Anxiety disorders – Specific Phobia
A Specific Phobia (sometimes referred to as 'Simple Phobia') is an excessive or unreasonable fear of a particular thing, place or situation (eg spiders, dogs, heights, being in closed spaces, having an injection). Exposure to the situation or thing, or even anticipating exposure to it, is very anxiety-provoking and it may trigger a panic attack.
A Specific Phobia is only diagnosed when the feared situation is avoided or endured with great distress and the avoidance or distress significantly interferes with some aspect of a person’s functioning. Phobias of this kind are quite common and children often go through a stage of having one or more specific phobias.