A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder defined by a persistent and excessive fear of an object or situation the phobia typically results in a rapid onset of fear and is present for more than six months the.

Shop phobia unknown shop phobia is an irrational intense and persistent fear of malls sales racks dressing rooms department stores and all other activities having to do with shopping i once stubbed my toe to avoid shopping with my wife.

Agoraphobia is often misunderstood to be simply a fear of leaving home however this is not quite accurate agoraphobia is a phobia of being in a situation where escape would be difficult or impossible or help would be unavailable if a panic attack should occur.

The american psychiatric association identifies three different categories of phobias social phobias agoraphobia and specific phobias when people talk about having a phobia of a specific object such as snakes spiders or needles they are referring to a specific phobia.

Phobias arent usually formally diagnosed most people with a phobia are fully aware of the problem a person will sometimes choose to live with a phobia taking great care to avoid the object or situation theyre afraid of however if you have a phobia continually trying to avoid what youre afraid of will make the situation worse.