Characteristics

• Behavioural:

  Avoidance- situations that cause the anxiety are avoided to the extent that it interferes with ordinary life.

  Panic- can involve screaming, running away, freezing.
• Emotional:

  Excessive and irrational fear/ anxiety which are persistent.

  Panic attacks in the presence of the feared object/ situation.
• Cognitive:

  Irrational thoughts which are not altered by rational arguments.

  Recognition of the excessive nature of fear. This distinguishes it from psychotic disorders where delusions can occur.