The Session: Phobias, part 1

The Session with Tom Russell

Hopefully, this episode of the session won't be too scary...Tom said he has a fear of scary! Please enjoy this episode from the 2023 archive!

The Session: Phobias

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. I Corinthians 10:13

The National Institute of Mental Health suggests that phobias affect approximately 10% of U.S. adults each year. 328 million people in 2019 6 million adults have phobias

Types

Fear of Open Spaces

Agoraphobia is a fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or that help wouldn't be available if things go wrong.

Typical agoraphobia symptoms and other symptoms include fear of: spiders, snakes heights and public speaking

• Leaving home alone.
• Crowds or waiting in line.
• Enclosed spaces, such as movie theaters, elevators or small stores.
• Open spaces, such as parking lots, bridges or malls.
• Using public transportation, such as a bus, plane or train.

Other common phobias include:

Arachnophobia, an intense fear of spiders (ur ak nuh fow bee uh)

Ophidiophobia: an intense fear of snakes (Sounds like: ow fuh dai ow fow be uh)

· Acrophobia: an intense fear of heights

· Aerophobia: an intense fear of flying

· Cynophobia: an intense fear of dogs

· Astraphobia: an intense fear of thunder and lightning

· Claustrophobia: Fear of Enclosed Spaces ... Fear of enclosed spaces. Feeling claustrophobic, or fearing a tight, enclosed, or confined space, includes symptoms

Treatments/Therapies

· Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) A cognitive behavioral therapist will teach you how to manage and alter negative thoughts that arise from situations that trigger your claustrophobia. ...

· Rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT) ...

· Relaxation and visualization. ...

· Exposure therapy - In this form of therapy, psychologists create a safe environment in which to “expose” individuals to the things they fear and avoid. The exposure to the feared objects, activities or situations in a safe environment helps reduce fear and decrease avoidance.

4. Medication. (How do these meds help with phobias?)

· Zoloft

· Prozac

· Celexa

· Lexapro

5. Benzodiazepines.

· Xanax

· Klonopin

· Valuim

· Lorazepam/Adavan

Helpful Tips:

1. Be realistic. Your fear habit is ingrained in the way you think, feel, and act. It takes time to change this habit. Be persistent. If you hit a snag, no worries. Just do the next thing. Dispute the thoughts!

2. Do the basics. Get enough sleep (about 8 or 9 hours daily), eat nutritious foods, drink ample water, avoid caffeine and alcohol, (WHY?) and exercise regularly. A medical checkup is wise too.

3. Renew your mind, part 1. Get rid of all negative, trashy, ungodly inputs from music, television (including news programs), the internet, video games, and reading materials, including most popular magazines and novels, and replace them with God-honoring alternatives, especially the Bible.

4 Pray. Philippians 4 is the apostle Paul’s answer to freedom from anxiety. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” 4:6–7, ESV. When you react to your problem with thankful prayer, peace replaces anxie

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.