Phobias

Overview

A phobia is a common type of anxiety disorder.

Many people are afraid of things. Fear only becomes a phobia when you begin to organise your life around avoiding your fear.

If you have a phobia, you’ll have an overwhelming need to avoid all contact with the source of your anxiety. Coming into contact with the thing you’re afraid of will cause you to feel anxiety and/or panic. Sometimes just thinking about it can cause these feelings.

Phobias can be caused by many things, including:

• animals
• objects
• places
• situations

If the cause of your phobia is an object or animal that you don’t see regularly, it’s unlikely to affect your day-to-day life. But, if you encounter the cause of your phobia regularly, you may find it very difficult to lead a normal life.

Simple phobias

Simple phobias are fears about specific objects, animals, situations or activities. Some common examples include:

• dogs
• spiders (arachnophobia)
• snakes
• enclosed spaces (claustrophobia)
• dentists
• flying

While some people are able to manage their fears, others will need help and support to tackle the problem.

Complex phobias

Complex phobias can have a bigger impact than simple phobias. This is because they’re often associated with a deep-rooted fear or anxiety about a particular circumstance or situation.

Speaking to a GP about your anxiety may help to identify a complex phobia.

Two common examples of complex phobias are agoraphobia and social phobia.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is a fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult, or where help wouldn’t be available if things go wrong.

Agoraphobia often involves a combination of several connected phobias. Someone with agoraphobia may also fear being left alone (monophobia). They might also fear places where they feel trapped (claustrophobia).

This means someone with agoraphobia may find it difficult to:

• travel on public transport
• visit a shopping centre
• leave home (in extreme cases)

Some people feel very apprehensive and anxious if they have to leave their home to visit the shops. Others may feel relatively comfortable travelling a short distance from their home.

Social phobia

If you have social phobia, you may experience fear of:

• being in social situations, like weddings
• performing in social situations, like public speaking
• leaving home because of the risk of meeting people (in extreme cases)

If you have a social phobia, the thought of being seen in public can make you feel very anxious and frightened. These situations can make you feel vulnerable.

Intentionally avoiding meeting people in social situations is a sign of social phobia.

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.