A phobia is an overwhelming and debilitating fear of an object, place, situation, feeling or animal, even when there is no danger

Phobias are more pronounced than fears. They usually develop when a person has an exaggerated or unrealistic sense of danger about a situation or object.

Many of us have fears about particular objects or situations, and this is perfectly normal. A fear becomes a phobia if:

• the fear is out of proportion to the danger

• it lasts for more than six months

• it has a significant impact on how you live your day-to-day life

Phobias can become very severe, which will result in you having to reorganise your life, trying to avoid the thing/situation that is causing the anxiety.

Even thinking about the source of a phobia can make you feel anxious or panicky. This is what is known as anticipatory anxiety.

Symptoms may include:

• unsteadiness, dizziness and lightheadedness

• nausea

• sweating

• increased heart rate or palpitations

• shortness of breath

• trembling or shaking

• an upset stomach

If you do not come into contact with the source of your phobia very often, it may not affect your everyday life.

However, if you have a complex phobia, leading a normal life may be very difficult.

Types of phobia

There are a wide variety of objects or situations that someone could develop a phobia about. However, phobias can be divided into two main categories:

• specific or simple phobias

• complex phobias

Specific or simple phobias

Specific or simple phobias centre around a particular object, animal, situation or activity. Common examples of simple phobias include:

• animal phobias – such as dogs, spiders, snakes or rodents

• environmental phobias – such as heights, deep water and germs

• situational phobias – such as visiting the dentist, presenting or flying

• bodily phobias – such as blood, vomit or having injections

• sexual phobias – such as performance anxiety

Complex phobias

Complex phobias tend to be more disabling than simple phobias and are often associated with a deep-rooted fear or anxiety about a particular situation or circumstance.

What causes phobias?

Phobias do not always have a single cause, there could be a number of factors that contribute to this, for example:-

• a phobia could be associated with a certain incident or trauma

• a phobia could  be response that you have learned in early life from a parent or sibling

Diagnosing phobias

Phobias are not always formally diagnosed. Most people with a phobia know that they have a problem.

You could choose to live with a phobia, and attempt to avoid the object or situation you are scared of. In the long term, this could make the situation worse.

How common are phobias?

Phobias are very common and can affect anyone, regardless of age, sex or social background. Some of the most common phobias include:

• arachnophobia – fear of spiders

• claustrophobia – fear of confined spaces

• agoraphobia – fear of open spaces and public places

• social phobia – fear of social situations

When should I get help?

It can be difficult to know when to seek treatment for a phobia. If avoidance of the object, activity or situation that triggers your phobia does interfere with your everyday life, or keeps you from doing things you would otherwise enjoy, it may be time to seek help.

Consider getting treatment for your phobia if:

• it causes intense and disabling fear, anxiety or panic

• you recognise that your fear is out of proportion to the danger

• you avoid certain situations and places because of your phobia

• your avoidance interferes with your normal routine or causes significant distress

• it stops you getting support for other health problems – for example, it stops you using the phone or seeing the doctor

• you have had the phobia for at least six months

A phobia is only as big or small as we choose make it, and it can be beaten.