But when they don't go away with time, they may be a sign of anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders come in many forms and may be experienced differently in each person. However, their common factor is a feeling of constant terror, dread or worry beyond one's normal reactions to danger. Phobias are irrational fears of objects or situations which cannot be overcome with reasonable explanations or actions. Not to be confused with simple childhood fears that go away with time, like a fear of the dark, phobias are so extreme that they cause major disruption to the victim's life.
Specific phobias are typically fears of particular objects or situations.
The most common are fears of animals, fears of heights, fears of enclosed spaces and fears of flying. Social phobias cause people to dread being watched or humiliated while doing something of a social nature, such as eating a meal or giving a speech, due to expectation of negative evaluation. Some people with social phobias fear and avoid any contact with others. People with agoraphobia often have panic attacks and fear being in situations in which they cannot get help or escape. Often, this paralyzing fear causes its sufferers to remain isolated in their homes.