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High bridges, new places, needles, or old elevators may make us a bit uneasy or even frightened. We might try to avoid things that make us uncomfortable, but most people generally manage to control their fears and carry out daily activities without incident.
But people with specific phobias, or strong irrational fear reactions, work hard to avoid common places, situations, or objects even though they know there's no threat or danger. The fear may not make any sense, but they feel powerless to stop it.
People who experience these seemingly excessive and unreasonable fears in the presence of or in anticipation of a specific object, place, or situation have a specific phobia.
Having phobias can disrupt daily routines, limit work efficiency, reduce self-esteem, and place a strain on relationships because people will do whatever they can to avoid the uncomfortable and often-terrifying feelings of phobic anxiety. While some phobias develop in childhood, most seem to arise unexpectedly, usually during adolescence or early adulthood. Their onset is usually sudden, and they may occur in situations that previously did not cause any discomfort or anxiety.
Specific phobias commonly focus on animals, insects, germs, heights, thunder, driving, public transportation, illness, flying, dental or medical procedures, and elevators. Although people with phobias realize that their fear is irrational, even thinking about it can often cause extreme anxiety.
To learn more in-depth about specific phobias and treatments, check out ADAA's Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
Agoraphobia
Some people stop going into situations because of a fear of being overwhelmed by anxiety and not being able to escape or get help.
These people have agoraphobia, and they typically avoid places where they feel immediate escape might be difficult, such as shopping malls, public transportation, and either open places (like parking lots) or enclosed places (like theaters). Agoraphobia is particularly common in people with panic disorder. Their world may become smaller as they are constantly on guard, waiting for the next panic attack. Some people develop a fixed route or territory, and it may become impossible for them to travel beyond their safety zones without suffering severe anxiety.
Health Anxiety
- What is Health Anxiety
- Health Anxiety: What It is and How to Beat It - ADAA blog post
- Health Anxiety - Part Two: Learn How to Face Your Fear of Death and Overcome Health Anxiety - ADAA on-demand webinar
- Health Anxiety - Part One: What it Is and How You Can Overcome It - ADAA on-demand webinar
Fear of Driving
- Overcoming the Fear of Driving - ADAA blog post
- Overcoming the Fear of Driving - ADAA on-demand webinar
Fear of Flying
- 8 Steps to Overcoming Your Fear of Flying - ADAA blog post
Fear of Needles
You CAN Overcome a Fear of Needles - ADAA blog post
Additional ADAA Resources:
