Some people have fears that can significantly affect their lives, and that's why they might need special therapies to get rid of them.
Exposure therapy for a specific fear, like spiders, can surprisingly help reduce other fears, such as the fear of heights, according to a new study.
Let's find out more about this discovery.
How it was discovered
In a study involving 50 people with a fear of spiders and heights, researchers found that treating the fear of spiders also led to a reduction in the fear of heights, showcasing a link between different anxieties.
The lead author of the study notes that anxiety often doesn't come alone, and individuals with one fear may develop additional fears over time.
Exposure therapy involves facing fear-inducing situations or stimuli under psychotherapeutic supervision, helping patients gradually overcome their fears.
Contrary to the belief that multiple fears require tailored exposure therapies, the researchers discovered that treating one fear had a positive impact on another fear.
The team measured fear levels before and after exposure therapy for spider fear, using subjective data from questionnaires and quantitative behavioral measures.
Exposure therapy for spider fear not only reduced the fear of spiders but also resulted in a significant 15% decrease in the fear of heights.
This unexpected connection between fears suggests new possibilities for more universal treatment methods for phobias.
Why it's important to know
The study emphasizes that the findings could lead to a reevaluation of therapeutic approaches, potentially developing more efficient and broadly applicable methods.
While the exact mechanism behind this fear reduction is unclear, the researchers suggest that increased self-efficacy and potential commonalities between different fears may play a role. Follow-up studies are needed to explore this further.
Previously, we talked about dopamine boost from exercising.
