Phobias

A phobia is different from being scared of something. Many people don’t like spiders, for example, but do not necessarily have a phobia about them. A phobia is an extreme fear of something – usually an animal, object, place or situation.  

With phobias, the fear is so strong that it affects day-to-day life.  

If a child has a phobia they will be afraid every time they see or experience the situation or thing, and might have a panic attack. They will also spend a lot of time avoiding the situation or thing, which can make life difficult.

More information for parents and visitors on phobias