Phobias are a group of disorders that share a persistent, recurring, irrational, and severe
anxiety surrounding specific objects, activities, or situations. Phobias also involve specific avoidance of the particular phobic stimulus.
Phobias are fairly common, and a diagnosis is usually made only when fear or avoidance behavior is a significant source of distress to the individual, or when it interferes with social or occupational functioning.
Different Types of Phobias
Social Phobia
Social phobia, also called
social anxiety disorder, is characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. People with social phobia have a persistent, intense, and chronic fear of being watched and judged by others and of being embarrassed or humiliated by their own actions. Their fear may be so severe that it interferes with work, school, and other ordinary activities.
While many people with social phobia recognize that their fear of being around people may be excessive or unreasonable, they are unable to overcome it. They often worry for days or weeks in advance of a dreaded situation.
Specific Phobia
A specific phobia is an intense fear of something that poses little or no actual danger. Some of the more common specific phobias are centered around:
- Closed-in places (claustrophobia)
- Heights (acrophobia)
- Escalators
- Tunnels
- Highway driving
- Water
- Flying (pterygophobia)
- Dogs
- Spiders
- Injuries involving blood.
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is the fear of being alone or in public places. This type of phobia rarely occurs in the absence of
panic disorder.
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