People with generalized anxiety disorder feel anxious, sleepless, irritable and physically stressed, more often than not, to a level that interferes with daily functioning. Phobias are irrational fears of objects or situations which cannot be overcome with reasonable explanations or actions. In some instances the phobias are so extreme that they cause major disruption to the victim's life. The life-time risk is up to 25 percent. For the most part, phobia sufferers don't seek treatment - they simply avoid the object of fear.
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.