Although a phobia is not described as an illness, the thought of coming into contact with your feared object, place or situation, or actual contact with this, can lead to panic.

Panic can create real physical symptoms that include:

• shaking,
• feeling confused or disorientated,
• rapid heart beats,
• dry mouth,
• intense sweating,
• difficulty breathing,
• feeling sick (nausea),
• dizziness, and
• chest pain.

In extreme cases, especially if you have a complex phobia, you may experience the above symptoms as well as:

• a fear of losing control,
• a fear of fainting, or
• a fear of dying.

The symptoms of social phobias are very similar but also include blushing, trembling or an urgent need to visit the toilet.