Then the person is taught how to use these skills while being exposed to a mildly anxiety-provoking situation, such as the second floor of a building. Only when the anxiety has come down to a very low level would the person be encouraged to go to a higher floor. By this gradual exposure method, most patients can overcome their fears in relatively few sessions. Phobics who use this method of treatment show a high rate of success, with patients with simple phobias typically taking about 8 to 16 sessions to bring the phobia under control. When dealing with social phobias, treatment tends to be somewhat longer, because the patient often requires social skills training as well as the exposure to the social situations.
Agoraphobia also tends to be more difficult to control compared to simple phobias.
However, the majority of patients can be helped by these methods. Using the behavioral methods, patients rarely relapse, Also they tend tend to use these techniques to face their fears in other areas of their lives. There are no effective medications to eliminate simple fears. Certain medications can be used to temporarily reduce the anxiety, such as minor tranquilizers. However,these medications do not reduce the fear permanently, and people tend to become dependent on them in order to perform these tasks.