Fear is a natural and necessary feeling for people (and animals). Fear is the physical and emotional response to a perceived danger.  The level of fear is related to the amount of risk of imminent harm. For example, if a person without a phobia went to the top of the Statue of Liberty in New York into the crown, they might have butterflies as they look out into the water and see how far up they are. They know they are protected by high walls and thick glass, and can override the internal sense of being high up and enjoy looking at the amazing views. They can reassure themselves that the walls and glass reduce the risk of imminent harm enough for them to relax.  However, someone with a phobic response will be unable to travel up the narrow stairs to get to the crown of the statue. A person would become overwhelmed with intense fear, paralysis and panic over the thoughts of going up to the crown. The thoughts would create a racing heart, sweating palms, intense desire to run away from the fear. A person may have a feeling of being lightheaded or dizzy. If a person with a phobia of heights was shown a video of someone going up to the top of the statue, they would have a visceral response. The person may look way and refuse to watch, even though there is no danger for them. Movies that include scenes of people standing on the bow of a ship, or jumping off a rocky cliff into clear blue water or a video shot from a drone could create such intense fear that a person would need to close their eyes until the images were gone. The phobia may prevent people from flying in an airplane, getting into an elevator with glass walls or even going up an escalator.

When fear becomes so intense that it interferes with people’s ability to function, it is considered a phobia. It is considered an intense and irrational level of fear. Some of the most common phobias are Claustrophobia (fear of being constricted in a confined place), Zoophobia (fear of certain animals/inspects/snakes), Acrophobia (fear of heights), and Emetophobia (fear of vomiting.

Treatment for these types of intense and irrational fears often includes Cognitive/Behavioral Therapy. This approach helps the person become less reactive to thoughts and physical symptoms when in situations that caused the phobic experience. The approach is not to remove any or all fear, but to prevent the fear from becoming so intense the person’s level of functioning in everyday life is impaired. A healthy and reasonable amount of fear of situations that include a risk of imminent harm is normal. An intense and irrational fear, a phobic response, is not.