Specific Phobia
What is Specific Phobia?
A strong and persistent fear – excessive or unreasonable – of a specific object, activity, or situation that results in a compelling desire to avoid the object, activity, or situation.
Phobia Types:
Animal
Fear of snakes, spiders, dogs, insects, birds, etc.
Natural Environment
Fear of storms, heights, water.
Blood-Injection-Injury
Fear of seeing blood or an injury, receiving an injection, seeing a person with a stab wound.
Situational
Fear of public transportation, tunnels, bridges, elevators, flying, driving, enclosed spaces.
Other
Fear of public transportation, tunnels, bridges, elevators, flying, driving, enclosed spaces.
This includes:
Other Specified Phobias (F40.29)
Other Phobic Anxiety Disorders (F40.8)
Phobic Anxiety Disorders Unspecified (F40.9).
Treatment Information:
Specific phobias represent the third most prevalent of all mental disorders, with 10%-12% of the population experiencing them over the course of their lives (Kessler et al., 2005; Stinson et al., 2007). A recent study suggests that up to one-third of college students report significant phobic symptoms and that many of these students are interested in seeking treatment for them.
The Successful Treatment of Specific Phobia in a College Counseling Center — Read now