What is a phobia?

A phobia is an extreme fear of something that:

• is out of proportion to the threat posed
• causes distress that greatly affects your life
• causes you to actively avoid the object or situation

Most phobias relate to specific things. There is also social phobia, which is also called social anxiety disorder.

What is social phobia?

Social phobia is a fear of being criticised, embarrassed or humiliated. You may have this feeling even in everyday situations.

Social phobia may involve a fear of a specific social situation, such as:

• speaking or performing in public
• eating in front of other people
• meeting new people

If you have social anxiety, you might avoid social situations as much as possible. If you must attend an event, you may feel distressed the whole time.

Social anxiety can cause problems at work and school, as well as in your social life.

This disorder often starts in childhood.

What are specific phobias?

Specific phobias are fears caused by a specific object or situation. The fear is very intense and can cause a great deal of anxiety.

Common phobias include fear of:

• certain animals, such as snakes or insects
• certain environmental situations such as storms, heights, or water
• blood, needles or medical procedures
• certain situations, such as flying, driving, or being on bridges or in tunnels
• other things, like choking

What symptoms are related to a phobia?

When you are exposed to the object you fear, you may have intense anxiety. This can happen even when you think about the thing you fear.

You may also:

• have difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• feel depressed
• sweat a lot
• have a fast heartbeat
• have fast breathing
• have a tremor

Why do people develop phobias?

There are several theories about why people develop phobias.

Most of the time, people develop phobias about something that does have some risk. This may be evolutionary in keeping us safe. You don't have to have come across something to develop a phobia of it.

You may also have a higher chance of having a phobia if you:

• are female
• are aged between 5 and 12 years old
• have a mood disorder
• have a family member with a phobia

You are more likely to be afraid of birds, if a family member is afraid of birds.

A phobia can also result from a bad experience.

Children may have traumatic experiences seeing other people get hurt or getting hurt themselves.

A child may develop a phobia of dogs after being attacked or seeing someone else attacked by a dog.

This is different from post-traumatic stress disorder, where a traumatic experience causes other symptoms like flashbacks.

When should I see my doctor?

If you experience a fear that is disrupting your normal life, speak to your doctor.

How are phobias diagnosed?

Doctors and other mental health professionals can diagnose phobias by asking about your:

• symptoms and how long you have had them
• past experiences
• lifestyle
• general health

Fear of danger is normal and healthy when it matches the actual danger posed by an object or situation.

To be diagnosed as having a phobia, your fear must:

• be excessive for the actual danger posed
• cause distress that affects your life
• cause you to actively avoid things related to your fear

The phobia may affect your ability to function:

• at work
• at school
• in public
• in social situations

You may be diagnosed with a phobia if you have symptoms for 6 months or more.

How are phobias treated?

Both social phobia and specific phobias usually respond to treatment.

A common treatment is known as exposure treatment. Learning to calm your nerves while being gradually exposed to the feared object or situation.

Your mental health professional will support you during the exposure. They will help you practice calming strategies.

Other treatments include:

• psychological therapies such as cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
• medicines such as antidepressants including serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and benzodiazepines(for a short time)
• relaxation techniques

Certain medicines can be helpful if you are learning how to confront your phobia.

Other medicines are taken right before being exposed to a situation likely to trigger anxiety.

Relaxation techniques can help to control the anxiety you experience when you confront your phobia. These techniques can also be helpful when used alongside psychological therapy. Relaxation techniques include:

• breathing techniques such as slowly breathing out
• learning yoga
• meditation
• mindfulness

A mental health professional can help you learn how to manage your anxiety or distress.

What are the complications of a phobia?

A phobia can last for a long time and disrupt your everyday life if left untreated.

If you have a phobia, you may also experience other mental health complications, such as anxiety disorders and depression.

Can phobias be prevented?

Because the cause of a phobia is often not clear, it's difficult to prevent.

Treatment for a phobia can prevent it from seriously impacting your everyday life.

Resources and support

If you are struggling with a phobia, there are different organisations that can help.

The Australian Psychological Society offers information on phobias, treatment options and contacts for people seeking help.

ReachOut provides support for young people, parents and schools — and offers the opportunity to chat with a peer worker.

Beyond Blue offers advice on anxiety, social anxiety and treatment options for anxiety.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Languages other than English

There are resources available in different languages.

Transcultural Mental Health Centre and the Health Translations website both have resources about wellbeing and mental health in different languages.

The 'What is Anxiety?' fact sheet from Embrace Multicultural Mental Health is available in different languages. The Way Ahead website also has translated fact sheets about anxiety.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

Mental health information and resources are available through WellMob, and Yarn Safe.

You can also call the 13YARN crisis line on 13 92 76 or visit their website.