Pounding heart, chest pains, lightheadedness or dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, shaking or trembling, choking, fear of dying, sweating, feelings of unreality, numbness or tingling, hot flashes or chills, and a feeling of going out of control or going crazy. Either four attacks within 4 weeks or one or more attacks followed by at least a month of persistent fear of having another attack. A minimum of four of the symptoms listed above developed during at least one of the attacks. Sometimes a combination of therapy and medication is the most effective approach to helping people manage their symptoms. But phobias are irrational fears that lead people to avoid altogether specific things or situations that trigger intense anxiety.
Phobias occur in several forms.
Specific phobia is an unfounded fear of a particular object or situation-such as being afraid of dogs yet loving to ride horses or avoiding highway driving yet being able to drive on city and country roads. Agoraphobia is the fear of being in any situation that might trigger a panic attack and from which escape might be difficult. Many people who have agoraphobia become housebound. Others avoid open spaces, standing in line, or being in a crowd. Social phobia is a fear of being extremely embarrassed in front of other people.