Fear is a powerful factor in anxiety disorders. People with anxiety disorders may pay more attention to fears that others brush aside. They also tend to have irrational, unexplainable fears. This is especially the case for people with phobias.

A phobia can be defined as an inordinate and overpowering fear of an otherwise harmless object or situation. Phobias are extremely stressful, both physically and psychologically. They can affect ability to function normally in several settings, from work to social environments. There are several types of phobias, such as the excessive fear of spiders, closed spaces, open spaces, social situations, heights, dentists, and driving. The emotions that overcome phobic individuals are so powerful that the dreaded situation or thing is avoided at all costs. A person with a phobia will cause great inconvenience to themselves and others in an attempt at evasion. The emotions they experience include feelings of uncontrollable anxiety, a great desire to avoid, and paralyzing fear. There are several physical reactions, including pounding heartbeat, trouble breathing, sweating, and feelings of panic. People with phobias usually don’t know why they fear something and are aware that their fears are irrational. However, they feel that the fears are beyond their control.

Researchers do not know what exactly causes phobias in people. Though, it seems that at least some phobias are learned as there is a connection between the phobias of children and their parents. Like other anxiety disorders, phobias may be caused or aggravated by chemical imbalances, genetic predisposition, and traumatic experiences. Phobias are most likely to happen to teenager girls and young adult women, although they can happen to anyone. People with phobias may isolate themselves in an attempt to avoid things and situations that bring about intense fear. This is not just true of those with social phobia; a person who fears spiders or ants may avoid going outside fearing an encounter. People with phobias are also prone to depression and substance abuse to deal with the stress of their situation.The most common phobias are:

1. Arachnophobia: The fear of spiders.

2. Ophidiophobia: The fear of snakes.

3. Acrophobia: The fear of heights.

4. Agoraphobia: The fear of situations in which escape is difficult. This may include crowded areas, open spaces, or situations that are likely to trigger a panic attack. Approximately one third of people with panic disorder develop agoraphobia.

5. Cynophobia: The fear of dogs.

6. Astraphobia: The fear of thunder and lightening.

7. Trypanophobia: The fear of injections.

8. Social Phobias: The fear of social situations. In many cases, these phobias can become so severe that people avoid events, places, and people that are likely to trigger an anxiety attack.

9. Pteromerhanophobia: The fear of flying.

10. Mysophobia: The fear of germs or dirt, usually related to obsessive-compulsive disorder.