Anxiety

Phobia

Phobia: an unrealistic or exaggerated fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that in reality has little to no danger.

Common phobias include fear of animals, insects, flying, heights, tight spaces. The list goes on and on with more than 100 fears. People with severe phobia might go to extreme lengths to avoid the thing they fear, which in return only strengthens the phobia more so.

Some signs that you have a phobia are:

•persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable, cued by the presence or anticipation of a specific object or situation
•Exposure provokes immediate anxiety, which can take the form of a situationally predisposed panic attack
•Patients recognize that the fear is excessive or unreasonable
•patients avoid the phobic situation or else endure it with intense anxiety or distress
•The distress in the feared situation interferes significantly with the person's normal routine, occupational functioning, or social activities or relationships

The most noticeable symptom of a phobia is a panic attack which can cause:

•pounding or racing heart beat
•shortness of breath
•rapid speech or inability to speak
•upset stomach;nausea
•trembling; shaking
•chest pain; tightness in chest
•dry mouth or choking sensation
•dizziness or lightheadedness
•excessive sweating
•sense of impending doom