can a person who has a phobia, have it once in a while?

Question: there's this one lady that lives in the same apartments as me,who says she has agoraphobia. she says that she doesn't talk to strangers becuz of her phobia. several times i've seen her talking to complete strangers. so i asked her how come she's talking to them if she has agoraphobia. she said that she only gets that phobia once in awhile. is that true? that if someone has a phobia, then they can only have it some of the time? like for instance, she can have it today and not tomorrow?

Answers:
No. A phobia is an "A persistent, abnormal, and irrational fear of a specific thing or situation that compels one to avoid it, despite the awareness and reassurance that it is not dangerous." -- Dictionary.com

In other words its no a phobia if she has it once in a while. I have a fear of flying. I can't get into an airplane period. I know its safe and that there's nothing to be afraid of, but it doesn't register on that level. I can't control it and turn it off today so I can fly and then turn it back on when I'm on the ground.

You can overcome a phobia over time or if there is a traumatic incident that causes you to face the fear, but those are extreme circumstances.

---

---

More Questions and Answers

• What is the effect of sad songs on brain and mood of a person ?
• how do you deal with depression without medication?
• what in ur opinion?
• Can we generalise?
• Do any of you have 'issues' which you need to work on?
• How can one stop using PROZAC?
• thanks everyone?
• Do you get dizzy if you close your eyes while spinning around?