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Types of Phobias
A person who has a phobia experiences extreme anxiety when exposed to specific objects, situations, or activities. The most common types of phobia include:
- Specific phobias, such as a fear of heights or closed-in spaces
- Social phobia, also known as social anxiety disorder
- Agoraphobia, an intense fear of being in situations or places in which a person would feel helpless if a panic attack were to occur.
Symptoms of a phobia, regardless of the type, can include:
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Racing heart.
Depending on the type of phobia a person has, treatment may involve certain medications or cognitive behavioral therapy.
(To learn more about the different types of phobias, including why they occur, click Phobias.)
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD