A phobia is a fear whose object is absurd and is recognized as absurd. Literally, I take these characteristics as a definition of phobias. I distinguish phobia from common fear, and from anguish.

Fear has an object. From the outside, or objectively, it may be absurd but I, who experience fear, do not recognize it as such. I am afraid of dogs. But I think that dogs are indeed dangerous. It may be that I am wrong. Most dogs owners would say that I am wrong. But my fear of dogs would only become a phobia if I could be convinced that dogs are usually harmless, and still be afraid of dogs.

On the other hand, anguish does not have a definite object. That is what distinguishes anguish from fear. In anguish, I cannot find what I am afraid of. The threat is diffuse, volatile. There is hostility, danger, but it is in the air, so to speak. It is not attached to a specific object, not even to the void beyond the cliff.