Is this a fear or a phobia?

Fear and phobia are terms often used interchangeably, but they are very different experiences. Fear is a natural emotional response to a real or a perceived threat. It serves a vital purpose by alerting us to danger, prompting us to take necessary actions to protect ourselves. For example, feeling fear when facing a lunging, barking dog or standing at the edge of a cliff is an appropriate reaction that can help keep us safe.

However, a phobia is an irrational and excessive fear of a specific object, situation or activity that significantly interferes with a person’s daily life. Phobias are classified as anxiety disorders and can provoke intense feelings of panic and dread that are disproportionate to the actual threat. For instance, someone with a phobia of spiders (arachnophobia) may experience debilitating anxiety at the mere thought of a spider, even if there isn’t a spider anywhere near. Or fear of open or crowded spaces (agoraphobia). Fear can lead to avoidance behaviours, where the individual goes to great lengths to steer clear of situations that might expose them to their phobia.

While fear can be a healthy and protective response, phobias often require professional treatment, such as Hypnotherapy, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), sometimes it could be helped with Exposure Therapy. Understanding the difference between fear and phobia is essential for recognizing when fear becomes an overwhelming barrier in a person’s life, Fear can be treated with a therapist if wanted, and very often is, however phobia prompts the actual need for support and intervention.