A phobia is an irrational fear, the individual has a relentless dread of a situation, living creature, place, or thing.
Individuals with a phobia go to great lengths to avoid a perceived danger which is much greater in their minds than in real life.
If confronted with the source of their phobia, the person will suffer enormous distress, which can interfere with their normal function; it can sometimes lead to total panic.
For some people, even thinking about their phobia is immensely distressing.
A phobia starts when a person begins organizing their lives around avoiding the object of their fear. A phobia is much more serious than a simple fear. People with a phobia have an overpowering need to steer clear of anything which triggers their anxiety.
The good news is that with proper treatment, most phobias can be cured. Treatment needs to be customised to every patient for it to work - no single treatment works for everybody.
Psychologist may recommend behaviour therapy. Therapy is aimed at reducing the symptoms of fear and anxiety, and to help patients manage their reactions to the source of their fear and completely come over it in due course of time.