Phobias
Phobias are irrational, often crippling, fears of particular places, situations, stimuli, or objects that pose no real threat. Like anxiety, many people fear particular situations, but when that fear extends into the extremes, to the point that it interferes with daily life, only then can a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder or phobia be made. However, phobias are separated from other anxiety disorders when that fear is concentrated around one particular thing. Facing the object of fear results in extreme anxiety, or even panic attacks in someone with a phobia. There is no single cause of phobias, and it is generally thought to be the result of a previous, exceedingly unpleasant experience with the object in question. There is some evidence that this type of anxiety disorder can run in families, though this may be either genetics or the result of learned behavior.