The clinical features of specific and social phobias are:
Specific phobias
A specific phobia is defined as any type of anxiety disorder which amounts to an unreasonable fear in exposure to the particular situations; therefore the patient who is affected tries to avoid contact with the objects or the situations. The person affected with phobia tends to function normally due to his or her fear the situations. Adults with specific phobia identify that their fear is excessive still unable to overcome such phobia.
The various kinds of specific phobias include:
• Situational phobia: in this the individual tend to fear in a particular situation like flying, riding, driving, walking on bridges or under the tunnels or elevator.
• Natural environment phobias: this includes fear of natural disasters like storm, water heights.
• Animal phobias: people tend to get fear about snakes, dogs, and insects. It is the most common phobia seen in day to day life in the people.
• Blood-injection-injury phobias: this phobia describes about fear of being injured or seeing blood and blood tests.
• Other phobias: this include phobias like fear of falling down, fear of loud and sudden sounds.
Symptoms of phobias
• Irrational fear of a object or situation
• Avoiding the particular situation or the objects to reduce fear
• Physical symptoms like: panic attack, pounding heart, nausea, seating, diarrhoea, numbness or tingling, shortness of breath, trembling and shaking, lightheaded and feeling of choking.
• Anticipatory anxiety includes experiencing nervous head about situations.
Social phobias
Feeling of shyness or discomfort in public areas or certain areas but it is not a anxiety disorder. In children the comfort level varies social situations do differ in their age as they grow. Depending upon the personality traits some are reserved naturally.
Emotional and behavioural symptoms
• Fear of situations or objects
• Worrying about humiliation
• Concern of offending others
• Fear of embarrassment
• Avoid interacting people or participating in the situations due to fear of embarrassment
• Expecting the worst possible circumstances.
Physical symptoms include
• Rapid heartbeat
• Stomach upset or nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Muscle tension and diarrhoea
Avoiding the normal daily social situations
• Talking to strangers
• Initiating conversation with strangers
• Making eye contact
• Attending parties or social gatherings.