What are phobias?

Phobias are an intense fear of certain situations or objects. Some of these fears may make
level of fear doesn’t match the situation.

Like with other anxiety disorders, you may spend a lot of time trying to avoid situations tha

A specific phobia, or a simple phobia, is an intense fear of a particular object or situation. It

Some specific phobias include fear of:

Animals, such as spiders, dogs or snakes.

Blood.
Flying.
Heights.
Injections (shots).

Social anxiety disorder

Healthcare providers used to call this condition social phobia. You may have overwhelming
situations. You may worry about others judging you or you may be anxious that you’ll emb
People with social anxiety disorder may avoid social situations entirely.

Agoraphobia

If you have agoraphobia, you may have an intense fear of being overwhelmed or unable to get help. Usually, you have a fear o

Enclosed spaces.
Lines or crowds.
Open spaces.
Places outside your house.
Public transportation.

In severe situations, a person with agoraphobia may not leave the house at all. They’re so t
they prefer to stay inside.

What is separation anxiety disorder?

This condition mostly happens to children or teens, who may worry about being away from
disorder may fear that their parents will be hurt in some way or not come back as promised
children and adults who experience a stressful event may have separation anxiety disorder

How common are anxiety disorders?

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions in the U.S. They affect ab
30% of adults at some point. Anxiety disorders most often begin in childhood, adolescence

How do anxiety disorders affect children?

It’s normal for children to feel some amount of anxiety, worry or fear at certain points. For
thunderstorm or barking dog. A teenager might get anxious about an upcoming test or sch

But sometimes, children approach these situations with overwhelming dread or they can’t
these events. It may seem that none of your comforts help. These children often get “stuck
their daily activities, like going to school, playing and falling asleep. They’re extremely relu

When thinking about your child’s anxiety levels, “getting stuck” is key. It separates the regu
that needs professional help. If the anxiety or worry interferes with your child’s ability to fu

SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES

What causes anxiety disorders?

Anxiety disorders are like other forms of mental illness. They don’t come from personal we
upbringing. But researchers don’t know exactly what causes anxiety disorders. They suspe

Chemical imbalance: Severe or long-lasting stress can change the chemical balance that
over a long period can lead to an anxiety disorder.
Environmental factors: Experiencing a trauma might trigger an anxiety disorder, especia
start.
Heredity: Anxiety disorders tend to run in families. You may inherit them from one or bot