Phobias

Symptoms of a phobia

Symptoms of a phobia include:

severe anxiety and worry
feeling dizzy and lightheaded
a more noticeable or unusual heartbeat (palpitations)
tightness in your chest
feeling sick or being sick, or diarrhoea
trembling or shaking
a strong or intense fear that you may faint, lose control or die

See a GP if:

you think you have a phobia and the symptoms are affecting your life

Types of phobias

There are many different phobias and they're usually caused by a particular thing or situation.

Some phobias are only triggered when you come into contact with the object or situation that causes them. These include phobias of:

animals, such as dogs, insects or snakes
situations, such as flying, heights, being in a small space
bodily fluids, such as blood or vomit

Other phobias may have more of an impact on your life. These include phobias of:

going outside (agoraphobia)
talking to and interacting with other people (social anxiety)

More information

Mind: phobias (including different types)

Things you can do to help a phobia

Phobias are different for everyone but there are things you can do to manage and improve your symptoms.

Do

try breathing exercises to help you relax
talk to someone you trust about your phobia
join a self-help group online or in person - meeting others with similar phobias and experiences can help
be careful about looking up information online - you may not be ready to see triggering images
check places like zoos and airlines for sessions they may run for people with phobias

Don't

do not have energy drinks or drinks containing caffeine after 3pm, as it can affect your sleep and make your anxiety worse

Treatment for phobias

Phobias can be difficult to cope with, but treatment can help manage your symptoms.

Treatments for phobias include:

talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
hypnotherapy
medicines such as antidepressants, beta blockers, and sedatives that calm and relax

You can refer yourself directly to an NHS talking therapies service without a referral from a GP

More information

Video: Talking therapies for stress, anxiety and depression

Animated video explaining self-referral to talking therapies services for stress, anxiety or depression. Includes British Sign language (BSL) translation.

Media last reviewed: 6 March 2026
Media review due: 6 March 2029

Causes of a phobia

It's not always clear why some phobias start but many can be linked to a frightening event or stressful situation. They usually develop as a child, teenager or young adult.

You may be more likely to have a phobia if:

a frightening childhood experience - for example, being chased by a dog may cause a phobia of dogs
you had family or friends with a phobia - it's possible to learn it from others
other people have reacted to your panic or fear negatively - being embarrassed about your reaction to your phobia can increase your anxiety
you're a woman - anxiety disorders are more common in women than in men
you have a family history of anxiety disorders

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