What Is The Difference Between Anxiety And Phobia?

— -- Question: What is the difference between anxiety and phobia?

Answer: A phobia is a type of anxiety. It's an irrational, unreasonable fear of an object or situation. Common phobias may be fear of the heights, dark, fear of certain animals such as snakes or spiders, or fear of blood -- some people get frightened of having their blood drawn when they go to see their doctor.

Many of us have these and often they originate in childhood. But they becomes a phobic disorder -- or known as specific phobia -- when that fear is so great and the worry about encountering a snake or a spider or a dark place makes our life miserable and makes us unable to function.

Next: In What Disorders Do People Experience Abnormal Or Excessive Anxiety?

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