Health Conditions

Phobias are the most common form of anxiety disorders. Between 8.7% and 18.1% of Americans suffer from phobias. Among women in all age groups, phobias were the most common mental illness, while, among men older than 25 phobias, were the second most common mental illness. Specific phobias can be classified into different subtypes. There are animal type (e.g. snakes, dogs, spiders, etc.) and situational type (e.g. flying, bridges, elevators, etc.) phobias. Another phobia type is the blood-injection type (e.g. blood, injury, medical procedures, etc.) while there are phobic sufferers whose fears are the natural environment type (e.g. heights, water, storms, etc.). One specific phobia, agoraphobia, is often associated with panic disorder. Agoraphobia is a fear of being in public or open places. In patients with agoraphobia and panic disorder the phobia is usually due to a fear that any situation might provoke a panic attack, or that escape from the area may be difficult if one occurred.

Around 5% to 12% of Americans suffer from phobias. An adult with a phobia can be aware that his or her fears are excessive or unreasonable but still be unable to overcome those fears. The exact cause of phobias is unknown, but most phobias appear to be related to a traumatic event or a learned reaction to a situation. Only about 20% of specific phobias in adults resolve without treatment.

Phobias appear to run in families and are a little more prevalent in women. Phobias usually first appear in adolescence or adulthood, but can occur in any person regardless of age. Childhood phobias, like a fear of animals, usually disappear over time. But in some cases, for unknown reasons, they may continue into adulthood. Symptoms of specific phobias include excessive fear of a specific object or situation, nausea, sweating, pounding heart, anticipatory anxiety of certain upcoming situations, shortness of breath, numbness or tingling, and avoidance of the specific object or situation.

Patients with specific phobias are generally symptom free unless faced with their fears. These patients adjust their lives and activities in order to avoid the feared objects.

Social phobias are fears involving other people or social situations such as performance anxiety or fears of embarrassment by scrutiny of others, such as eating in public. Although this disorder is often thought of as shyness, the two are not the same. A shy person can be uneasy around others, but does not experience extreme anxiety when they think about a social situation. A person with a social phobia may not be shy at all. Only in a particular situation, like giving a speech, do they experience intense anxiety. Social phobia can disrupt normal life and interfere with a person's career or social relationships. The dread of a social event can begin weeks in advance, and symptoms can be quite debilitating.

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Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.