Specific Phobia

Specific phobia is defined as a lasting and significant fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation (e.g. flying, heights, animals, receiving an injection, seeing blood). The fear or anxiety is out of proportion and unreasonable with regard to the actual danger posed by the specific object or situation.

• Active avoidance of phobic object or situation or intense fear or anxiety endured.
• Immediate fear or anxiety almost always triggered by phobic object or situation.
• In children, the fear or anxiety may be expressed by crying, tantrums, freezing, or clinging.
• Persistent fear, anxiety, or avoidance, usually lasting for six months or more and causing clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other vital areas of functioning.

Treatments for simple phobia include cognitive behavioural therapy, medication and relaxation techniques.