The American Psychological Association defines a phobia as a persistent and irrational fear of a specific situation, object, or activity (e.g., heights, dogs, water, blood, driving, flying), which is consequently either strenuously avoided or endured with marked distress. When people have a phobia, they shape their lives to avoid exposure to whatever they deem dangerous. Here is some information about phobias from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America:
Common Phobias
- Social phobias – fear of interactions
- Trypophobia – fear of circle clusters
- Atychiphobia – fear of failure
- Thanatophobia – fear of death
- Nosophobia – fear of developing a disease
- Arachnophobia – fear of spiders
- Vehophobia – fear of driving
- Claustrophobia – fear of enclosed spaces
- Acrophobia – fear of heights
- Aerophobia – fear of flying
Phobia Statistics
- Specific phobias affect 19.3 million adults or 9.1 percent of the U.S. population. (NIMH: Specific Phobias.)
- Women are twice as likely to be affected than men
- Symptoms typically begin in childhood; the average age of onset is seven years old
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are closely related to anxiety disorders, which some may experience at the same time, along with depression
Call Us Today!
Saber Psychiatry evaluates and treats children and adults with psychiatric disorders, including phobias. We are currently accepting new patients ages 2 to 65. Call 615.678.7839 to schedule an appointment.