To treat the effects of podophobia, most of the time, a doctor chooses behavioural therapies as the best treatment program. Here are the promising treatments for podophobia that have shown positive results in previous cases of clinical trials.
With the help of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), a therapist gets to identify any unrealistic or negative behavioural pattern that generates the fear of feet. This therapy makes one reconsider and revise his or her response to a feared object. Not only this, but by addressing these thoughts, one can better manage and control the level of anxiety caused due to podophobia.
In addition, the final stage of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy includes replacing one’s negative and fearful thoughts with positive thoughts.
One of the most effective treatments for podophobia involves exposure therapy, or systematic desensitization. In this process, a therapist and his or her patient get the chance to work on controlling and facing the fear.
Under complete medical supervision, an individual will slowly get exposed to the stimuli shown as pictures and videos for a shorter duration. Eventually, he or she will be able to cope with the fear and be able to get exposed to the stimuli for a longer duration.
At every level of an assessment, the therapist will guide and take note of the progress made by the patient.
Many a time, to provide relief from anxiety and to calm one's nerves, doctors offer medication. Moreover, an individual may face severe fear even during the on-going therapy sessions. Thus, to help one follow-up with the therapeutic process, doctors often recommend benzodiazepines and beta-blocking medicines to their patients for a prescribed period of time.
However, consuming these medicines for longer periods and without a doctor's prescription often leads to severe side effects.