Phobias are stimulus that invoke a strong response of discomfort, fear and sometimes terror.

Many people will go out of their ways to avoid the stimulus that triggers a person to have panic symptoms that can in turn prohibit one from functioning in their normal day to day activities and take over their lives. It is estimated that around 15-20 million people in the United States have a phobia. Phobias are usually a result of an irrational thought.

Cognitive Behavioral therapy has been proven to be effective on treating specific types of phobias by addressing ways to control somatic symptoms, challenging irrational thoughts, and increasing emotion management. One of the most effective ways of treating phobias is using gradual exposure in a safe way to the stimulus to assist the person in overcoming fears.