A specific phobia is an intense, irrational fear of a specified object or situation. Specific phobias can be classified in four major types: animals, medical, natural environment, and situational. Many people have more than one phobia in the same category, such as dogs and snakes. However, it is also possible to have phobias in more than one category, such as dogs and needles.
Regardless of the feared object, those suffering from specific phobias will show similar symptoms. Symptoms of a specific phobia include:
- Terror: Intense feelings of terror, dread, or panic when
confronting the feared object
- Panic Symptoms: Physical symptoms that may mirror a panic attack, such as dizziness, sweating, numbness and shortness of breath
- Avoidance: Avoiding the feared object, often to the point of
interfering with daily life activities
- Anticipatory Anxiety: Obsessive worry about an upcoming encounter with a feared situation; imagining scenarios in which an encounter may be inevitable
Remember that many of the symptoms of a specific phobia are similar to those of other mental and physical disorders. Only your health care provider can determine the cause of your symptoms and help you find the best treatment.
Source:American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th Ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Symptoms of Phobias
