Overwhelming fear is a feeling of intense fear, dread, and anxiety that can be caused by a variety of situations. It can be expressed in three ways: PANIC, PHOBIA, and TERROR. PANIC is an intense feeling of fear or anxiety that can come on suddenly and cause physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, and difficulty breathing. PHOBIA is an irrational fear of a particular object or situation that leads to avoidance of the object or situation. TERROR is an intense fear or dread that can be caused by a traumatic event or experience. All three of these expressions of overwhelming fear can have a significant impact on a person's life.