A phobia is an intense, unrealistic fear, which can interfere with ones social life, work, or everyday life. .
Phobias are characterized by intense irrational fear, associated with particular condition or target. Phobias are different from fear. .
Description.
I think everyone is afraid of something, let say I am afraid of upcoming finals or being alone in a dark room. People having Phobia are not "crazy", they know their fears are unreasonable but in some cases they can not control that fear. .
In my opinion superstitious people and people with any kind of phobia usually have same thinking. Phobia depends on ones culture, social life and past (bad memories), for example in Pakistan it's a great belief of majority, that Black Cat is not good in terms of luck. People think that if a Black colored cat cross you from your front it's a sign of your bad luck. Every body can say that this belief has no link with real life but they have fear in their minds so mostly, people in Pakistan changes their route or path if they have crossed by a black cat.
Minor Mental Issues.
Phobias belong to a large group of mental problems known as "anxiety disorders" that include obsessive and compulsive disorder, panic disorder etc.
Obsession is recurring, uncontrollable and generally unwanted thought where as Compulsion is repetitive, ritualistic and urgent behavior. Obsession and compulsion, both are often linked to each other.
Panic Attack is a sudden unpredictable experience of intense fear. It is usually of short duration and it is because of stress. .
Types of Phobia.
Psychologists have made a big list which has all types of phobias but I want to discuss Nyctophobia (fear of Dark or Night) and Lygophobia (fear of being in dark places). My observation is that these both phobias go together one who has the fear of darkness will also be afraid of being in dark places. I am discussing these phobias because I was a patient of Nyctophobia.