Question I am bothered by a crippling phobia and would like to be free of it but fear some sort of confrontation with what I fear. A phobia is a specific debilitating fear, which can include panic, when exposed to the object of the fear. Phobias can include the fear reaction and panic even when anticipating that which is feared. Thus, persons can be afraid of a specific animal, a specific type of construction such as bridges or tall buildings, or specific types of individuals.
People can also be afraid of specific activities such as flying, being in water, etc.
Phobias can often go undetected until a confrontation with the feared object or situation exposes it. The most effective treatments available do not require going back into an extensive uncovering process such as what one might experience in psychoanalysis. The current treatments of choice are behavioral or cognitive- behavioral. One approach called flooding does involve exposure to the feared object. A very effective therapy, however, is systematic desensitization.