Phobias

The signs and symptoms of a specific phobia are:

• an intense, persistent fear or anxiety associated with a specific object, activity or situation that is out of proportion with the actual degree of danger
• avoidance of the feared situation, object, or activity
• the avoidance or anxiety associated with the object, activity or situation impacts on daily life
• the anxiety and avoidance have been experienced for at least 6 months or more

Specific phobias can often arise in childhood or early adolescence.