Phobias

Phobia is defined as the intense and persistent fear, that is excessive and released by the presence or anticipation of an object or situation, such as animals, air travel, injections, blood view, heights, etc.

Two separate categories of phobias are social phobia and agoraphobia.

Social phobia is characterized by persistent fear of the person for one or more social situations or situations in which the person should act in public or they are exposed to unfamiliar people and potential criticism. The person fears that they will act in a way (or that they will express anxiety symptoms) that will humiliate them or cause them to feel embarrassed.

In the case of agoraphobia, the person expresses intense fear and anxiety when in places where escape is difficult or where help would be impossible if panic attack symptoms appeared. Such places or situations may be travelling on public transport such as buses, enclosed spaces such as cinemas, as well as to be in queues or being unaccompanied outside the house.