A 49-year-old member asked:
what will happen if a person with a phobia tries to face it?
3 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in

Dr. Anthony Vertinoanswered
Clinical Psychology 23 years experience
Can't predict: It depends a lot on the phobia and how it will be confronted. Social phobias, snakes, flying, all could have potential positive and negative outcomes.
The usual treatment is a process of visualizing successive steps that increase anxiety then developing real life scenarios that would help a person safely confront their phobia.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Shariq Refaianswered
Psychiatry 13 years experience
Can be good. : Facing a phobia can be therapeutic but can also be dangerous. Work together with your provider or seek help with a therapist who can help guide you in dealing with your phobia.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Howard Gurranswered
Clinical Psychology 40 years experience
VRT for Phobias: Phobias and anxieties respond well to Virtual Reality Therapy(VRT). VRT is exposure therapy in a safe environment. The research suggests VRT is 90% effective. Seek out a therapist who uses VRT in your area. You can find providers through www.psious.com, www.limbix.com, or www.virtuallybetter.com.
499 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Last updated Nov 6, 2017
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