. tions together. They provide a place where One of the common responses to a phobia is people can share their feelings without fear to run away from or avoid the situation. of being judged. It can also be helpful to Paradoxically, this helps to reinforce and soli - hear the stories of other people who have dify the phobia. In light of this, one of the learned to live with the disorder. SUPPORT, INFORMATION, REFERRAL 514 REVIVRE (738-4873) Toll free: 1 866 REVIVRE Revivre.org

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