Specific Phobias | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA

When Disturbing Dreams Affect Quality of Life: Mental Health Nightmare Disorder and Treatment

Thursday, January 12, 2023 - 13:28

About 4 to 6 percent of Americans suffer from nightmare disorder, also known as dream anxiety disorder, a sleep condition characterized by frequent nightmares.

February 9, 2023

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) for Phobias

Elizabeth McMahon, PhD and

This webinar covers uses of virtual reality (VR) in treating phobias, presents key research findings supporting VR exposure therapy (VRET), and touches on Diversity/Equity/Inclusion (DEI) issues. The presentation includes seven secrets of effective VRET, eight ways to monitor client response, and two case studies. The webinar also discusses VRET’s benefits, potential risks, common therapist concerns, and two approaches to creating a VR exposure hierarchy.

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Living with Uncontrollable: Emetophobia

by Zara R

August 31, 2022

I wanted to share my story to let people know they aren’t alone. Emetophobia is a lot more common than you think. It’s fixable, and it’s okay to get help.

The Underdog of OCD-Related Concerns Just Got Trich-ier: Bodily Focused Repetitive Behaviors During the COVID 19 Pandemic

Tuesday, June 15, 2021 - 13:24

If someone you know has a BFRB, one of the most important things you can do is learn about BFRB and express understanding that the BFRB is serving a purpose, whether it is self-stimulation, soothing anxiety, relief of perceived flaws, some combination of these, or something else.

You CAN Overcome a Fear of Needles

Fear of Needles by Elizabeth McMahon PhD

Tuesday, June 15, 2021 - 11:01

Fear of needles can limit your life and harm your health. It can keep you from getting necessary medical and dental care or becoming pregnant through in vitro fertilization (IVF). With COVID-19, many people want to overcome their fear of needles to get vaccinated. These 6 steps can help.

Conquering Panic Attacks and Reinventing Myself

by Tyler Ellis

March 31, 2021

Story of Triumph written by Tyler Ellis "Mental health issues can be debilitating and isolating; you may feel like you’re alone in this, but you’re not. If someone like me can overcome panic disorder and anxiety, so can you."

Support Groups

Listings of in-person and virtual support groups nationwide for those struggling with anxiety, OCD, PTSD, depression, and co-occurring disorders. anxiety and depression struggles.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder and the Impact of COVID-19 and Quarantine

Eda Gorbis, PhD, LMFT

Friday, June 19, 2020 - 15:05

Body Dysphoric Disorder (BDD) is described as the disease of “self- perceived ugliness” or “self-imagined ugliness.” It is also seen as a distressing preoccupation with one or more physical non-existence “defects.” In the DSM-5, BDD is classified under Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders.

Trichotillomania – Facts and Treatment

Eda Gorbis, PhD

Sunday, March 22, 2020 - 10:03

What is Trichotillomania (TTM)?

This consists of compulsive urges to pull one’s hair resulting in noticeable hair loss. Hair-pulling can be any part of the body like arms, pubic hair, eye lashing, legs, etc.

Why do people do this?

Fear of Vomiting, or Emetophobia

If you have a fear of vomiting, just reading the title of this article might make you a bit queasy. The mere mention of the "V word" might send you into a state of anxiety. If you can relate, I encourage you to press on despite your worry, so you can take the first steps to overcoming it.

If you suffer with this type of phobia (specifically known as emetophobia), you are not only repulsed by the idea of vomiting, you fear it. And you probably have at least one of these fears, too:

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