PHOBIAS - CHARACTERISTICS

• BEHAVIOURAL - changes in seen behavioural characteristics  

  • Disruption of normal functioning – struggle to take part 
  • Avoidance response – moving away from phobic stimulus 
• EMOTIONAL – changes in expressed emotions 

  • Anxiety – heightened panic/stress 
  • Persistent excessive fear – fight or flight 
• COGNITIVE – changes in the way a person thinks 

  • Cognitive distortions – warped beliefs about phobia 
  • Irrational beliefs – belief that the phobia may kill them