Question

Which best describes a phobia?

A. anxiety that can never be controlled

B. anxiety that is general and prolonged

C. anxiety that is related to a specific object or situation

D. anxiety that motivates a person to perform well

Answer 1

The answer should be "C". Let me know if that's right.

Answer 2

Answer: C. Anxiety that is related to a specific object or situation

Explanation: Phobia is an irrational fear reaction caused by a trigger, which can be an object, a place or a situation. It is, according to the American Psychiatric Association, "divided" in three types:

• Specific Phobia : when is caused by a specific trigger;
• Social Phobia : fear of being humiliated in public or being judged in socail encounters;
• Agoraphobia : fear of situation difficult to scape if the preson is suffering a panic attack;

The most common symptons are sweating, dry mouth, trembling, abnormal breathing, confusion, diziness, headache, feeling of anxiety, to avoid the source at any cost, not being able to function in the presence of the trigger, knowledge that the fear is irrational but unable do to something about it.

It can be caused by a stressful or frightening event or  when the parents or caretakers have a phobia the kids can observe and "learn".

Phobia is treatable. In cases of specific phobias, if it doesn't cause too many problems, people who have them simply avoid the triggers. In more difficult cases, as agoraphobia or social phobia, a conversation with a mental health professional is better adviced.

The treatments can include medicaments, for example, beta blockers, antidepressants, tranquilizers, or behavioral therapy, which include exposure therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy.