Treatment of fears and phobias in Cardiff, Bridgend, Newport and South Wales.

It is not unusual for someone to have a fear of something out of the ordinary as fear is the normal response to a genuine danger.

However when that fear is irrational or indeed excessive then the fear can become a very real phobia that can affect people of all ages and from all walks of life.

There is no real barrier to individuals developing phobic reactions to a whole host of situations and things! Whether the fear is of animals (e.g. spiders), activities (e.g. flying), or social situations (e.g. eating in public or simply being in a public environment) the impact on daily life can be dramatic.

Individuals suffering from a phobia will experience a range of emotional and physical reactions.

Symptoms of a phobia include the following:

•     Panic, dread or terror
•     Reactions that are automatic and uncontrollable, practically taking over the person’s thoughts
•     Rapid heartbeat
•     Shortness of breath
•     Trembling
•     Desire to flee

There are a number of types of phobias including what is called a specific phobia. Specific phobia generally occurs where people have an irrational fear of specific objects or situations.  The most common specific phobia is the fear of animals and this tends to be animals that include dogs, snakes, spiders and insects, and mice.

There are other specific phobias and this includes:

• Fear of closed spaces (claustrophobia)

• Fear of heights (acrophobia).

• Fear of being alone in any place or situation where it seems escape would be difficult (agoraphobia)

• Fear of being watched or humiliated while doing something in front of others (social phobia)

Most phobias develop during in an individuals childhood and will often disappear. Those that persist into adulthood rarely go away without treatment.

If you would like to take control of your fear or phobia then contact our Cardiff clinic today.