What Are Fear and Phobia?
Fear is an emotional and physiological response to the unknown. It is a learned behaviour, and many of us develop fears of things that are not truly a threat to our survival.
Phobias, on the other hand, are a more intense and irrational fear of specific objects, activities, or situations. They are surprisingly common, affecting about one in eight people. There are 289 recognised phobias, according to medical sources, with symptoms ranging from sweaty palms, increased heart rate, and anxiety to full-blown panic attacks in extreme cases.
Phobias can be thought of as a “fear of fear.” Some common examples include: