Phobias – an overview
Key facts A phobia is an unreasonable fear of something, either social or specific. Social phobias occur in both males and females, and usually start in the teens but can begin in childhood. Common specific phobias can include fear of certain animals, medical procedures or situations. To be diagnosed as a phobia, a person’s anxiety must not match the danger posed, and it must cause distress that affects their life. Both social and specific phobias usually respond to treatment. What is a phobia? A phobia is an unreasonable fear of something. There are 2 main kinds of phobias. The first
