How are phobias diagnosed?
To find out if you have a phobia, your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms, including how long you have had them. Your doctor will also do a physical exam, ask questions about your medical history, and ask questions about medicines you are taking. This information will help your doctor find out whether or not you have some other condition. To be diagnosed with a phobia, you must have most of the following symptoms: • You are more afraid than most people of a specific object, situation, or activity. • You feel stressed or have a panic attack when you are near the object or situation. • If you are a teenager or adult, you understand that the amount of fear you have about the object or situation is not reasonable. • You avoid the object, situation, or activity that you are afraid of. • The fear and stress that you feel make it hard for you to do normal activities such as going to work every day or doing grocery shopping. • If you are under age 18, you have had symptoms for at le
