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What is a phobia?

A phobia (phobic response), is an intense irrational fear, a strong emotional reaction or response to something. The “fight or flight” response as it is so commonly nicknamed.

These intense emotional feelings of fear associated with what is called a “phobic response”, are equated with feelings of terror, freight, and even death. So severe, that the sufferer would do almost anything to avoid the situation and/or object or place at all costs.

Note: Although these are irrational fears (nothing obviously in their environment that is real threat), the suffer experiences and feels them as if they were real, and therefore reacts accordingly.

In some cases, the sufferer may not be aware he/she even has a phobia, and may not be aware that this is the reason for the avoidance of certain situations, people, places, or things as a result of that phobia.

According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), a phobia is an uncontrollable, irrational, and persistent fear of a specific object, situation, or activity. The fear experienced by people with phobias can be so great that some individuals go to extreme lengths to avoid the source of their fear. One extreme response to the source of a phobia can be a panic attack.

Who is affected by phobias?

Every year, approximately 5 to 9 percent of Americans experience one or more phobias that range from mild to severe. Phobias can occur in early childhood, but usually are first evident between the ages of 15 and 20 years. They affect both genders equally, although men are more likely to seek treatment for phobias.

List of phobias:

1. Panphobia- is the fear of anything and everything...

2, A list of about 500 known phobias can be found - Click here:

What is specific phobia?

Specific phobia is characterized by extreme fear of an object or situation that is not harmful under general conditions.

Examples include a fear of:

flying (fearing the plane will crash)

dogs (fearing the dog will bite/attack)

closed-in places (fear of being trapped)

tunnels (fearing a collapse)

heights (fear of falling)

water (fear of drowning or suffocating)

What are the characteristics of specific phobia?

People with specific phobias know that their fear is excessive, but are unable to overcome their emotion. The disorder is diagnosed only when the specific fear interferes with daily activities of school, work, or home life.

Specific phobias strike more than 1 in 10 people. There is no known cause, although they seem to run in families and are slightly more prevalent in women. If the object of the fear is easy to avoid, people with phobias may not feel the need to seek treatment. Sometimes, however, they may make important career or personal decisions to avoid a situation that includes the source of the phobia.

Treatment for specific phobia:

There is currently no proven drug treatment for specific phobias, but sometimes certain medications may be prescribed to help reduce anxiety symptoms before someone faces a phobic situation.

When phobias interfere with a person's life, treatment can help, and usually involves a kind of cognitive-behavioral therapy called desensitization or exposure therapy. In this, patients are gradually exposed to what frightens them until the fear begins to fade. Relaxation and breathing exercises also help to reduce anxiety symptoms.

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