specific anxiety

A specific anxiety is an intense fear of an animal (e.g. dogs, spiders), natural phenomena (e.g. thunder) or an object or situation (e.g. being in a lift, driving a car, flying or fear of heights). These anxieties or phobias often start at a young age. They disappear again spontaneously for most children, but for a considerable number of people the anxiety becomes more intense and chronic. People try to avoid the situation they fear. If that is not impossible, they experience intense fear, physical tension (increased heartbeat or fainting) and sometimes also feelings of horror. People experience the fear disproportionately and it disrupts their daily life. Because they avoid the situation as much as possible, the anxiety becomes manageable in the short term. In the long term, however, the anxiety remains and may even be reinforced. There are good, very short treatments with which people can conquer their anxiety.