Understanding and treating phobias with exposure therapy

Phobias affect one in eight people, ranging from common fears like flying and needles to unusual ones like fear of vomiting or peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth. A phobia differs from normal fear when it becomes intense, disproportionate to actual danger, and causes life-limiting avoidance behaviours. Exposure therapy shows an 80% effectiveness rate in treating phobias by gradually teaching the brain that feared objects or situations are uncomfortable but not dangerous.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.