Certain phobias have been linked to a very bad first encounter with the … The therapy focuses on identifying and changing negative thoughts, dysfunctional beliefs, and negative reactions to the phobic situation. Everything You Should Know About Trypophobia, Glossophobia: What It Is and How to Treat It. Substance abuse and depression are also connected to phobias. The most common and disabling symptom of a phobia is a panic attack. A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder, a condition that activates the “fight or flight” response and creates feelings of imminent danger that are out of proportion to the reality of the situation. In general, these tend to arise during childhood or adolescence and over time tend to become less severe. Social phobia is also referred to as social anxiety disorder. National Institute of Mental Health. Van houtem CM, Laine ML, Boomsma DI, Ligthart L, Van wijk AJ, De jongh A. People with this phobia avoid mountains, bridges, or the higher floors of buildings. The word itself refers to “fear of open spaces.” People with agoraphobia fear being in large crowds or trapped outside the home. Many phobias develop as a result of having a negative experience or panic attack related to a specific object or situation. In much the same way, the external phobia causes listed above will not help you with overcoming the fear.