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Phobias A phobia is an excessive or unreasonable fear of an object, place or situation. Simple phobias are fears of specific things such as insects, infections, flying. Claustrophobia is a fear of being in confined spaces, where one feels "trapped" or unable to get out, such as in crowds, in a lift, or standing in a queue. A social phobia is a fear of social or performance situations. Phobias are extremely common. Sometimes they start in childhood, maybe as a learnt response from someone else; sometimes they emerge after a traumatic event; When the phobic person actually encounters, or even anticipates being in the presence of the feared object or situation, s/he experiences immediate anxiety. The physical symptoms of anxiety may include a racing heart, shortness of breath, sweating, chest or abdominal discomfort, shaking, etc. Commonly people try to escape, and then to avoid the feared situation wherever possible. This may be easy if the feared object is rarely encountered (e.g. fear of snakes) and avoidance will not therefore restrict the person's life very much. At other times (e.g. agoraphobia or social phobia) avoiding the feared situation limits their life. Escape and avoidance also make the feared object/situation more frightening the next time you encounter it. But learning to be with that situation in a comfortable way, is a great way of finally beating that phobia.Tel;
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