A specific phobia can have a significant impact on a person’s life by causing intense fear and anxiety in response to a specific trigger or situation. This fear and anxiety can interfere with a person’s daily activities and ability to function normally in their environment. For example, a person with a specific phobia of dogs […]
I have a fear of heights and driving over bridges- help!
Question Details: I’ve always been afraid of heights, and have always been afraid of crossing bridges. I didn’t have to worry about bridges growing up, as I lived in a town that did not have large bridges, and I could avoid the few that were in my town. However, I graduated from college and landed […]
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What is the difference between agoraphobia and claustrophobia?
This is a frequently-asked question, the difference between agoraphobia and claustrophobia. Agoraphobia is the fear of being in places where you might have a panic attack or escape might be difficult. Some people with panic disorder go on to also develop agoraphobia. As agoraphobia progresses, you increasingly become home-bound, as you are fearful of places […]
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Is Agoraphobia a Specific Phobia or a Social Phobia?
No- agoraphobia is not a social phobia or a specific phobia. Agoraphobia is a fear of places where escape may be difficult or help may not be available in the event of you having a panic attack or other incapacitating or embarrassing symptoms (fear of falling, fear of incontinence, etc.). Furthermore, agoraphobia diagnosis requires the […]
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How much propranolol to take for stage fright?
A viewer of AnxietyBoss messaged me about this question: When I give a talk to my co-workers, my chest gets tight, my heart races and pounds, my voice shakes, my knees tremble, my face turns beet red, and I get butterflies in my stomach. Just wondering what is the optimal dose of propranolol for stage […]
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Can You Develop A Fear Of Heights Through Classical Conditioning?
Yes, you can develop a fear of heights through classical conditioning. So the basic idea for classical conditioning is this: an unconditioned stimulus (US) naturally produces an unconditioned response (UR). But when you pair a US with a conditioned stimulus (CS), then this continues to produce the UR. After multiple pairings, the CS can be presented alone to […]
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Can Alcohol Help Stage Fright?
Initially, alcohol can help with stage fright, also known as performance anxiety, which is a type of social anxiety. The alcohol does tend to take the edge off, as it is effective at reducing anxiety in the short term. But this effect does not tend to last. The biggest problem with alcohol is that it […]
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How Does D-Cycloserine Work For Phobias?
D-cycloserine (Seromycin) is a prescription medication used for the treatment of specific phobia, such as fear of spiders (arachnophobia) or a fear of heights (acrophobia). However, D-cycloserine is not helpful as a sole treatment for specific phobia- it is prescribed as an adjunctive treatment to exposure therapy. D-cycloserine helps to facilitate fear extinction during exposure sessions. […]
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What is the best job for someone with social anxiety disorder?
From a clinical point of view, the best job for someone who has social anxiety disorder (social phobia) is a customer service job. You may be puzzled by this answer, as this is the last thing someone with social anxiety wants- to be in the presence of lots of people. Not only is there a […]
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What would cause someone to have a fear of certain animals?
A fear of animals and insects is a common phobia in the population. The development of a phobia to animals and insects occurs as follows…a fearful stimulus is transmitted to a part of the brain called the amygdala. As an example, let’s say you are stung by a bee. Being stung is a noxious stimulus that […]
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