CAN WE RATIONALISE PHOBIAS AWAY?
Most individuals with phobias are aware that their fears are irrational, said Dr Lim. And there’s more.
“Specific phobias are highly co-morbid with other mental health illnesses,” he said. “About 60 per cent of individuals with lifelong phobias have other mental illnesses such as depression, other anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.”
So, it’s not as simple as rationalising the fear away, said Dr Lim. “It often requires effective treatment tailored to the individual’s specific needs and circumstances.” If your phobia has taken a hold of your life, best to see a doctor for help.
Generally, said Koh, the therapy recommended is exposure therapy, which could involve gradually exposing you to your feared object or situation in a safe and controlled manner. “This helps patients learn that the feared object or situation is not as scary as they thought, and can help them to overcome their fears,” she said.
For example, if you’re afraid of getting into a lift, you could start off by simply thinking about getting into one. Next, you look at pictures of lifts and progress to going near one to actually stepping into a lift. When you’re comfortable with all that, you may ride the lift for one floor, then several floors and finally, ride in a crowded lift.
In some cases, medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may also be prescribed to help manage symptoms, said Dr Lim.