Key points
- The fear response is out of proportion to the actual risk and drives marked avoidance of daily situations.
- Blood, heights and spiders are frequent specific fears; social phobia and agoraphobia generally cause more day-to-day disability.
- Therapy based on graded exposure is normally the first treatment; clomipramine or another antidepressant may be added where symptoms are severe or have not responded.
What lies behind a phobia
A frightening experience often comes before a phobia, though many develop slowly with no clear starting point. Learned fear responses, a family history of anxiety and general stress all add to the risk. Specific phobias are more widespread, while social phobia and agoraphobia are harder to live with because the situations involved are difficult to avoid.
Treatment
For most phobias, psychological therapy built around exposure is the first step. Where the fear carries a strong anxious or obsessional element, a medicine from the antidepressants group is sometimes added. Clomipramine has been used in anxiety-spectrum conditions for many years and may be considered where the phobia is severe or therapy alone has not helped. Clomipramine tablets are supplied in 10mg, 25mg and 50mg strengths.
When to see a doctor
Speak to a doctor if fear feels overwhelming, or if avoidance is stopping you from working, studying or leaving the house. Orders placed here are shipped to Malaysia by pharmacy partners in India in discreet packaging.
Further reading