Phobias
Overview
Everyone has fears, but phobias are specific, intense fears that impede one's ability to conduct activities of day-to-day life. Common phobias include fears of spiders, snakes, heights, and flying. Phobias must persist for six months or longer to be officially diagnosed.
Phobias can manifest for multiple reasons, and some research suggests that there are both environmental and genetic factors. Traumatic early life experiences can lead to phobias, as can observing others' fears or hearing other people talk about them. Yet these types of exposures will not always result in phobia development—life experiences can have different effects on different people.
Exposure therapy, or gradually exposing oneself to the thing you're afraid of, remains the leading phobia treatment approach, and virtual reality advances are making it more accessible. Other treatment and management options include cognitive behavioral therapy and medication to support phobia symptoms.
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