The Difference Between Fear and Phobia (Mental Health Guru)

Source - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tEIh_fJ_9g

 A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder and is defined as an intense irrational fear of a particular situation, object, animal or activity. People who suffer from a phobia may experience extreme emotional and physical reactions when encountering their particular fear. There's a big difference between temporary anxiety that's experienced occasionally and the often crippling uncontrollable fear that can result in a person going to a great lengths to avoid their phobia.

 Phobias various symptoms

1) Rapid heartbeat
2) Dizziness
3) Shortness of breath
4) Excessive sweating
5) Trembling
6) Weakness

Most people with phobia realize their fear is excessive and irrational but they typically are unable to overcome their feelings of dread and the often desperate need to escape the subject of their phobia. Ultimately this may interfere with the ability to function in daily life.

3 Main categories of phobia 

1) Specific/simple phobia - irrational fear of a very specific situation, animal or object (fear of dog, spider, etc)

2) Social phobia - anxiety disorder - intensely fearful of being singled out, talking to strangers, ridicule, eating or showing embarrassment in social situations (e.g. fear of public speaking)

3) Agoraphobia - fear of any situation where it may be difficult to escape or get help if needed. They feel unsafe in any public place and maybe comes so disabled by their fear that they become housebound.

Phobias are the most common anxiety disorder among women and the second most common anxiety disorder among men over twenty five. For people who suffer from phovia the effects can be life altering. Their lives are often planned around avoiding, concealing or defending their phobia while struggling to cope with their fear. Most phobias can be successfully treated.

(Note - text is based from the transcript of the video)

Resources 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phobia

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/phobia_symptoms_types_treatment.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_phobias