Phobias

Living with a phobia can mean organizing more of your life around fear than other people realize. You may avoid certain places or situations, always look for a way out, or feel anxious long before you actually have to face what you're afraid of. Part of you may know that you're safe, while another part reacts as though something terrible is about to happen.

With claustrophobia, this might happen in elevators, airplanes, tunnels, crowded rooms, public transport, medical procedures, or anywhere that feels enclosed or difficult to leave. The fear can show up physically too — through a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, feeling trapped, or an overwhelming need to escape.

Avoiding these situations can bring relief in the moment, but over time it can give the fear more control over what you feel able to do. You may start taking the stairs instead of the elevator, choosing your seat based on how easily you can leave, avoiding travel, or turning down experiences because you're worried about how you might feel.

In therapy, we first take the time to understand your fear — what triggers it, what happens in your mind and body, and what you have learned to do to feel safe. From there, we can gradually work toward facing feared situations in manageable steps, using evidence-based strategies such as exposure. The goal isn't to force you into situations before you're ready, but to help you reach a point where fear no longer has to decide what you can and cannot do.