By Png Han Yong
A phobia usually starts off as anxiety but can quickly develop into an intense, exaggerated fear of encountering a particular object or situation. They differ from regular fears in that “while phobics know their fears may be irrational, they are most often powerless to control their actions and feelings,” says John Weaver, Psy.D, a psychologist, consultant and the owner of Psychology for Business. Common symptoms include an accelerated heart rate, breaking into cold sweat and rapid breathing.
