In our search to understand what is anxiety we have studied different known synonyms in a previous article but we could not include "phobia" as one of the known synonyms. We realized that Phobia needs its own article to look into so as to understand how it is similar or not to anxiety.

The obvious place to start from is to try to define phobia. We have found a definition that is simple yet straight to the point and will enable us to understand phobia easily. The definition goes as follows: "A phobia is a fear of particular situations or things that are not dangerous and which most people do not find troublesome."

Notice the use of the word "fear" in this definition. Fear is a reaction to a perceived threat. Therefore, regardless of the fact whether the threat is real or not our reaction will be "fear." Phobia is the part of fear that is felt When it is from a threat that is not fearful or threatening to most.

Let us try to give a real example here to understand the different terms and finally to come out with a clearer understanding to what is anxiety.

Let's say that my friends decided to go to the beach and I decided to accept. While on the beach my friends decided to go on a boat trip. If I fear the sea, I would decline but my friends to understand why and they decide to go anyway. My fear here is called phobia and my phobia is related to the sea. I perceive the sea as a threat while my friends not only they don't share that feeling with me but they actually enjoy it. So my fear is not shared by most and accordingly it is called phobia.

If I don't fear the sea, I would gladly join my friends. We are on the boat and suddenly I remember that I need to finish a report that needs two days of work and the deadline is the next day, I would feel stressed. My friends decide to jump in the water to have a swim, so I join them and I relax a little bit and I forget for some time my report.

We go back to the boat and we want to head back to shore. The boat is not starting, so we all start worrying. We are all checking our mobiles but none is able to get a signal. My friends worry more and I get worried and more stressed about my report now. My friends decide to make the best out of the moment and decide to eat, drink and dance until we are missed and found. I try to forget my situation and join them but I can't. I go somewhere alone and I try to find a solution to my problem. Instead of finding a solution my mind turns into exploring the consequences of my situation. My mind makes fast forward and imagines my bosses reaction when I don't turn in my report. I am fired. I am unemployed. I don't have an income anymore. I can't pay my loans. I will lose my car and house. I start shouting at my friends that they are having fun while they should be busy worrying and finding solutions to our situation. Strangely my firends agree with me and each start doing something to find a solution while I am all over the place not knowing what to do or what to search for and still thinking that I am going to lose everything around me. that is a state of anxiety.

Anxiety can be caused by less dramatic causes though. But we will not indulge in the causes now as that will be the concentration area of our next phase of research to understand what is anxiety.

We will continually introduce material for you to better understand what is Anxiety. We will continue our research and bring you more information to cover as many aspects as possible of anxiety. Meanwhile you can check the list of materials and tools that we gathered for you to tackle and solve anxiety for yourself and others at: 

1- BusinessFountains Store: This is the main area of Anxiety Material that we are collecting.

2- Anxiety Self Help Library: This section mainly includes anxiety related audio books and other audio materials. Audio books are very useful when you don't have time to read a book. For more audio book listings and categories you can go to our Audio Book Section.

3- Our channels for providing you with more anxiety information and solutions are increasing. It will be completely inappropriate to add links to all those sections in our articles. You can check out all our anxiety information channels at our Anxiety Centre by clicking on the red banner below.