The beginning of a phobia usually follows periods of stress and often starts after a final trauma. “The last straw, which breaks the camel’s back” or after a first panic attack which appears to come out of the blue.
In the early stages of a phobia, sufferers feel frightened when in a particular place or situation, without knowing exactly why.
Whenever they go into the particular place or situation they experience an overwhelming feeling of impending disaster and feel a compulsive urge to escape from it.
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