Fear, anxiety, and phobias are terms we often hear—and sometimes use interchangeably—but they don’t all mean the same thing. While they’re closely related, each describes a different kind of emotional experience.
Fear is the response to a perceived threat, while anxiety involves worry about a threat that has not yet, or may never, happen. When we experience anxiety, our sympathetic nervous system responds in a similar way as it does to fear.
However, with anxiety, it is engaged at a lower, but more constant, level. When someone has a phobia, or “specific phobia,” as it is called in the mental health field, their intense fear is limited to a specific situation or object.
People living with this type of anxiety disorder may not necessarily experience fear or anxiety in other aspects of their life.
Fear, anxiety, and phobias have overlapping meanings and can cause confusion. People who feel they may have anxiety or phobias should be aware of the differences. There are a few things to keep in mind when considering the difference between a fear and a phobia:
Fear is a natural emotion that protects people from harm when they face real and imminent danger.
A phobia is an excessive fear or anxiety related to specific objects or situations that are out of proportion to the actual danger they present.
Phobias cause significant dysfunction or discomfort due to avoidance behavior and the anxiety reaction that occurs when exposed to the phobic object or situation.
Fears are a natural part of the human make-up, which is protective of life and limb. Fear is a quality that is shared by all higher animals, as no members of any species would ever survive without a protective mechanism to anticipate and react to danger, thereby protecting themselves from harm.
The brain contains specific circuits and mechanisms for perceiving and reacting to fear. The response to fear can depend upon the situation and is divided into two broad categories:
Fight, flight, or freeze
Tend and befriend: turning to others for safety, and changing the situation so that it is less dangerous
Fears and phobias are not the same. Fears are a normal, protective part of our make-up. Phobias are not.
Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder that is distinctly different from normal fear. Phobias are defined, according to the DSM-5 (the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition), as fear or anxiety that is persistent (even when the phobic object isn’t there), excessive and out of proportion to the actual danger posed by the object of the phobia. Phobias occur when there is dysfunction in the brain circuits responsible for the fear response. They recognize non-dangerous objects or situations as imminent threats and experience excessive fear and anxiety.
When we experience anxiety, our sympathetic nervous system responds in a similar way as it does to fear. However, with anxiety, it is engaged at a lower, but more constant, level.
Instead of preparing for an immediate threat, we are on edge for prolonged periods of time. Our muscles become tense. We become cautious, vigilant for possible threats, and we may avoid situations in an attempt to dodge danger. Just as the right amount of fear can be healthy, a certain degree of anxiety can help us sense danger and conquer challenges. However, when we feel too much anxiety, we spend an excessive amount of time feeling distressed. Racing thoughts prevent us from concentrating, and worries about the future and the past prevent us from living in the moment.
Our anxiety can be so distressing that we might misread others’ facial expressions or misinterpret social cues. We may be so consumed by potential danger that it can feel unsafe to leave our homes.
As always, if you or someone you love feels suicidal or that they are in a crisis there is the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for confidential, free, 24/7/365 help. You can also chat at 988lifeline.org. Another resource is the Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741. The Crisis Hotline: 844-755-5325
Until next week, I’m Desert Rose signing off and wishing you all good mental health.
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