Are you afraid of the dark? What about slimy snakes or creepy, crawling spiders? Are you too scared to go into the closets of your own home because you fear that the door will somehow close and trap you in there? Most people are afraid of something and in an ever-changing, dangerous world like ours, who wouldn't be? But what is the difference between "normal" fear and phobias?

There are certain characteristics that distinguish phobias from everyday fears. Phobias are often extreme and irrational fears of objects or situations, and their resulting effects on an individual's physiology are generally exaggerated. But the main difference between phobias and "normal" fears is the degree to which they interfere with your daily functioning.

Many times phobias develop through classical conditioning at some point in an individual's life. For example, many case studies have included individuals who experienced near-drowning in childhood only later to develop intense phobias against water. Although phobias can develop toward anything, different types of phobias can progress in different ways.

Clinical phobias are the aforementioned intense and irrational fears that individuals experience regularly which interrupt their daily lives. Many individuals with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, for example, experience fear of germs which cause them to repeatedly wash their hands to combat the anxiety of possible contamination. While washing your hands is always a good idea, these individuals are so intensely consumed by their fear and anxiety that they often take extreme measures to ensure that they do not come into contact with the object or situation they fear.

If you are wondering whether your fear can be classified as a phobia, ask yourself whether or not the object or situation you fear poses a realistic threat. Some phobias, like heights, might be rationally fearsome; however, another prerequisite for the classification of phobia is the level to which the fear disrupts your daily functioning. If you are unable to enter your closet on a daily basis because you fear being trapped, you may have claustrophobia.

Overall, most people are bound to experience some form of subclinical phobia, or mild irrational fears that do not interfere with their daily lives. If you're doing your homework and are startled by a cockroach, this fear is irrational because you are likely aware that cockroaches will not pose any real threat to you; however, you still experience intense fear.

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