Fears are not necessarily bad. They can be highly valuable if they serve useful purposes such as creating caution in driving, locking doors and being prepared for emergencies. Usual fears that may exist in relative degrees of severity can include flying, high places, rejection, failure, poor performance, job, theatrical, sexual, death, blood, animals, water, danger, darkness, open spaces, closed spaces, etc.

However, when a fear causes changes in a normal lifestyle, creating intense and/or extreme behaviors, becoming a threat to a person's well being, it merits attention. Frequent occurrence is a strong warning signal that needs to be heeded.