Specific Phobias
Topic Overview
A specific phobia is an extreme fear of a specific object or situation that is not harmful under usual conditions. People with specific phobias may be afraid of:
- Common objects, such as animals or insects. For example, they may fear dying after being bitten by a spider (arachnophobia).
- Natural events. For example, they may fear thunder and being struck by lightning (astrapophobia), drowning in water (hydrophobia), or falling from high places (acrophobia).
- Common situations. For example, they may fear being closed in (claustrophobia) or they may fear crashing when flying in an airplane.
- Seeing blood (hemophobia). People who have this phobia often faint when they need to give a blood sample, have an operation, or are in pain.
Related Information
Credits
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Christine R. Maldonado, PhD - Behavioral Health
Current as ofMay 3, 2017
- Top of Page
Next Section:
Related Information
Previous Section:
Topic Overview- Top of Page
Next Section:
Credits
Previous Section:
Related Information- Top of Page
Current as of: May 3, 2017
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & Christine R. Maldonado, PhD - Behavioral Health