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What are situational phobias?

Donna Hill Howes, RN
Donna Hill Howes, RN
Family Practitioner
answer

A situational phobia is a type of specific phobic disorder in which an irrational fear of a particular situation causes an intense physical and emotional reaction. Unlike reasonable fear associated with real-life danger, the phobia creates an excessive and irrational fear that interferes with an individual's daily life. People with situational phobias may even know that their fears are irrational, but the intense physical response to the situation is very real and may include such symptoms as panic, terror, trembling, hyperventilating, and avoidance of the trigger. Common situational phobias include the fear of confined spaces, open places, heights, flying, dentists, and needles.

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