Modern Health Observation

There are three main types of phobia:

Specific phobia (simple phobia): In this most common form of phobia, people fear specific animals (dogs, cats, spiders, snakes), people (clowns, dentists, doctors), environments (dark places, thunderstorms, high places) or situations (flying, riding a train or stay in an enclosed area). These are at least partly genetic (inherited) and partly run in families.

Social phobia (social anxiety disorder): people with social phobia fear social situations where they might be humiliated, embarrassed or judged by others, and become particularly anxious when strangers. Fear could be limited to performance, such as lecture, concert or business presentation. Or it could be generalized, hence avoiding the phobic part in many social settings, such as eating in public or use a public restroom. Social phobia runs in families, the people who were shy or lonely children or who had a history of unhappy or negative social experiences in childhood, seem more likely to have phobia.

Agoraphobia is the fear of being in public places where it would be difficult or uncomfortable to leave suddenly. The person with agoraphobia may avoid going to a movie or concert or travel by bus or train. In many cases, the person has unexpected panic attacks (attacks a group of intense, unpleasant physical symptoms such as tremor, palpitations and sweating).

Phobias in children occur most commonly between 5 and 9 years and tend to last a short time. Most long-term phobias manifest later, especially in people aged 20 years. Phobias in adults tend to last for many years and is unlikely to disappear by themselves. Without proper treatment, the phobia may increase the risk that the adult suffers from other types of psychiatric illness, especially other anxiety disorders, including depression and substance abuse.

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