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Online Phobia Treatment.
Overcome Your Fears and Anxiety

Phobias are overwhelming and debilitating. But solutions do exist.
MEDvidi doctors use evidence-based treatments for phobias to help you retake control over your life.
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What Are Phobias?

Phobias' definition describes them as persistent, intense fears of specific objects, activities, or situations. People with simple phobias often exaggerate the danger posed by the triggers.
The main categories include:
Situations and activities
Animals and insects
Natural environmental events
Bodily processes and sensations
Medical objects and procedures

While some phobias may go unnoticed or don’t require treatment, other phobic anxiety disorders (social phobia, agoraphobia) often interfere with a person’s daily functioning. One may be aware of having a specific phobia but not be able to shift from frightening thoughts and irrational beliefs.

In such cases, professional help is the best choice.

For people with severe symptoms, every day is all about phobias.
Fortunately, with the right treatment, you can stop avoiding the disturbing situations
and live the peaceful life you deserve.

Start phobia treatment

Generally, phobias are exaggerated unreasonable fears. They come with intense feelings of dread and anxiety or the psychological and physical signs of panic attacks. These symptoms are caused by objects or situations that are usually not harmful. Some phobias impact the person’s life severely, while others can go almost unnoticed or do not require specific treatment.

Phobic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. The symptoms include irrational fears of specific objects, situations, or activities. The most common classification includes complex and simple (specific) ones.

Phobic disorder can be caused by genetics or environmental and social factors, changes in brain functioning, and negative experiences associated with the trigger. Young age, temperament, family health history, and scary experiences are associated risk factors.
As per the phobias definition, specific phobias occur because of particular stressors: objects or situations. These include flying phobia, bug phobia, fear of the dark, and others that may arise during childhood. Unlike specific (simple) phobias, complex ones include social phobias and agoraphobia, which may develop in adulthood and are more disruptive.

Phobias Treatment at MEDvidi in Three Steps

one
A free assessment
Answer several questions in our online AI-based questionnaire. It will help us develop a personalized treatment for the phobia.
two
Initial appointment
See a mental health expert from wherever you like via smartphone or laptop. A doctor will examine your symptoms and offer the most effective treatment for phobias in your particular case.
three
Ongoing treatment
Treatment for specific phobias may take up to a few months. Take medications (if prescribed) and see a therapist regularly to monitor your progress.
1
A free assessment

Answer several questions in our online AI-based questionnaire. It will help us develop a personalized treatment for the phobia.
2
Initial appointment

See a mental health expert from wherever you like via smartphone or laptop. A doctor will examine your symptoms and offer the most effective treatment for phobias in your particular case.
3
Ongoing treatment

Treatment for specific phobias may take up to a few months. Take medications (if prescribed) and see a therapist regularly to monitor your progress.

We Know How to Help You with…

Complex Phobias

Agoraphobia
|
Social phobia

Specific/Simple Phobias

AIDS phobia Airplane phobia Animal phobia Balloon phobia Bee phobia
Fear of birds Blood-injection-injury phobia Fear of blood Blood pressure phobia Blood test phobia
Bridge phobia Fear of bugs Fear of buttons Fear of cats Camera phobia
Cancer phobia Claustrophobia Fear of clowns Fear of choking Fear of cockroaches
Commitment phobia Covid phobia Dental phobia Fear of dog noise Fear of dogs
Doctor phobia Driving phobia Earthquake phobia Elevator phobia Exam phobia
Fear of the dark Fear of fire Fear of mirrors Fear of flying Food phobia
Freeway phobia Fear of frogs Health phobia Height phobia Hospital phobia
Hypnosis phobia Insect phobia Medical phobia Medication phobia Fear of mice
Fear of needles Night phobia Fear of public speaking Phobia of throwing up Pregnancy phobia
Fear of rats Sexual phobia Shot phobia Sleep phobia Fear of snakes
Telephone phobia Toilet phobia Vaccine phobia Virtual reality phobia Fear of wasps
Water phobia Weather phobia Work phobia Writing phobia …and others

In the majority of cases, the most effective phobia treatment is exposure therapy. Other types of psychotherapy, for example, CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy), can be beneficial for specific phobia treatment. Even though medications are not the first-line help, they may be prescribed as a part of social phobia treatment to help prevent anxiety symptoms and panic attacks.

Most phobias can be treated successfully with the help of individually chosen approaches. Behavioral treatment for phobias in the form of talk therapy or exposure therapy helps to increase your tolerance to stressors and manage other symptoms. Still, only a professional can tell what treatment will work for your particular case (CBT phobia treatment, exposure treatment for phobias, or another option) and how long it can take to overcome your symptoms.

There are different techniques for reducing fear. The most common self-help tips include breathing exercises, mindfulness practices, physical activity, and relaxation. However, sometimes people need professional help to overcome anxiety and fear. Psychotherapy and / or medications are the most common phobia treatments.

Since phobias include intense emotions like fear and anxiety, they affect the activity of the amygdala — a brain region responsible for emotional reactions. In addition, the activity of the visual cortex increases too, because the person tries to better identify the triggering objects. Speaking of more general aspects, they can affect brain functioning by increasing the risk of developing depression and anxiety disorders. To prevent such outcomes, contact mental health experts who will recommend the best treatment for phobias suitable for you.

Know Your Phobia. Symptoms to Be Attentive to:

  • An instant feeling of intense fear when being exposed to the trigger or thinking about it.
  • Avoiding frightening activity or an object by all means.
  • Knowing that your fear is out of proportion and irrational but being unable to control it.
  • Having physical symptoms of panic (nausea, tachycardia, sweating, chest tightness, etc.)

Even though the symptoms may seem obvious, only a doctor can make a diagnosis.
A mental health professional will conduct a specific phobia assessment, examine your health history,
and rule out other mental health disorders.

Consult a doctor today
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Social phobia symptoms:
  • Worrying about being humiliated, judged, or embarrassed in social situations.
  • Avoiding interactions with strangers and general social activities.
  • Being afraid of someone noticing your anxiety.
  • Experiencing physical symptoms, including sweating, blushing, dizziness, and nausea.
Agoraphobia symptoms:
  • Excessive fear of situations where one might feel difficult to escape (public transport, shops, parking lots, etc).
  • Fear of losing control in unfamiliar and unsafe environments.
  • Avoiding crowded and open spaces.
  • Having physical symptoms, including rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, trembling, and dizziness.
Try the SmartCare symptoms checker to have a quick social phobia assessment online.
Start a free test
Even though sometimes the symptoms of phobias can be obvious, only a professional can make a proper diagnosis. Your doctor will conduct a detailed phobia assessment and ask about the duration of the symptoms and other aspects from medical guidelines.

The symptoms of phobias are similar to anxiety signs but also have some peculiarities. The five most common signs include:

  • Intense fear and anxiety.
  • Avoidance of triggering objects and situations.
  • Increase in symptoms if the stressor becomes closer physically or in time.
  • Physical symptoms (heart palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath, etc.)
  • Difficulties in daily functioning because of the symptoms.

Consult a doctor who will make a legitimate diagnosis based upon examination of your phobia symptoms and will offer suitable treatment.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) mentions the diagnostic criteria for different phobias. Some of them are feelings of anxiety about a specific stressor, exaggerated fear, avoidance symptoms, etc. The diagnosis can be made if the symptoms last for at least six months and cannot be explained by other disorders. Finally, only a doctor can make a diagnosis after asking you to take one or several phobia tests.

Specific phobias can be divided into animal phobias (fears of spiders, rodents), bodily phobias (fears of illnesses, blood, vomiting), situational phobias (a fear of flying), and environmental phobias (fears of deep water or heights).
The fear of spiders, snakes, dogs, heights, and the fear of flying is the most common simple phobias. Complex phobias like agoraphobia or social phobia are widespread too.

Get a Personalized Treatment Plan at MEDvidi

The basic treatment plan for phobias includes psychotherapy and learning self-help techniques. It can be supplemented with short-term pharmacological treatment in some cases.

For example, self-help tips involved in the social phobia treatment plan may be the following:

  • Relaxation techniques and breathing exercises
  • Regular physical activity and progressive muscle relaxation
  • Mindfulness practices
  • Challenging your negative thoughts
  • Reducing avoidance behavior
With the help of a mental health professional and your own efforts, you will become more realistic about your fears and more confident about overcoming them.

Your Therapy Plan Starts with Setting the Right Goals

To notice the result of treatment, you have to know what it is you want to achieve.
These are some examples of therapy goals and objectives:

  • Keeping calm when facing the triggers of your phobia.
  • Reducing the symptoms when alone and in public.
  • Changing unhealthy behaviors and improving coping skills.
  • Managing irrational thoughts and negative self-image.

MEDvidi doctors will help you attain the treatment goals you set
and live your life to the fullest.

Start treatment today
A specific phobia treatment plan is different in each particular case. A doctor may prescribe medications and/or psychotherapy to help a patient overcome the symptoms of anxiety and fears. A psychotherapy treatment plan may also involve learning self-help techniques and completing additional tasks to better cope with stressors.
Simple phobia treatment usually includes any of these therapy types: exposure therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and mindfulness training.
Usually, mental health therapy goals for phobias include being calm when facing a frightening situation or an object. Other options are learning to manage the symptoms on one’s own, changing thinking patterns to improve emotional and behavioral responses, and learning helpful relaxation techniques.
Сognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on one’s emotions and feelings and the way they affect behavior. With the help of CBT, a patient with a phobia works on managing harmful and irrational beliefs and fears, explores the causes of fears to deal with them better, and modifies behavioral responses to stressful situations.

Online Therapy for Phobias

In phobia treatment, therapy plays a key role. It allows a patient to work on the root causes of their fear and learn how to cope with panic healthily. At MEDvidi, you can attend online therapy for phobias, which is as effective as in-person sessions.

Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT)

For social phobia, behavioral therapy is the first-line treatment option. It helps an individual to identify their emotions better, manage negative thoughts, and modify their reactions and behaviors. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for phobias helps one to become more confident and calm, reduce anxiety, and master healthy coping techniques.

Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy for phobias mostly focuses on learning desensitization techniques. They help to reduce the negative impact on one’s behavior due to developing tolerance to the trigger. Guided by the therapist, a patient is gradually exposed to the frightening object or situation, which allows them to eliminate the symptoms of anxiety.

Mindfulness Training

Mindfulness-based meditations, breathing exercises, and other routines serve well for relaxation and feeling more present. Mindfulness trains an individual to regulate emotions and focus on the current moment and facts.

What Is the Best Therapy for Phobias?

While exposure therapy is the most commonly chosen option for such a purpose, your doctor may determine another strategy for you. Contact us to start online phobia therapy today.

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Medication Management

Online mental health counseling and medications create an effective combination of phobia treatments. Although therapy is usually successful in reducing the impact of phobia on the patient’s life, medicines may be prescribed in specific cases. These include managing the severe onset of the phobic disorder and handling particular situations that need calming effects of the drugs.

Antidepressants
Benzodiazepines
Sedatives
Beta-blockers

How We Determine the Best Medication for You

  • Assessing your symptoms and making a diagnosis.
  • Choosing the most suitable treatment option between online therapy and medication (or their combination).
  • Determining the effect that should be achieved with pharmacological treatment.
  • Examining your health history and medication history to avoid harmful interactions and dependence.

We will guide you through the whole process: from getting the first prescription to stopping the medication correctly.

Try online therapy with medication management at MEDvidi to improve your anxiety symptoms.

Book an appointment

At MEDvidi, you connect with a licensed MD who can provide both online counseling and medication prescriptions. If you qualify for specific medicines, you will receive online mental health prescriptions during the first visit (or later if required).

MEDvidi professionals are certified doctors that can prescribe medications online, including controlled substances (Xanax, Klonopin, and other anti-anxiety drugs).

Know More about Anxiety and Phobias

Becoming aware of the symptoms, causes, and helpful interventions is the first step to overcoming anxiety, panic, and phobias. Explore the MEDvidi blog to know the basics and possible treatments for phobias.
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