Specific Phobia
Fear about certain situations, animals, activities and objects is common. Many people feel anxious when faced with snakes or spiders, and/or having to travel on a boat or plane. Fear is a natural reaction the body does when faced with something that could potentially threaten our safety. Some people have this certain fear and tend to irrationally over-exaggerate and sometimes imagine the danger. The feelings of panic and fear are completely out of proportion to the actual threat and panic attacks are usually related to it. Sometimes people with this disorder know how irrational their reactions are but feel as though they are uncontrollable.
One may have a specific phobia if they:
Specific phobias can effect up to 11% of the population and symptoms are known to start in childhood or early adolescence. Children usually develop a specific phobia more than any other anxiety disorder, they are still prone to panic attacks and are unaware that their reactions are irrational and exaggerated.
One may have a specific phobia if they:
- Have persistent, excessive and unreasonable fear of that specific object, activity or situation.
- Avoids situation that they would have to encounter that specific fear. The person may become distressed if the situation is unavoidable.
- If their anxiety over that fear makes it difficult to go on with their day-to-day life
Specific phobias can effect up to 11% of the population and symptoms are known to start in childhood or early adolescence. Children usually develop a specific phobia more than any other anxiety disorder, they are still prone to panic attacks and are unaware that their reactions are irrational and exaggerated.