Phobias
A phobia is an intense fear of something that, in reality, poses little or no actual danger. Common phobias include closed-in places, heights, insects, and needles.
Social phobia involves intense fear of certain social situations, especially situations that are unfamiliar or in which you feel others are watching you or might criticize you. These situations may be so frightening that you get anxious just thinking about them or go to great lengths to avoid them.
A person with a phobia knows that the fear is irrational, but avoids the situation anyway and the more you avoid a feared social situation, the more frightening it becomes.
Confrontation with the situation causes severe anxiety, and this may result in a panic attack.
