A phobia is an intense fear of—or aversion to—specific objects or situations. Although it can be realistic to be anxious in some circumstances, the fear people with phobias feel is out of proportion to the actual danger caused by the situation or object.
People with a phobia:
* May have an irrational or excessive worry about encountering the feared object or situation
* Take active steps to avoid the feared object or situation
* Experience immediate intense anxiety upon encountering the feared object or situation
* Endure unavoidable objects and situations with intense anxiety
There are several types of phobias and phobia-related disorders:
Specific Phobias (sometimes called simple phobias): As the name suggests, people who have a specific phobia have an intense fear of, or feel intense anxiety about, specific types of objects or situations. Some examples of specific phobias include the fear of:
* Flying
* Heights
* Specific animals, such as spiders, dogs, or snakes
* Receiving injections
* Blood
Resource: National Institute of Mental Health