Question: For Teens - What Causes Phobias?
Answer:
Experts are still not quite sure what causes phobias. It seems to be a combination of genetics and life experiences. People with phobias generally have slightly different brain chemistry than people without them. Many people develop phobias after a bad experience, although this is not always the case. Some people seem to learn phobias from relatives or friends with the same phobia.
A phobia is not a sign of weakness, nor is it something to be ashamed of. Having a phobia simply means that you have a disorder that needs to be treated, just like a cold or the flu.
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