We all feel anxious and uneasy from time to time. However, when your anxiety is so serious that it interferes with your work, leads you to avoid certain situations, or keeps you from enjoying life, you may be suffering from a form of anxiety disorder commonly known as phobias. This can cause you to live in terrifying and intense fear.
The 3 main groups of phobias include:
- Fear of specific objects, such as a fear of dogs, insects, or snakes; driving a car; heights; tunnels or bridges; thunderstorms; and/or flying
- Extreme fear of social or public situations
- Fear of having a panic attack in a public place (Agoraphobia)
What causes phobias?
No one knows what causes fear of specific objects. It may begin in adolescence or adulthood. They can start suddenly and tend to be more persistent than childhood phobias.
Social phobia may be related to feelings of inferiority and low self-esteem, and can drive a person to drop out of school, avoid making friends, and remain unemployed.
What are the symptoms?
Common symptoms include:
- Heart palpitations
- Trembling and shaking
- Faintness or light-headedness
- Difficulty with breathing
- Sweating
- Viewing small mistakes as more exaggerated than they really are
- Finding blushing painfully embarrassing
- Feeling that all eyes are on you
- Fear of speaking in public, dating, or talking with persons in authority
- Fear of using public restrooms or eating out
- Fear of talking on the phone or writing in front of others
How can psychology and counselling help?
We don’t want you to endure the terror of phobias or the unrelenting anxiety that often accompanies them. We can help by allowing you to understand how your thinking patterns may be causing the symptoms, and teach you coping skills to reduce or stop these symptoms.
Learn more about our therapies.
How to book a session
To be eligible for the Medicare rebate, you will need to have a referral from a GP. Simply visit your GP, tell them how you are feeling, and ask about a Mental Health Care Plan and referral for Good Thinking Clinical Psychology.
You can also see one of our psychologists without a referral, but unfortunately you cannot claim the Medicare rebate. For more information about our session prices, see rates and rebates.
To book a session now, call us on (02) 8068 0982 or contact us.
