Explain what phobias are, describing their common features. Also, describe specific phobia, social phobia, and agoraphobia.

Phobia

Phobias are the irrational fear which has been attached symbolically to a situation or an object, which in turn might cause danger or little or no danger. The behavior connected with a phobia is where we strongly avoid the situation which is connected with the phobia with the intense feelings anxiety, panic, or loss of control.

Common features

Phobias are generally formed during childhood, as they develop this leaves the mind with a strong fear. There are many kinds of phobia, where in general they are mostly underreported, as they find ways to overcome the situation

Specific phobia

When a person is a fear of a particular situation or an object such as intense fear of dogs, or flying or heights, these are considered as specific phobias. Specific phobias could be categorized as environmental related (water, thunder, height), animal, blood, injury, needle, and situational related such as flying lifts, etc.

Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)

Social phobia is fear of how others might see you when you’re in social or public situations. Others include, how others would think of you, and the strong feeling that you may be noticed when you are doing something or fear of being judged by others. Example: when attending the parties, people who suffer from this disorder, feels that she may be noticed.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is unrelenting fear of being outside such as situation, activity or thing which causes phobia and wanted to avoid it. An example includes fear of hearing voices or fear of being near people.