How does someone officially have a phobia rather than being scared?

A phobia is defined as an IRRATIONAL fear. Being afraid of great heights probably isn't necessarily a phobia although it could still be a little excessive. On the other hand, being afraid of going outside is certainly considered an irrational fear and fit into the category of a phobia.

ANSWER

officially they change names of phobias and diseases all the time, so you can never be too sure what they are gonna call it next, eg, OCD is being split so that you can have OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) or cds(compulsive disorders) themselves

Every one has fears. A fear may be considered a phobia when a person fears something and it creates such anxiety that he/she avoids being in situations where that which is feared may be experienced. For example, a person may get anxious riding in elevators, but they can do it. They experience manageable anxiety. However, a person who checks and makes sure that no elevator rides will be required on an outing and if so most likely tries to rearrange plans. Has a phobia of elevators. Or a person who has panic attacks before trying to attempt an elevator ride, may have a phobia of elevators. If a fear becomes so great that a person can't live their life fully. Then it's time for a professional opinion.

its not necessarily 'irrational' to have a phobia of being attacked if you have been attacked is it?

just because some phobias are or are defined as irrational it doesn't mean they all are

the definition of irrational is something that has no founded reason and that doesn't mean all phobias have no founded reason

so really the official definition is nothing to be so concerned about, moreover the symptoms, the fear/phobia itself and what caused it and how to help them with it is much more important.

but im not expert on all the technicalities, this is just my unofficial inexpert opinion

f4