Gradual Exposure is recommended treatment to Overcome Phobias

A phobia is an overwhelming, intense fear of an object or situation.  Phobias can be disabling and have a negative impact on daily activity.  A recommended treatment to help overcome phobias is confronting the fear gradually.

When a person is faced with a fear they produce adrenaline which prepares their body to either fight, flight or freeze.  A common behaviour when individuals are faced with their fear is flight, to escape from the object or situation.  Although this behaviour brings short term relief from unpleasant symptoms the avoidance can maintain a phobia.

Treatment to help overcome phobias is based on gradual exposure to the object or situation.  The client is encouraged to organise their fear and avoidance into levels of difficulty.  They begin confronting the fear at the easiest level.  Exposure should be repeated at each stage until anxiety has lessened significantly.  Exposure should be prolonged to allow anxiety levels to reduce.

Exposure facilitates new learning about an object or situation.  The individual is given an opportunity to understand that their fear is not dangerous.  They can also learn how to deal with the object or situation differently.

References

Butler, G. (2006). Phobic Disorders.  In Hawton, K., Salkovskis, P., Kirk, J., & Clark, D.,  Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychiatric Problems A Practical Guide (pp. 97-127). New York:  Oxford University Press