Mental Illness

In specific phobia the stimulus is usually circumscribed. This is an example of irrational fear of objects and also situation.

It is characterized by an irrational fear of a specific object or situation. Anticipatory anxiety leads to persistent avoidant behavior, while confrontation with avoided object or situation leads to panic attack. Gradually the phobia spreads to other objects and situations.

The disorder is diagnosed only if there is marked distress or disturbance in daily functioning. Examples of simple phobia are acrophobia (fear of high places), zoophobia (fear of animals), xenophobia (fear of strangers), algophobia (fear of pain), and claustrophobia (fear of closed places).
The list of specific phobias is virtually endless.