A phobia is more than a simple fear. It develops when people begin to organize their life around avoiding the thing they are afraid of, whether it is an animal, object, place, or situation. A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder.
If you have a phobia, you will have an overwhelming need to avoid all contact with the source of your anxiety. Coming into contact with the cause of your phobia or even the thought of this can make you anxious and may cause you to panic.
If the cause of your phobia is an object or animal that you do not come into contact with regularly, such as a snake, it is unlikely to affect your day-to-day life. However, if you have a more complex phobia, such as agoraphobia (see below), you may find it very difficult to lead a normal life.
There are many different phobias, which can be divided into two main categories: simple phobias and complex phobias
Simple phobias are fears about specific objects, animals, situations or activities. Some common examples include:
- Dogs
- Spiders
- Snakes
- Closed spaces
- Dentists
- Flying
Phobias affect different people in different ways. Some people only react with mild anxiety when confronted with the object of their fear, while others experience severe anxiety or have a severe panic attack.
Complex phobias tend to be more disabling than simple phobias because they are often associated with a deep-rooted fear or anxiety about a particular circumstance or situation. Two common examples of complex phobias are agoraphobia and social phobia.
A person with agoraphobia may be scared of traveling on public transport or visiting a shopping centre and, in the most severe cases, leaving home in general.
Social phobia is a fear of social situations, such as weddings, or performing in social situations, such as public speaking. People with a social phobia have a fear of embarrassing themselves or of being humiliated in public.
How common are phobias?
Phobias are the most common type of anxiety disorder. In the UK, an estimated 10 million people have phobias. Phobias can affect anyone, regardless of age, sex, and social background.
Nariman Hisamaddin Abdulrahman
Computer Education Department