Do you have an intense fear for animals, heights, blood,
injections, planes? Would you rather climb ten flights than to
get into a lift? If so, you may be suffering from a phobia. All
people have fears or situations they would rather avoid. It is
part of everyday life. Some people are frightened by job
interviews. Others are uncomfortable to be home alone at night.
Most people manage to control their fears and go about their
normal activities. But for some people, anxieties and fears are
overwhelming and persistent. Normal coping mechanisms don't
work, and the need to avoid the objects or situations that cause
anxiety can be so intense that they drastically interfere with
daily life. Sometimes people may make important career or
personal decisions to avoid a phobic situation. Others may
refuse to go to the doctor for fear of having blood drawn.
Phobias aren’t just extreme fear, they are irrational fear.
Adults with phobias realise their fears are irrational, but
often facing, or even thinking about facing, th