What is Specific Phobia?
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People with Specific Phobia suffer intense fear and sometimes panic attacks in the presence or anticipation of certain triggers. These triggers can come from a wide variety of categories, and the resulting anxiety far exceeds any real danger. Some of the most well known phobias are snakes, spiders, and heights, but people can also fear numbers, cell phones, or even bad breath. People are aware that their fear is unwarranted but are unable to control it.
To observers, people with Specific Phobia appear to avoid, without reason, seemingly innocuous situations. Think walking several flights of stairs instead of taking the elevator. They may even base major life choices around avoiding their phobias. They might turn down a promotion if it requires flying or refuse to move to a new home in a high-rise building because of fear of heights.
With a phobic trigger in their immediate presence, they will keep their distance and appear visibly anxious, sweating, breathing quickly, or trembling. Full panic attacks may follow, and they suffer rapid-onset episodes of chest tightness, intense anxiety, rapid breathing, and nausea.
Relative to other anxiety disorders, Specific Phobia is very treatable and has a generally very good prognosis. Although this is, of course, dependent on previous level of functioning, support system, and ability to engage in treatment. Left untreated, however, functional impairments are similar to those from other anxiety disorders as well as substance use disorders. The degree of impairment is directly proportional to the number of different phobias.