List the Symptoms of Phobias

If you are looking to list the symptoms of phobias you not have to, we have complied a very inclusive list of the most common and uncommon symptoms related to phobias and excessive fear. We break the symptoms down into two major groups, Physical or Body Reactions and Psychological or Mental. We have also added a small list of more uncommon or what may be considered strange symptoms or reactions to phobias.

Physical Symptoms (Minor to Severe)

1. Developing a Rapid heartbeat (palpitations)
2. Suffering from Sweating (diaphoresis) or excessive sweating that would not be normal for the situation.
3. Trembling or shaking, this is very common for fear, anxiety or phobias.
4. Shortness of breath or hyperventilation, grab the paper bag as this is a very common response to high fear levels.
5. Nausea or stomach upset, including butterflies or queasiness, one of the most commonly occurring reactions.
6. Dry mouth, chalky, paste like, cotton mouth or almost unable to swallow.
7. Dizziness or lightheaded, this one is common but can also be serious as it can cause or lead to falls or accidents.
8. Weakness or fatigue, weak in the knees, feeling like a limp noodle, most of us have this reaction to high fear levels.
9. Chest tightness or pain, this can mimic heart attack symptoms and it is closely related to a full blown panic attack.
10. Blushing or flushing, redness of face, this can give away your state to those around you, you are terrified!
11. Chills or hot flashes, common with many issues but prevalent with phobias or excessive fear.
12. Feeling of choking or inability to breathe deeply, this is related to shortness of breath and needs to be addressed.
13. Numbness or tingling sensations , often in extremities, this is less serious but can be very bothersome.
14. Loss of balance or feeling unsteady, this is a serious symptom so be careful if this happens to you.
15. Panic attacks, which can include a combination of all above symptoms, this is the big one, it can be debilitating.

Psychological Symptoms (Minor to Severe)

1. Feelings of anxiety or nervousness, very common.
2. Intense fear or dread, when exposed to the feared object or situation best to leave or remove the issue.
3. Irrational or excessive worry about future encounters, we all want to limit the excessive fear.
4. Feeling of losing control or going crazy, this is very serious and professional help should be considered if your fear gets this bad.
5. Avoidance behavior, actively avoiding situations or objects, it makes sense to just leave. This is a natural response.
6. Preoccupation with the feared object/situation, obsessing is very common and a key component of phobias.
7. Sense of impending doom or death, especially during panic attacks, this is serious, address this symptom.
8. Feeling detached from reality or oneself, derealization or depersonalization, another natural response.
9. Overwhelming panic or terror, during exposure, the meaning of fear!
10. Inability to function normally—difficulty concentrating or performing daily activities, upending your life, time for help.
11. Severe agitation or agitation,  that escalates into a full-blown panic attack, seek self or professional help.
12. Loss of composure, extreme distress, or collapse, in extremely severe cases only, seek attention or help yourself.
13. Thinking about or obsessing over the feared object/situation, for days or more, this may be a sign things are progressing.
14. Feelings of shame or embarrassment, about the fears or reactions, overcome this and talk to someone, simply talking can really help. 

Uncommon or Strange Symptoms of Phobias

1. Auditory hallucinations — hearing sounds or voices associated with the feared object or situation during a panic attack.
2. Visual distortions or hallucinations — seeing the object in a more exaggerated or frightening form than it actually is.
3. Derealization or depersonalization — feeling disconnected from reality or oneself, as if the environment or body isn’t real.
4. Sudden loss of vision or hearing — temporary blindness or deafness during extreme anxiety or panic episodes.
5. Gastrointestinal paralysis — a rare sensation of the stomach “freezing” or an intense feeling of not being able to digest or pass gas.
6. Involuntary limb movements — sudden jerks or twitching not controlled consciously, often during panic or extreme fear.
7. Feeling of being suffocated or strangled — sensation of pressure around the throat that feels like choking, beyond typical breathing difficulty.
8. Unexplained tingling or crawling sensations (formication) — feeling like insects are crawling on or under the skin without external cause.
9. Persistent coldness or clammy skin even in warm environments
10. Unusual or intense emotional reactions, such as uncontrollable crying, fits of rage, or uncontrollable laughter during episodes
11. Unpredictable drowsiness or fatigue immediately following panic episodes.
12. Memory gaps or “blank outs” during severe panic or episodes of fear.
13. Feeling as if the object or situation is happening in a different location, despite being physically present (dissociative spatial distortion).

These symptoms are rare and may overlap with other severe anxiety or even dissociative disorders. If you or someone you know exhibits any of these  unusual symptoms, self help or consulting a mental health professional is recommended as the first step is diagnosis and treatment.