How does CBT help in treating electrophobia?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am waiting for CBT therapy for fear of electricity. Getting concerned as no therapist has come across this before. How can they help me as the electricity is everywhere? I am afraid of the electricity in general. If I am being exposed to each appliance separately, that would take a long time. How will this help me with the electricity coming into the property in general? I am so worried that I am not going to get any help. This is such a vast fear to have. Please offer me some hope.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) does not mean only exposure to fearful situations and then desensitizing. Exposure can be done to group of appliances at a time, rather than a single appliance. Besides this mental exposure task can also be performed which will help to reduce the fear to the electricity. Besides desensitization, EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) can also be used which is equally successful for the treatment of phobias. Though the above mentioned CBT techniques are difficult and time consuming, if your motivation is high, then they are apt for the treatment. To reduce the duration, a combination of pharmacotherapy + CBT should be used rather than the individual techniques. Thank you.