Treatment
Ornithophobia may respond well to cognitive behavioral therapy techniques. A trained therapist will help the sufferer by confronting their fear, replacing their negative thoughts with more positive self talk. They will be given relaxation techniques to use when their anxiety level rises whilst encountering a bird. Systematic desensitization can be helpful, in which the sufferer is gradually exposed to birds, such as slowly reintroducing safe, gentle birds to them.
If the phobia is severe, hypnosis and/or medications may be used to help the therapy.
Psychotherapy, anti-depressants, and hypnotherapy can all be used to treat excessive fear and anxiety. Getting at the root of the phobia is the first step in determining a course of treatment. If a person suffering from this phobia has had a traumatic interaction with birds, they will need to talk about their fears with the therapist in order to release tension and gain perspective.
Read more about this topic: Ornithophobia
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