Specific phobias are a type of anxiety disorder. Exposure to the feared stimulus may provoke extreme anxiety or a panic attack. Common phobias include the fear of particular animals (for instance, dogs or snakes), insects or spiders, high places, lightening, flying, and blood. People with specific phobias often realize that their fear is irrational but are unable to prevent it. Specific phobias are among the most common of all psychiatric disorders, affecting up to 10% of the population.
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