Phobias

Summary

A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder. It is a strong, irrational fear of something that poses little or no real danger.

There are many specific phobias. Acrophobia is a fear of heights. Agoraphobia is a fear of public places, and claustrophobia is a fear of closed-in places. If you become anxious and extremely self-conscious in everyday social situations, you could have a social phobia. Other common phobias involve tunnels, highway driving, water, flying, animals and blood.

People with phobias try to avoid what they are afraid of. If they cannot, they may experience:

• Panic and fear
• Rapid heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Trembling
• A strong desire to get away

Phobias usually start in children or teens, and continue into adulthood. The causes of specific phobias are not known, but they sometimes run in families.

Treatment helps most people with phobias. Options include medicines, therapy or both.

NIH: National Institute of Mental Health

National Institute of Mental Health

Patient Handouts

• Agoraphobia Medical Encyclopedia
• Phobia – simple/specific Medical Encyclopedia
• Social anxiety disorder Medical Encyclopedia

Specifics

• Agoraphobia Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Fear of Public Speaking: How Can I Overcome It? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• How to Cope with Medical Test Anxiety National Library of Medicine
• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Social Anxiety Disorder: More than Just Shyness National Institute of Mental Health

Find an Expert

• Anxiety and Depression Association of America Anxiety and Depression Association of America
• Find a Therapist Anxiety and Depression Association of America
• Find Your Local NAMI NAMI
• FindTreatment.gov Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• Help for Mental Illnesses National Institute of Mental Health
• NAMI NAMI
• National Institute of Mental Health National Institute of Mental Health
• Psychologist Locator American Psychological Association

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Agoraphobia National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Phobia, Social National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Phobic Disorders National Institutes of Health

Teenagers

• Fears and Phobias Nemours Foundation
• Social Phobia Nemours Foundation
• Your Adolescent: Anxiety and Avoidant Disorders American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Treatments and Therapies

• Mental Health Medications National Institute of Mental Health
• Psychotherapies National Institute of Mental Health

Children

• Normal Childhood Fears Nemours Foundation
• Phobias Nemours Foundation

Start Here

• Phobias Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Journal Articles

• Phobias