Phobias

A phobia is an extreme or irrational fear of something that most people are not afraid of, such as heights, flying, spiders, crowds or social situations. Even the thought of coming into contact with the cause of the phobia can cause sufferers to become extremely anxious and panicky. Although they may be able to acknowledge that their fear is out of proportion to the true danger or threat, they are still unable to control it.

Phobias affect 13% of women and 4% of men, and in some cases can cause considerable disruption to daily life.

In this section, we take a closer look at what can cause this condition, along with details about specific types of phobia. There's also information on the symptoms they cause, and the methods that may be used to diagnose and treat them.