A Phobia is an intense, persistent, and disproportionate fear of a specific object, situation, or activity, leading to active avoidance or distress that interferes with normal functioning.
Key Points:
- Common Types:
- Specific Phobias: Fear of heights (acrophobia), spiders (arachnophobia), flying, etc.
- Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder): Intense fear of social situations or scrutiny by others.
- Agoraphobia: Fear of being in places where escape might be difficult or help unavailable (often linked with panic disorder).
- Symptoms: Accelerated heartbeat, sweating, trembling, urge to flee, dread, and catastrophic thinking about encountering the feared stimulus.
