Fear can be protective in certain situations, but what to do when it becomes a handicap on a daily basis? Is it really possible to overcome your phobias? Overview of solutions with Antoine Pelissolo, psychiatrist and author of the book Misconceptions about phobias (Ed. Blue Rider).
Confronting your fears, is it useful?
When we talk about curing your phobia, we often say that you have to confront your fear directly. Does the treatment always have to go through some kind of desensitization? “Most of the time, all the fears that we may have, we end up confronting them. But it’s true that there is a learning problem. Phobias are fears learned in an excessively way. , they must be deprogrammed by desensitization “, explains the psychiatrist.
This method called CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) is the most structured way to get treatment if you need professional help. “We try to analyze the problem because we have to understand where it comes from. We have to tell ourselves that the object of which we are afraid is not really dangerous. The goal: to deprogram this fear reaction and above all to get used to it, ”he explains.
The phobia: a double fear
How long does it take precisely to overcome your phobias? “It depends on the phobias. The simplest phobias are usually animals or the dark. These can go really fast in a few sessions.” In contrast, phobias like agoraphobia are much more complex when it comes to treatment. “Often there are other traumas behind this type of fear. It will be a little longer, but it’s still a story of a few months. All phobias are cured,” he insists.
The most effective method according to the psychiatrist is to be confronted with our fears in a progressive way. “The secret of the method is to do it little by little, so that it is not brutal. Otherwise, it is too traumatic for the body to understand,” he insisted. “In fact, when you have a phobia, you have both a double fear. You are afraid of the object itself, but it is often very exaggerated. You yourself are aware that it is absurd in general. , but above all, we are afraid to be afraid, “said the health professional.
Virtual reality to overcome your fears
Antoine Pelissolo even uses virtual reality to treat his patients. “Thanks to an immersion with the virtual reality headset, we see everything in three dimensions and above all, we can interact. You can walk in a zoo where there are animals. Or get on a plane for those who have this phobia. . It’s for the things you can’t do every day, ”he says.
The psychiatrist advised against taking medication to overcome his phobias. “It is a bad solution because it does not work in the long term. In addition, there is often a concern with these anxiolytics which develop a form of dependence in the patient.” If your phobia is spoiling your life, Antoine Pelissolo strongly advises you to consult a professional because any great fear can be cured.
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