Jim O'Connor Counselling for all your relationship needs and concerns |
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Contact 9420 0788 Email / Web address info@jimoconnor.com.au Locations |
Phobias and Relationships The effect of all forms of phobias on sufferers and a the people who care for them can be great putting enormous pressures on relationships. Help for the sufferer and the carers is available. Read on to find out more about this condition and how I can you both the people with depression and the people who care for them. What are phobias? Phobias or specific phobias are part of the range of anxiety disorders. What makes phobias different from other anxiety disorders is they always have a specific target of fear. The target of fear can be spiders, or tunnels or other every day occurrance. In some cases phobias can be more unusual. Some people are frightened of small fury animals like possums. Some people are even afraid of inanimate objects such as chairs, colours and much more. For it to be said that you have a phobia some conditions have to be met. You must get a strong anxiety response when you are exposed to the feared object and that response must persist while the triggering object is present. The fear response must be diproportionate to the size of the percieved threat. Thus to be terrified of a wild crocodile lying on the beach ten feet from where you are having a picnic is normal. However it would not be normal if the crocodile was behide plate glass window in a crocodile enclosure at the zoo. To be anxious about spiders crawling across the ground is normal. To be terrified by spiders crawling across the ground is probably disproportionate to the threat. What are the symptoms of Phobias? When a person is exposed to a specific trigger like a spider or a small fury animal or a tunnel the person will begin to experience the following.
What is the best treatment for phobias? The most effective treatment for phobias combine cognitive therapy with hypnotherapy and in some cases exposure therapy. In the case of severe phobias it is important to note that treatment doesn't necessarily mean exposure the to feared object. For these people cognitive therapy to reduce the fear and avoidance of the feared object has been shown to work. What is important is that the treatment program is comprehensive and includes mental, emotional, and behavioural strategies. Phobias are readily treated and should not be ignored. If untreated they can become more severe types of anxiety disorders such as panic attack and or agoraphobia. What to do next if you or someone you know may be suffering with a phobia? The most important first step in helping someone with a phobia is to have them properly assessed and a comprehensive treatment program begun. In many cases the treatment programs are short while in some they may take longer. In any event it is important to act early as specific phobias are more easily treated earlier rather than later. I have three offices in convenient locations throughout Sydney I have three offices in convenient locations through out Sydney, one in Macquarie Street Sydney, one in Crows Nest on Sydney's lower North Shore and one in Glebe in Sydney Inner West. For an appointment please call my head office on 02 9420 0788. |
About Jim'Connor Jim is highly qualified and experienced practitioner who is genuine, professional and at all times focused on you. Over the years Jim has helped many people overcome the challenges that confront them. Jim constantly pursues ongoing education and training to maintain a high standard of knowledge and skill. He currently holds a Masters degree in Applied Psychotherapy. You can be confident that the help he provides you is based on scientific research where ever possible. He is a full Clinical Member of P.A.C.F.A (Psychotherapist and Counsellors Association of Australia) the National body of Psychotherapists. C.A.P.A (the Counsellors and Psychotherapists association of NSW) and A.A.C.B.T (the Australian Association of Cognitive Behavioural Therapists). So you can be sure that he adheres to a high ethical and professional standard. |
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