ABSTRACT
For some people, their levels of anxiety are much higher than those people with panic attacks or social anxiety, and their anxiety becomes centred on, or central to, one or two specific areas. These people suffer from what are called "phobias", and they can experience irrational terror, dread, or panic whenever they are confronted with the feared object, situation, or activity. Physical symptoms often accompany the intense anxiety of phobias and include blushing, profuse sweating, or trembling, as well as general symptoms of anxiety, including difficulty talking, nausea, or other stomach discomforts. Phobias usually arise from a combination of external events and various internal predispositions. Some specific phobias can be traced back to a specific triggering event, usually a traumatic experience at an early age. Various forms of treatment seem to be effective for the very different phobias. These can include medication, or specific forms of short-term psychotherapy, sometimes based on cognitive-behavioural therapy.
