Symptoms

Symptoms of having a specific phobia often include uncomfortable and terrifying feelings of anxiety:

  • a feeling of imminent danger or doom
  • the need to escape
  • heart palpitations
  • sweating
  • trembling
  • shortness of breath or a smothering feeling
  • a feeling of choking
  • chest pain or discomfort
  • nausea or abdominal discomfort
  • feeling faint, dizzy or lightheaded
  • a sense of things being unreal, depersonalization
  • a fear of losing control or “going crazy”
  • a fear of dying
  • tingling sensation
  • chills or heat flush

Screen yourself or a family member for a specific phobia.

It’s important to note the difference between everyday anxiety and a phobia:


Everyday Anxiety

Phobia
Feeling queasy while climbing a tall ladder Refusing to attend your best friend’s wedding because it’s on the 25th floor of a hotel
Worrying about taking off in an airplane during a lightning storm Turning down a big promotion because it involves air travel
Feeling anxious around your neighbor’s pit bull Avoiding visiting your neighbors for fear of seeing a dog

 

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