Arachnophobia, or the fear of spiders, was chosen for this project. This specific phobia is characterized by a strong fear of spiders and other arachnids. Upon contact with or thought of spiders, individuals with arachnophobia tend to experience an immediate anxiety (Anxiety disorders, n.d). In relation to phobias, the feelings that individuals experience are “out of proportion to the actual danger caused by the situation or object” (Anxiety Disorders, n.d).
Thus, people with arachnophobia tend to have unnecessarily anxious and obsessive thoughts about contact with spiders. They constantly strive to take action to avoid potential contact with arachnids, even when there is no objective reason for this. Upon contact with a spider or its image, individuals with arachnophobia experience an instant uncontrollable attack of intense anxiety.
The level of anxiety can be influenced by such dimensions as size, location, quantity, level of detail, and color. The larger the arachnids in size, the greater the level of anxiety it causes. Location is key to the development of an uncontrollable anxiety disorder in individuals with arachnophobia. In particular, closed and small spaces cause more anxiety, as they limit the possibilities for avoiding contact. The darker and worse lit the room, the more anxiety it provokes due to possible sudden contact. The fewer people in the room, the greater the level of anxiety due to a reduced sense of security.
Open light spaces result in the lowest level of anxiety. A large number of arachnids causes an increased level of anxiety. The more detailed the object of fear of people with arachnophobia, the more intense the anxiety attacks they experience. However, even the outline of a spider can cause uncontrollable panic. Arachnophobic colors such as black, gray and brown cause individuals with arachnophobia to experience higher levels of stress. Such colors are perceived as natural to and associated with spiders, while brighter hues cause less anxiety.
Items for the hierarchy:
- Thinking about a spider (0-10);
- Looking at a photo of a spider (10-20);
- Looking at a real spider on video (20-30);
- Thinking about entering a room with a spider in it (10-20);
- Entering the room with no knowledge of where spider is at (40-50);
- Looking at a real spider in a closed box (20-30);
- Hold the box with the spider (30-40);
- Let spider walk on your desk/table (60-70);
- Let spider walk on your shoe (70-80);
- Let spider walk on your pant leg (80-90);
- Let spider walk on your sleeve (90-100);
- Let the spider walk on bare skin (100).
Creating items for the hierarchy was difficult due to a combination of factors. First of all, it was quite challenging to come up with a list of 12 items that would be relevant for this phobia. However, gradually considering the dimensions that can affect the level of anxiety of the patient, I managed to create the necessary hierarchy. I started from the need to gradually increase the level of anxiety when compiling points. One of the most important factors was the movement from thinking about spiders to direct contact with them. Additionally, the development of this list resulted in a low level of anxiety for me, which made the task more difficult. However, creating items for the hierarchy did not cause an uncontrollable anxiety attack.
Systematic desensitization based on the list created would be effective as it has a clear hierarchy. Before implementing systematic desensitization, it is necessary to incorporate relaxation training with the patient. It includes breathing exercises as well as muscle relaxation techniques. In the case of phobias, this is necessary to relieve the tension that arises in connection with anxiety. This step will allow you to successfully carry out subsequent desensitization by reducing the level of anxiety.
Relaxation techniques must be alternated with movement through the hierarchy of items to work out fears. The patient needs to work through each situation from least to most frightening, applying relaxation techniques after each step. The patient needs to face the frightening situation until it ceases to bring anxiety. If distress increases while working through a frightening situation, it is necessary to take a step back and use relaxation techniques to reduce the level of anxiety. In this way, the patient can reach the most frightening situations in the hierarchy and overcome the phobia. The duration of therapy depends on the severity of the phobia that the patient has developed.
Thus, the therapy of arachnophobia requires the patient to gradually move from experiencing the least frightening to the most frightening situations. When developing systematic desensitization, it is critical to rely on dimensions that lead to increased levels of anxiety. Additionally, it is important to use a hierarchical structure that allows for a smooth exposure of the patient to the object of their fear. It is not always easy to develop the necessary items, but with careful study of dimensions, an effective therapy structure can be built. The key to the success of the intervention lies in the smooth movement of the patient from small efforts to control anxiety to the most significant ones.
Reference
Anxiety disorders. (n.d). National Institute of Mental Health. Web.