A phobia is a fear or avoidance of an object, activity, or situation that an individual knows is beyond the actual danger presented by the object, activity, or situation. Phobias are a common obstacle that can present a major challenge to one's well-being. Common presenting fears include fear of particular objects or situations, such as driving, flying, animals, heights, weather events, and blood/injection. These phobias are also known as simple phobias, and can begin as early as childhood. Another common fear is social phobia, which involves the fear of being watched or judged by others and embarrassed. Social phobia often begins in late adolescence.  Lastly, there is agoraphobia, which involves a fear of not being able to escape or obtain help in the event of a panic attack or similar debilitating emergency situation. Agoraphobia often presents in early adulthood. The gold standard for treatment of phobias is exposure therapy. Exposure therapy involves graduated presentations of the feared object, activity, or situation, without the opportunity for avoidance or escape. Over time people are able to learn how to cope with the feared situation during therapy sessions. This progress is then generalized to everyday life, ensuring that treatment gains are maintained over time.