Exposure to the feared object provokes an anxiety reaction.
The anxiety and discomfort is out of proportion to the real threat of the feared object.
The person may experience excessive sweating, poor motor control, or rapid heart rate.
The person avoids situations in which contact with the feared object or animal may occur -- for example, avoiding driving through tunnels, if tunnels are the subject of the specific phobia. This type of avoidance can interfere with job and social functioning.
The person may feel weak or cowardly and lose self-esteem when avoiding the object of the phobia.