phobia Archives

Anxiety and Difficulty Swallowing

January 3, 2023 by Justin Arocho, Ph.D.

Swallowing is something that everyone does, many times per day. How does something so familiar become a source of anxiety?

Bodily Functions and Conscious Control

The human body relies on several important functions every day to keep it going. Many of these are totally outside your control. For example, your heart will continue beating automatically – you can’t make it beat or not beat on purpose, even if you try. Digestion is another good example – your stomach will digest whatever you consume without any purposeful influence from you.

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Cleithrophobia: The Fear of Being Trapped

August 23, 2021 by Dr. Paul Greene

If you get panicky in enclosed spaces or situations when you feel trapped, you’re not alone. Cleithrophobia is a well-understood and treatable problem. Learn more.

Cleithrophobia: Definition

Cleithrophobia is a fear of being trapped. It is a “specific phobia” (as opposed to a social phobia). Cleithrophobia can affect adults or children. The disorder involves significant symptoms of fear or anxiety when one is actually trapped, fears being trapped, or thinks about being trapped. These symptoms can include:

racing heart
elevated respiration rate or shortness of breath
elevated blood pressure
sweating
dry mouth
trembling or shaking, especially in extremities
chest pain or muscle tension
full panic attacks

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Fear of Flying Therapy: Panic No More

July 27, 2014 by Jennifer Chen, Psy.D.

The Manhattan Center for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy offers fear of flying treatment. This therapy is targeted to those who have become reliant on alcohol or prescription medications to fly. It’s also effective for those who’d like to avoid that!

Fear of Flying

Despite numerous technological advancements to improve the safety and accessibility of traveling by airplane, 6.5% of Americans today live with a fear of flying. Even celebrities and athletes admit to flying woes!

This phobia–also known as pteromerhanophobia or aviophobia–may wreak havoc in people’s lives by causing anxiety around planning vacations, family visits, long-distance relationships, or work-related travel.

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