What are the symptoms of phobia?
Phobias are emotional and physical reactions to feared objects or situations. Symptoms of a phobia include the following: • Feelings of panic, dread, horror, or terror • Recognition that the fear goes beyond normal boundaries and the actual threat of danger • Reactions that are automatic and uncontrollable, practically taking over the person’s thoughts • Rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, trembling, and an overwhelming desire to flee the situation • Physical reactions associated with extreme fear • Extreme measures are taken to avoid the feared object or situation ARE ALL PHOBIAS THE SAME? Phobias are not all the same. There are three main groups which include: • Specific (simple) phobias: the most common and the focus is on specific objects • Social phobia: causes extreme anxiety in social or public situations • Agoraphobia: the fear of being alone in public places from which there is no easy escape Specific or Simple Phobias produce intense fear of a particular object or situation
