Putting It All Together

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to anxiety, fears, and phobias.

• Fear is normal and useful, but millions of people suffer inappropriate fear in the form of phobias or panic attacks.

• In some cases, fears and anxiety may produce physical symptoms.

• Fears can be treated by a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, a psychologist, or a counselor with a special training in the field.

• Panic may strike out of the blue for no apparent reason, bringing physical symptoms such a heart palpitations or digestive disturbances as well as feelings of dread, terror and impending death.

• Agoraphobia involves fear of the world outside, usually follows panic attacks, and can interfere seriously with people's lives.

• Specific phobias involve fear of one type of small creature, such as spiders, dogs, or cats, or of one type of situation, such a flying, looking down from heights, or being in enclosed spaces.

• Social phobia involves an exaggerated fear of embarrassment and humiliation.