How to Get Rid of a Phobia by Deconditioning

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Phobias can be a debilitating thing. The loss of productivity and functionality due to ones phobia can be enormous.

However, a simple understanding of psychology can give one the power to move beyond fear. This simple concept will be explored in a step by step process below.

Steps

1. Understand the basis of your fear. There are two types of phobias:
   
   • • Biologically predisposed: Fears that are part of the evolution of man, common examples include spiders, snakes and a healthy fear of falling.
       
     • Conditioned Phobias: Fears that were learned as a matter of experience, examples include dogs, bats or even balls of yarn.
       
2. Understand that through the process of extinction any fear, biological or not, can be completely removed from a person.
   
3. Understand the conditioning process:
   
   • • The extinction process was developed in conjunction with classical conditioning.
       
     • In classical conditioning a stimulus illicits' a response. Then at the same time the stimulus is then paired with another stimulus and another response.
       
     • This may sound confusing but will better explicated with an example. You have come down with a very acute cold. For the first time in years you decide to put on a favored purfume. However, when you do so you throw up because of the cold. From that point forward whenever you smell purfume you feel sick to your stomach.
       
     • To remove this perfume aversion one has to undergo the process of extinction.
       
4. Understand the deconditioning/extinction process:
   
   • • In reference to the example given above: by removing the second stimulus (sickness) one can then decondition the nausea associated with perfume.
       
     • In other words by placing this individual in a room with a slight perfumed smell as well as their favorite book the nausea will begin to go away completly.
       
     • Day after day more perfume is added until the nausea goes away.
       
5. Set up a deconditioning regiment.
   
   • • Write a list from One to Ten
       
     • imagine the scariest circumstance you could (in the real world) find your self in and put that as number ten.
       
     • From ten work down to the least disturbing thing in association with your fear. An example list for spiders is given below.
       
     • 10) Spider on my head.9) Spider touching me8)Spider on clothing7)Spider walking towards me6)Seeing a big spider5)Knowing a spiders in the house4)Knowing a spiders in the yard3)Seeing a big squished spider.2) Seeing a small squished spider. 1) Seeing a small fluffy spider in a store.
       
6. Ask your best friend if they will help you get rid of your fear. Make sure they wont fall back if you don't want to move forward anymore.
   
7. Give them the list and set a weekly day (preferably friday). On this day they should then come over and go up the list one item at a time helping you face the circumstance set. For Friends: Make sure they know nothing will ever happen to them under this list. Crying is normal.
   
8. Slowly proceed up the list until subject is comfortable with number ten.
   
9. NOTE: After one day is over the subjects fear will return the next day However, their fear is significantly lessened. This process is normal and is part of the process of extinction. In other words keep going it will always work if one is consistent and firm in their approach.
   

Tips

• For Friends: Do not allow their fear to be substantiated. In other words don't make them touch a spider that may bite or deconditioning will not only fail, but the phobia will also be enhanced.
  

Warnings

• This article is not meant to diagnose, treat or otherwise cure any such individuals. You use such knowledge at your own risk.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Overcome a Social Phobia
  
• How to Overcome Claustrophobia
  
• How to Overcome Phobia
  
• How to Overcome Ambulophobia
  
• How to Overcome Ophthalmophobia
  
• How to Get over Your Fear of Snakes
  

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