Phobias are anxiety disorders that are characterised by the fact that the person who suffers from it feels an irrational fear of a stimulus (situation, animal, object, etc.) that he or she is trying to avoid.

Thanks to the advance of new technologies, there are a number of mobile applications that aim to help people with a phobic disorder manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

If you suffer from any kind of phobia, in this article you can find a list of applications to treat it from your smartphone .

Different types of phobias

Phobias can be of different types and experts say they can be classified into three groups. Social phobia is an irrational fear of social interaction (e.g., public speaking). The main fear of these individuals is what others will think of them and they fear being judged, humiliated or criticized.

Another type of phobia is agoraphobia, in which the person feels a great fear of being in situations where he or she feels vulnerable or unprotected, for example, is afraid of being in an open space and therefore secludes himself or herself at home as a way of avoiding it. Likewise, there are specific phobias, which are those characterized by a strong irrational fear of a stimulus , for example, a situation, an object, a place or an insect.

  • Specific phobias are many, and some of them are very rare. You can check it out in our article: “The 15 rarest phobias that exist”

Apps to treat phobias

But, what apps can we download to treat phobic disorders?

Below is a selection of applications for your smartphone that you may find useful.

1. Psonrisa

The anxiety triggered by phobias comes when we least expect it, both in anticipation of a phobic stimulus that we feel close to, and at the time of exposure to it. That’s why it’s important to act quickly. Psonríe is an online platform that makes it possible to have psychological assistance at a distance without waiting , simply by opening the app and selecting one of the available psychologists. In other words, there is no need to make an appointment.

Psonrie’s strengths are the accessibility and affordable prices it works with. To use this tool, all you have to do is download the app, create a simple user profile, and start sessions with the professionals of your choice, which can be by call or by message.

To learn more about Psonrie, go to her website: psonrie.com.

2. Phobia Free

The Phobia Free app is an augmented reality application that allows you to treat your fear of spiders . It uses the systematic desensitization technique, which belongs to the cognitive-behavioral therapeutic model, and consists of slowly and progressively exposing the person suffering from this disorder to his or her object of phobia. At first, people have to overcome a series of games in which spiders appear that seem harmless. As the game progresses, they become more real.

3. Phobious

Phobious is a very useful application for all types of phobia s , although it can also be used for a wide variety of anxiety disorders such as OCD or post-traumatic stress. Phobius uses different technological means that allow for better treatment, for example, augmented reality or webcam treatment sessions. In addition, the creators of this app have agreements with different hospital institutions such as Hospital Clínic, Sant Pau or Johns Hopkins for continuous updating.

4. Spider phobia cardboard

This application uses virtual reality and is designed to help people suffering from arachnophobia (intense fear of spiders) to fight their fears. Participants enter a virtual office where there are small spiders. The intensity of the spiders’ presence gradually increases. For example, at first the spider is in a jar and then the spider is out of it. The app has been developed together with a group of psychologists.

5. Freedom from fears and phobias

Freedom from Fears and Phobias is one of the applications intended to help overcome phobias and fears . There are different applications that use hypnosis to help the user to be calm and relaxed, and this is one of the best. By being more relaxed, the user will be more open to suggestion and will be able to follow the instructions given by the app.

This is undoubtedly one of the most effective applications using this method. The free version is based on the treatment of arachnophobia, but it is possible to acquire different versions, for example, for fear of injections or clowns. Each new version has an additional cost.

6. Phobias and How to Overcome Them

This application is an extraordinarily rich audio book based on current scientific and clinical research on phobias. The app answers several urgent questions for anyone suffering from phobias. It is also useful for family and friends of people with this disorder.

What is a phobia? What are its typical symptoms? What is the real risk when suffering from a phobia? What causes phobias? Are they inherited or learned? Who is most vulnerable to phobias? How can phobias be diagnosed, managed, and overcome? What therapies have been shown to be most successful in treating phobias? What can I learn about my specific phobia? These and many other questions are addressed in this app , which is based on the idea that understanding the disorder is key to overcoming it.

7. Itsy

Virtual reality in mental health care has been used by many health applications, and Itsy is no exception . It basically works to slowly expose users to a series of spiders in different environments similar to real life. Initially, the spiders have a meek attitude, but as they progress, they change their appearance to appear more dangerous.

8. MindShift

The thoughts of terror and fear that affect the person with the phobia can cause tremendous discomfort . This app, which also works for other anxiety disorders, is also useful for treating phobias. It contains a diary and a series of relaxation tips. The tips focus on phobias, fears, and general anxiety.

Apps to Treat Anxiety

If the above apps are more focused on treating specific phobias, there are other apps that are also useful for treating anxious symptoms and irrational concerns. These apps are intended to help the user feel more relaxed.

  • If you want to know the different apps to treat anxiety that are on the market, you can visit our article: “15 apps to treat anxiety”