A phobia is a persistent, overwhelming fear of a particular object, animal, activity, or situation. Exposure to the object of the phobia leads to intense anxiety accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, sweating, trembling, and breathlessness.
A person with a phobia has such a compelling desire to avoid the source of the phobia that it interferes with normal life.
Most phobias can be successfully treated with desensitization therapy, which involves gradual exposure to the source of the phobia, psychotherapy, or counseling. Anti-anxiety medication may also be prescribed in some cases