Phobias and Fears in Teens and Adolescents

Fear is a natural response, a signal that someone or something is potentially dangerous or threatening. Phobias, however, cause an irrational, often debilitating sense of fear and anxiety that’s out of proportion to the actual danger. When teen phobias disrupt an adolescent’s daily life and ability to thrive, treatment can help.

At Newport Academy, we use a wide variety of therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Equine-Assisted Therapy, and many more, to address anxiety issues and other mental health conditions.

Questions?

We know that reaching out can be difficult. Our compassionate team of experts is here to help. Call us at 877-929-5105 or complete the form below.

Step 1 of 2 - 50%

Company

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

First Name(Required)

Last Name(Required)

Email(Required)

Phone*(Required)

I am a...(Required)

We value your privacy and take extensive measures to protect the information you provide on this form.

All information sent through this form is transmitted securely with SSL encryption.

Insurance(Required)

Prospective Client Age(Required)

Company

Occupation

State

Zip Code(Required)

Additional Details

Texting Opt-In

Yes

I agree to receive marketing messaging from Newport Academy with the provided phone number. I understand I will potentially receive several messages a month, data rates apply, reply STOP to opt out.

hCaptcha

We value your privacy and take extensive measures to protect the information you provide on this form.

All information sent through this form is transmitted securely with SSL encryption.

Table of Contents

What Is a Phobia?

A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder that causes a strong, irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual threat. There are many different specific phobias. Some of the most common are the fear of spiders (arachnophobia), fear of heights (acrophobia), fear of small or enclosed spaces (claustrophobia), and fear of public places (agoraphobia).

Without treatment, teens with phobia disorder can experience negative consequences in school, friendships, and family life. Moreover, adolescents who have phobias often avoid situations in which the feared object or situation may be present. Therefore, children and teens with phobia disorder often feel isolated and lonely. In addition, the distress and anxiety brought on by phobias can lead to other mental health issues, including depression, substance use disorder, or suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Treatment for teen anxiety disorders that include specific phobias can make all the difference. Therapy with a mental health professional experienced in teen phobia treatment can transform a teenager’s and family’s life. First, teen phobia treatment must get to the root cause of the anxiety through a treatment plan that meets each adolescent’s specific needs.

Teen Phobia Categories

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) classifies specific phobias in the following categories:

Animals, such as dogs, snakes, and spiders
Natural environment, such as storms, water, and heights
Blood, injection, and injury, including needles, invasive medical procedures, and blood
Situational, such as the fear of flying, fear of enclosed spaces or public places
Other—any phobia that does not fit into the above categories

Are Phobias Common in Adolescents?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 12.5 percent of US adults experience a specific phobia at some point in their lives. And females are more likely to experience specific phobias. Nearly 1 in 5 adolescents (ages 13–18) experience a specific phobia among adolescents.

What Causes Teen Phobias?

Experts aren’t clear exactly what causes teen phobias, but research indicates that genetics and environmental factors play a role. Past incidents and childhood traumas can lead to phobias later in life. For instance, a teen who was scratched or bitten by a dog as a child may have a higher likelihood of developing a phobia of dogs. Alternately, having parents or family members who are particularly worried or anxious can cause a child to develop similar traits.

Signs and Symptoms of Phobias

Teens with a phobia exhibit irrational or excessive worry about encountering a feared object or situation. As a result, they actively avoid these situations, which, depending on the phobia, could cause disruption in their daily lives. Therefore, a teen with a fear of public speaking or being in public spaces will be more frequently impacted versus a teen with a phobia related to snakes.

Emotional and physical symptoms of a phobia in adolescence include:

Panic attacks
Intense fear and a strong urge to flee the situation or object
Crying
Rapid heartbeat
Feeling as if they are in imminent danger
Sense of dread or doom
Losing a sense of reality, or fear of “going crazy”
Shortness of breath or a smothering feeling
Sweating, trembling
A feeling of choking
Chest pain or discomfort
Nausea or abdominal pain
Feeling faint, dizzy, or lightheaded
Fear of losing control or dying

Common Phobias in Adolescents

Here are three of the most common adolescent phobias:

Social Anxiety Disorder

Adolescents and teens with social anxiety disorder (formerly referred to as social phobia) have an intense fear of social or performance situations. They feel extreme dread about the possibility of embarrassing themselves or being judged by others. Teens with social phobia also worry that the physical response they have to their anxiety, such as sweating, blushing, and shaking, will add to the embarrassment. This worry often causes adolescents with social phobia to avoid social situations, and to feel intense anxiety if they have to speak in front of the whole class.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobic teens have an intense fear of being in places or situations in which escape might be difficult. Teens with agoraphobia may fear leaving the house, using public transportation, or being in crowded or enclosed spaces. Adolescents with agoraphobia often avoid these feared situations because of the panic they experience, which can have a negative impact on school or work performance.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Many children experience separation anxiety as a normal stage of development, but typically outgrow it by the age of three. But for some adolescents, the anxiety and panic that occurs when being away from a parent or caregiver is so severe it causes a disruption in daily functioning. Very young children with separation anxiety disorder experience distress just at the thought of being separated from their caregiver, and often lash out with tantrums.

Have Questions?

Call Us

Teen Phobia Treatment at Newport Academy

If your teen is suffering with anxiety disorders that include specific phobias, Newport Academy can help. With effective phobia treatment, teens no longer need to live in constant fear, avoiding the activities and events that shape their adolescence. In our integrated treatment programs, teens learn to recognize anxiety triggers and incorporate tools and strategies to overcome their phobias.

The goal of adolescent phobia treatment at Newport Academy is to address underlying issues and improve the overall quality of life for teens crippled by anxiety and specific phobias. Typically, the foundational treatment for severe anxiety disorders, including phobias, includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy sessions with a qualified therapist.

Here is a breakdown of how therapists use each modality to identify the root cause of the phobia and help teens overcome their fears and live life to the fullest.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Teen Phobias

CBT is a popular modality for treating a number of mental health disorders, and is especially beneficial for severe anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias. CBT can be used to treat phobias by changing the way teens think, behave, and respond to their specific phobia. The goal of teen CBT is to reframe the negative thought patterns that keep them paralyzed. By breaking their own overwhelming anxiety and fears into smaller parts, teens begin to learn their anxiety is manageable.

Exposure Therapy for Teen Phobias

Teens with specific phobias often avoid the object or situation that brings them the most fear. That means they have no opportunity to learn that they can in fact tolerate phobia anxieties. Exposure therapies are designed to encourage teens to confront feared situations, either in reality or through imaginal exercises. Gradual and repeated exposure to the source of fear and anxiety inevitably supports teens to overcome it. For example, if a teen has a fear of snakes, the therapist may begin by asking the teen to read about snakes. Gradually they begin showing the teen pictures of snakes, and eventually they may visit a pet store or zoo to be near or even hold a snake.

Psychiatric Care and Medication Management

Psychiatrists conduct comprehensive assessments at intake that inform medication recommendations for adolescent phobia and anxiety. There are a variety of medications that can help teens control the underlying mental health issues associated with phobias. Psychiatrists then closely monitor patients’ progress throughout their treatment stay, providing ongoing psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and psychoeducation.

Experiential Therapeutic Modalities

ERP is a form of Cognitive Behavioral All teen OCD treatment plans at Newport Academy include experiential therapy, including Adventure Therapy, art and music therapy, yoga and meditation, and other physical modalities like Mixed Martial Arts. Experiential modalities give teens ways to process the anxiety associated with phobic reactions and build skills for emotion regulation.

Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT)

ABFT is a foundational element of a teen anxiety and phobia treatment plan at Newport Academy. We see family involvement as essential to an adolescent’s treatment and recovery journey. ABFT helps restore trust and connection in the family system, so teens who are suffering from phobias, including panic attacks and suicidal thoughts, feel safe going to their parents for help.

Strengths-Based Academics

We work closely with each child’s school and use tailored instruction and accredited curriculums to ensure that students continue to progress in their education while receiving treatment for teen phobias and anxiety disorders. Our specialized teachers and tutors support teens’ executive-functioning and organizational skills while nurturing their interests and talents.

Learn More About Treating Teen Phobias

Our caring team of clinical experts is ready to help your teen overcome their anxiety and phobias using a wide range of modalities, including individual and family therapy, experiential therapy, or medication if warranted. Phobia therapy is an effective first step in giving teens the confidence to confront their fears and live a life free of extreme anxiety. Contact us today to get started.

Insurances We Accept

And more

Insurance Logo

Our Team of Medical and Clinical Experts

At Newport Academy, teen social anxiety treatment is delivered by a team of experts with a range of clinical and medical expertise that is unparalleled in the behavioral health industry. Clients’ treatment teams include psychiatrists, family therapists, nurse practitioners, counselors, art therapists, music therapists, adventure therapists, registered dietitians, teachers and tutors, and more.

By combining their talents and areas of expertise—medical, psychiatric, clinical, experiential, and academic—our treatment teams create transformative care experiences with long-lasting impacts. In addition, every teen’s treatment plan is informed by research, including our own treatment outcomes studies, which show that our programming creates significant improvements in teen anxiety in a matter of weeks.

Meet the Team

Our Accreditations

Newport holds the Gold Seal of Approval® from The Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest healthcare accrediting body, and is affiliated with a wide range of national organizations and certification bodies.

Get Started Today

To find out more how we treat phobias and related anxiety in teens, contact us today. We provide teen mental health assessments at no charge, either in person or virtually.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the #1 rarest phobia?

A phobia known as arachibutyrophobia, the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth, is the rarest phobia. Experts say the fear is likely related to a fear of choking.

What is dendrophobia?

Dendrophobia is the fear of trees. A person with dendrophobia has extreme fear or anxiety when they think about or see a tree. They may even be triggered by shadows made by trees, tree branches, or leaves rustling in the wind.

What is vehophobia?

Vehophobia is an intense fear of driving. Many people who live with vehophobia have either been involved in or have witnessed an accident or other tragic circumstance involving a vehicle.

How do you treat phobias in adolescence?

With assistance from a qualified mental health professional, teens can learn to overcome their phobias and control their anxiety. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and exposure therapy are beneficial treatments for teen anxiety disorders, including specific phobias. These modalities are successful in helping teens replace irrational, negative thoughts with more realistic, healthier thought patterns, while gradually introducing them to the situation or object they fear most.

Take the First Step

Our compassionate staff is standing by, ready to help.
We'll answer your questions and ensure you have a path forward.

Contact Us