By Michelle Swartz

Do you panic when you see an ugly spider or snake?

Or begin to sweat when the lights go out and its pitch black?

Have no fear, you’re not alone. Just about everyone has a phobia — or fear — about something.

Sometimes, though, the fear can be extreme and it’s a type of fear that never goes away.

So what is a phobia? Keep reading to find out what it is and what you can do to overcome your fears.

What’s a phobia?

A phobia is an intense fear of something, or a situation, that poses little or no actual danger.

You become so fearful, you’ll do anything to avoid it. It is a consistent fear, not something you will be afraid of only once or twice.

Researchers found that certain fears occur with specific ages in all children, and the fears tend to disappear naturally with time.

Types of phobias

People of all ages are affected by phobias, so don’t think you’re alone if you have one.

There are hundreds of phobias. One common one is aviophobia, the fear of flying. The fear is so extreme, some people avoid airplanes at all cost.

Another one is brontophobia, the fear of thunderstorms. This is most common among kids, who are mostly afraid of thunder and lightning.

Children also develop other common phobias. Here are a few examples:

Height — Acrophobia is the term used for the fear of height.

When looking down from a higher location, people may feel dizzy and have trouble getting themselves down safely.

People with this phobia tend to avoid higher places, like climbing ladders or taking amusement rides.

Spiders — Arachnophobia is the fear of spiders.

Any time a person sees a spider, he becomes irrationally scared of the creature.

While spiders are small, people fear them because of what they look like and the possibility of being bitten. A person will do anything to avoid spiders.

Enclosed spaces — Claustrophobia is the fear of being in an enclosed space, like an elevator, tunnel, train, or airplane.

A person feels that if something would go wrong, then they would never be able to escape the situation and ultimately die of suffocation.

The anxiety brought on by this phobia could cause difficulty in breathing.

Darkness – Achluophobia is the fear of darkness.

Those who suffer from this phobia have an abnormal and persistent dread of the dark, even though it does not pose a threat.

Children may develop this phobia after watching a scary movie or hearing a scary story.

A night light could make them feel safer.

What’s it feel like?

Some people become so scared or nervous from their phobias, they make themselves sick.

Symptoms include dizziness, sweating, trembling, nausea, dry mouth, shortness of breath, and their heart races.

In serious cases, some people have panic attacks. An attack makes a person think something really bad is going to happen, causing that person to lose control. Even though they only last a short time, panic attacks make a person feel like they’re going crazy when they are happening.

Is it normal?

Research has shown that 90 percent of children between 2 and 14 have at least one specific fear.

As long as it’s not interfering in a child’s life, such as social activities and sleep, then it’s okay.

For those 7 to 16, the most common fears are health, school performance, death, physical injury, thunderstorms, earthquakes, and floods.

Younger children, ages 3 to 6, mostly fear imaginary figures, the dark, sleeping alone, thunder, and floods.

How to treat phobias

There are many ways to treat children with phobias. However, the method depends on the severity of each individual case.

Relaxation exercises can help a child feel more in control. If they are afraid of enclosed spaces, for example, gradually allow a child to watch others get on a train or elevator, or have them step inside with the doors open to help them get an idea of what it actually feels like.

Medication also can be prescribed. Doctors can recommend the best medication, such as anti-anxiety medication.

Another way to treat phobias is by seeing a doctor, who will suggest visiting a psychologist or therapist.

A specialist can make a diagnosis, then treat the phobia.

Treatment can take weeks, months, or years so don’t get down if you still fear a certain thing or situation. You can be cured!

Sources: Child Anxiety Network, www.kidshealth.org, www.phobia-fear-release.com