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Specific phobia
A specific phobia refers to fears of narrowly defined objects, situations or even animals. For example, these fears relate to flying in an airplane, spiders, snakes, heights, dogs, deep water, syringes, visits to the dentist, etc.
If the affected person is confronted with the feared object or the feared situation, they usually react with strong anxiety - this manifests itself mentally ("I won't be able to do this"), in behavior (flight, avoidance) and physically and physiologically (breathing rate increases, palpitations, trembling, sweating).
The anxiety can also reach the level of a panic attack. Adult patients also know that their strong anxiety reaction is exaggerated and nonsensical. If these fears interfere with coping with everyday life and lead to a corresponding level of distress, professional help should definitely be sought.
Development of a phobia
Specific phobias are often caused by a traumatic experience, e.g: A person is bitten by a dog or an engine starts to burn during a flight. However, some people develop these fears without ever having experienced a trauma (e.g. fear of flying). It is assumed that in some cases, information about a terrible event (repeated reports of plane crashes) is sufficient to develop a specific phobia. Phobias can also develop through model learning, i.e. by observing the fear response of another person.
Please contact JUVENIS by phone at +43 1 236 3020by e-mail to empfang@juvenismed.at or via the contact formto make an appointment for a consultation or treatment.
By fleeing from the feared situation, the anxiety quickly subsides. In the short term, this leads to relief, but in the long term, the anxiety disorder remains or even worsens. The patient believes they can only overcome the anxiety by escaping.
Treatments & therapies
Treatment methods in behavioral therapy (VT) for a phobia
In order to rule out physical causes for the development of the anxiety disorder, a medical examination is strongly recommended before any psychotherapy. Every treatment is preceded by a comprehensive diagnosis. In addition, an individual explanatory model is created, which provides insight into the development of the disorder. This includes pre-existing risk factors (e.g. increased anxiety) as well as triggers and maintaining factors (e.g. avoidance of the feared situation, sedatives) of the illness, which are given special consideration during treatment.
Please contact JUVENIS by phone at +43 1 236 3020by e-mail to empfang@juvenismed.at or via the contact formto make an appointment for a consultation or treatment.
Blood-injection-injury phobia
The treatment of a blood-syringe-injury phobia is slightly different due to the manifestations of the phobia. The fears here relate to blood, syringes and injuries. Those affected often describe a feeling of nausea or fainting. Those affected can actually faint at the sight of blood. Relaxation would promote fainting and is therefore contraindicated as a therapy method. Therefore, the confrontation with the fear-inducing object takes place under tension. The tension causes an increase in pulse rate and prevents fainting.
Costs
| Treatment | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 therapy session (50 minutes) for the treatment of a specific phobia for new patients | € 130 |
| 1 therapy session (50 minutes) for the treatment of a specific phobia for existing patients | € 120 |
In behavioral therapy, a frequency of 1 session per week is common.
A partial refund of the costs via your health insurance is possible if you have a mental disorder that qualifies as an illness. Some private supplementary insurance policies often cover part of the costs—however, patients should check with their supplementary insurance provider.
It is also possible to deduct clinical-psychological treatment from tax as an extraordinary burden.
FAQs
A specific phobia is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by an intense, excessive fear of certain objects or situations —such as animals, heights, needles, or flying.
Common symptoms include:
severe anxiety or panic when exposed to the trigger
Heart palpitations, trembling, or sweating
Shortness of breath or dizziness
avoidance behavior
sense of losing control
Reactions usually occur immediately upon contact with the trigger.
Common forms include:
Animal phobias (e.g., spiders, dogs)
fear of heights
Fear of flying
Fear of needles or blood
Fear of confined spaces (claustrophobia)
The causes can vary widely and include:
stressful or traumatic experiences
learned behavior
genetic predisposition
psychological factors
Treatment is tailored to each individual and may include:
Behavioral therapy (particularly exposure therapy)
Gradual exposure to the trigger
Techniques for Managing Anxiety
Relaxation exercises
The goal is to reduce the anxiety response in the long term.
The process begins with a thorough evaluation and medical history review. We then develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
Yes, specific phobias are often very treatable. In many cases, targeted therapy alone can lead to significant improvement or even complete recovery.
The duration depends on the individual's progress. In many cases, just a few sessions are sufficient, especially with targeted behavioral therapy.
Helpful steps include:
gradual approach to the trigger
Breathing and relaxation techniques
a conscious examination of fear
Support through therapeutic guidance
If anxiety is limiting your daily life or causing you to consistently avoid certain situations, it’s a good idea to seek treatment early on.
Psychotherapeutic interventions generally have few side effects.
The cost depends on the scope of the therapy and the number of sessions. A therapy session (50 minutes) for the treatment of a specific phobia costs €130 or more for new patients and €120 or more for existing patients.
You can get the exact prices during a personal consultation.
Depending on the type of treatment, your health insurance may cover some or all of the costs.
At JUVENIS, you will be cared for by experienced medical specialists and therapists. Through targeted behavioral therapy, personalized care, and modern treatment methods, we aim to achieve a lasting reduction in anxiety and an improvement in your quality of life.
Here, we’ve answered the most common questions about specific phobias . If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us atempfang@juvenismed.at or by phone at +43 1 236 3020.
Team
Mag.Hilde Winkler
Mag.Dorothea Bertram
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Responsible for the content of this page: Hilde Winkler & Dorothea Bertram