Phobia

Phobia is a persistent, intense and irrational fear of an object or situation. A person with a phobia has a compelling desire to avoid the object or situation that provokes the fear. Phobias may be specific (such as the fear of an object or situation) or social (such as the fear of being embarrassed, looked at, or made fun of). Agoraphobia is the only phobia that is treated as a medical condition. People with phobias know that they don’t make sense but they cannot help themselves. Symptoms of a phobia include dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, a sense of unreality, a fear of dying, and even a full scale anxiety attack. Treatment options include medication, cognitive behavioural therapy, behavioural therapy, and desensitization.