What Are Phobias?
Phobias are intense, irrational fears of specific objects, situations, or activities. They are a type of anxiety disorder that can significantly impact daily life. While it's normal to have some fears, phobias involve an exaggerated response that goes beyond reasonable concern.
Common Phobias
Achluophobia
Achluophobia is the intense and irrational fear of darkness. Unlike a normal childhood fear of the dark, this phobia can cause severe anxiety and panic attacks in adults, leading to avoidance of night-time activities.
Learn More →Acrophobia
Acrophobia is the fear of heights. People with this phobia experience dizziness, shortness of breath, and panic when at elevated locations or even thinking about heights.
Learn More →Aerophobia
Aerophobia, also known as aviophobia, is the fear of flying. This phobia can prevent people from traveling by air and often stems from anxiety about plane crashes.
Learn More →Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is the fear of open or public spaces. People with this condition often avoid crowded places, public transportation, and situations where escape might be difficult.
Learn More →Ailurophobia
Ailurophobia is the fear of cats. This phobia may develop from negative experiences with cats or cultural beliefs about feline behavior.
Learn More →Alektorophobia
Alektorophobia is the intense fear of chickens. This can include fear of live chickens, eggs, or even cooked chicken meat.
Learn More →Algophobia
Algophobia is the fear of pain. This phobia can cause avoidance of medical procedures, dental work, or any situation that might involve physical discomfort.
Learn More →Androphobia
Androphobia is the fear of men. This can include anxiety around men in general or specific fears related to male authority figures.
Learn More →Aphenphosmphobia
Aphenphosmphobia is the fear of being touched. This can manifest as extreme discomfort or panic when others make physical contact, even accidentally.
Learn More →Apiphobia
Apiphobia, or melissophobia, is the intense fear of bees. While many fear being stung, this phobia causes extreme panic at the sight or sound of a bee.
Learn More →Aquaphobia
Aquaphobia is the fear of water. This can include fear of swimming, being near water, or even drinking water in some cases.
Learn More →Arachnophobia
Arachnophobia is the fear of spiders and other arachnids. It is one of the most common phobias and can cause intense anxiety when encountering these creatures.
Learn More →Astraphobia
Astraphobia is the fear of thunder and lightning. People with this phobia may become extremely anxious during storms and take precautions to avoid them.
Learn More →Aurophobia
Aurophobia is the specific fear of gold. Sufferers may fear the metal itself, gold jewelry, or the color gold, often due to sensory aversion or negative associations.
Learn More →Barophobia
Barophobia is the intense fear of gravity. Sufferers may fear that gravity will crush them or, conversely, that it will disappear and they will float away.
Learn More →Basophobia
Basophobia is the fear of falling or stumbling. This phobia can make walking on uneven surfaces, climbing stairs, or even standing on chairs extremely anxiety-inducing.
Learn More →Bibliophobia
Bibliophobia is the fear or hatred of books. This can manifest as anxiety when reading, fear of the stories contained within, or even fear of the physical book itself.
Learn More →Cacophobia
Cacophobia is the intense fear of ugliness. This can include fear of being ugly oneself, fear of ugly objects or people, or an aversion to anything perceived as aesthetically displeasing.
Learn More →Carcinophobia
Carcinophobia is the fear of cancer or developing cancer. This phobia can cause excessive worry about health and may lead to avoidance of medical check-ups.
Learn More →Catoptrophobia
Catoptrophobia is the fear of mirrors. This can include anxiety about seeing one's reflection or the idea of being watched through reflective surfaces.
Learn More →Cheimaphobia
Cheimaphobia, or cheimatophobia, is the intense fear of cold or winter. Sufferers may experience anxiety about cold weather, snow, or low temperatures, often leading to avoidance of winter activities.
Learn More →Chionophobia
Chionophobia is the intense fear of snow. Sufferers may experience anxiety about being trapped in snow, driving in snow, or even the sight of falling snowflakes.
Learn More →Chorophobia
Chorophobia is the intense fear of dancing. Sufferers may experience anxiety about dancing in public, being asked to dance, or simply watching others dance.
Learn More →Chronomentrophobia
Chronomentrophobia is the fear of clocks. This can include anxiety about time passing, clock mechanisms, or the concept of time itself.
Learn More →Chronophobia
Chronophobia is the intense fear of time moving forward or the passage of time. It is common in elderly people or prisoners, manifesting as anxiety about time running out.
Learn More →Cibophobia
Cibophobia is the fear of food. This can include fear of specific foods, eating in general, or choking on food, often leading to restrictive eating habits.
Learn More →Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia is the fear of confined spaces. Individuals may experience anxiety in elevators, small rooms, or crowded areas where escape seems difficult.
Learn More →Coulrophobia
Coulrophobia is the fear of clowns. This modern phobia often stems from the uncanny appearance and unpredictable behavior associated with clowns.
Learn More →Cyberphobia
Cyberphobia is the intense fear of computers or technology. Sufferers may experience anxiety about using computers, the internet, or adapting to new technological advancements.
Learn More →Cynophobia
Cynophobia is the fear of dogs. While some people may have been bitten by dogs, others develop this phobia without any negative experiences.
Learn More →Decidophobia
Decidophobia is the fear of making decisions. This can lead to procrastination, anxiety about choices, or difficulty in everyday decision-making.
Learn More →Dentophobia
Dentophobia is the fear of dentists or dental procedures. This common phobia can prevent people from seeking necessary dental care.
Learn More →Eisoptrophobia
Eisoptrophobia is the fear of mirrors or one's reflection. This can cause anxiety about seeing oneself in mirrors or reflective surfaces.
Learn More →Electrophobia
Electrophobia is the intense fear of electricity. This can include fear of electric shocks, electrical appliances, power lines, or even static electricity.
Learn More →Emetophobia
Emetophobia is the fear of vomiting. This phobia can lead to restrictive eating habits and anxiety around food or illness.
Learn More →Entomophobia
Entomophobia is the fear of insects. This broad phobia encompasses fear of various insects and can cause panic when encountering bugs.
Learn More →Eosophobia
Eosophobia is the fear of dawn or daylight. Sufferers may experience anxiety as the sun rises, preferring the safety and cover of darkness.
Learn More →Ergophobia
Ergophobia is the abnormal fear of work or the workplace. Sufferers may experience extreme anxiety about performance, social interactions at work, or the responsibility of employment.
Learn More →Euphobia
Euphobia is the fear of good news. This paradoxical phobia causes anxiety when receiving positive news or hearing about good fortune.
Learn More →Gamophobia
Gamophobia is the fear of marriage or commitment. People with this phobia may avoid serious relationships or long-term commitments due to anxiety about marriage.
Learn More →Gephyrophobia
Gephyrophobia is the intense and persistent fear of crossing bridges. Sufferers may experience panic attacks when driving or walking over bridges, especially those that are high or over water.
Learn More →Germaphobia
Germaphobia, also known as mysophobia, is the pathological fear of germs, bacteria, and contamination. Sufferers often engage in compulsive cleaning and avoidance behaviors.
Learn More →Globophobia
Globophobia is the fear of balloons. This phobia can be triggered by the popping sound, the texture, or the fear of balloons floating away uncontrollably.
Learn More →Glossophobia
Glossophobia is the fear of public speaking. Many people experience some anxiety when speaking in front of groups, but this phobia can be debilitating.
Learn More →Gymnophobia
Gymnophobia is the fear of nudity. Sufferers may fear seeing others naked or being naked themselves, often due to body image issues or feelings of vulnerability.
Learn More →Gynophobia
Gynophobia is the fear of women. This can include anxiety around women in general or specific fears related to female authority figures.
Learn More →Heights Phobia (Acrophobia)
Heights Phobia, scientifically known as Acrophobia, is an extreme or irrational fear or phobia of heights, especially when one is not particularly high up.
Learn More →Heliophobia
Heliophobia is the fear of the sun or sunlight. People with this phobia may avoid going outside during sunny days or experience anxiety about sun exposure.
Learn More →Hemophobia
Hemophobia, or hematophobia, is the fear of blood. People with this phobia may faint at the sight of blood or even medical procedures involving blood.
Learn More →Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the fear of long words. Ironically, the name of this phobia is intentionally long to represent what sufferers fear most.
Learn More →Hodophobia
Hodophobia is the fear of travel. This can manifest as anxiety about traveling by any means, including cars, planes, trains, or even walking long distances.
Learn More →Hydrophobia
Hydrophobia is the extreme fear of water. While often associated with rabies, as a specific phobia it manifests as intense anxiety about water, swimming, or getting wet.
Learn More →Iatrophobia
Iatrophobia is the fear of doctors or going to the doctor. This phobia can prevent people from seeking necessary medical care, often due to fear of bad news or procedures.
Learn More →Katagelophobia
Katagelophobia is the fear of ridicule or being laughed at. This can cause extreme anxiety in social situations where one might be mocked or embarrassed.
Learn More →Katsaridaphobia
Katsaridaphobia is the fear of cockroaches. This common phobia can cause extreme reactions to these insects, even in controlled environments.
Learn More →Lachanophobia
Lachanophobia is the irrational fear of vegetables. Sufferers may experience anxiety at the sight, smell, or thought of consuming vegetables, often leading to dietary issues.
Learn More →Ligyrophobia
Ligyrophobia, also known as phonophobia or sonophobia, is the intense fear of loud noises. This can include fear of sirens, fireworks, loud music, or any sudden loud noise that causes a startle response.
Learn More →Logophobia
Logophobia is the fear of words. This can include fear of speaking, reading, or hearing certain words, often related to specific phobias like fear of certain letters or sounds.
Learn More →Mageirocophobia
Mageirocophobia is the intense fear of cooking. This anxiety can stem from fear of causing illness, fear of burning food, or fear of the cooking process itself.
Learn More →Metathesiophobia
Metathesiophobia is the fear of change. This can manifest as anxiety about any kind of change, whether positive or negative, in one's life or environment.
Learn More →Metrophobia
Metrophobia is the intense fear or hatred of poetry. Sufferers may feel intimidated by verse, fearing they won't understand it or will be judged for their interpretation.
Learn More →Microphobia
Microphobia is the fear of small things. This can include anxiety about small objects, microorganisms, or anything that seems disproportionately small.
Learn More →Monophobia
Monophobia is the fear of being alone or isolated. People with this phobia experience intense anxiety when left alone, even for short periods.
Learn More →Mysophobia
Mysophobia is the fear of germs or contamination. People with this phobia may engage in excessive cleaning and avoid touching objects they perceive as dirty.
Learn More →Necrophobia
Necrophobia is the fear of death or dead things. This existential phobia can cause anxiety about dying, death, and anything associated with mortality.
Learn More →Neophobia
Neophobia is the fear of new things or experiences. This can include fear of trying new foods, meeting new people, or encountering unfamiliar situations.
Learn More →Nomophobia
Nomophobia is the fear of being without a mobile phone. In our connected world, this modern phobia causes anxiety when separated from one's phone.
Learn More →Nosophobia
Nosophobia is the intense fear of having a specific disease. Unlike hypochondria (fear of illness in general), nosophobia usually focuses on a single condition like HIV, cancer, or heart disease.
Learn More →Numerophobia
Numerophobia is the fear of numbers. This can include fear of specific numbers, mathematical equations, or even seeing numbers in general.
Learn More →Nyctophobia
Nyctophobia is the fear of darkness. Children commonly experience this, but it can persist into adulthood and cause anxiety in dark environments.
Learn More →Ombrophobia
Ombrophobia, or pluviophobia, is the fear of rain. This can range from fear of being rained on to fear of severe storms, often linked to fear of floods.
Learn More →Ophidiophobia
Ophidiophobia is the fear of snakes. This ancient phobia may stem from evolutionary survival instincts and can cause extreme reactions when encountering serpents.
Learn More →Pediophobia
Pediophobia is the fear of dolls. This phobia can extend to mannequins, ventriloquist dummies, or any humanoid figures that appear lifelike.
Learn More →Philophobia
Philophobia is the fear of love or falling in love. This can include fear of emotional intimacy, commitment, or romantic relationships.
Learn More →Phonophobia
Phonophobia is the fear of loud sounds or noises. This can include fear of sirens, fireworks, loud music, or any sudden loud noise that causes a startle response.
Learn More →Pnigophobia
Pnigophobia is the fear of choking or being smothered. This can cause anxiety around food, small spaces, or anything that might restrict breathing.
Learn More →Podophobia
Podophobia is the intense fear or disgust of feet. Sufferers may feel panic at the sight of bare feet, refuse to take off their socks, or avoid touching their own feet.
Learn More →Ponophobia
Ponophobia is the intense fear of overworking or of pain. Sufferers may experience extreme anxiety about fatigue, physical exertion, or potential pain, leading to avoidance of activity.
Learn More →Porphyrophobia
Porphyrophobia is the fear of the color purple. This rare phobia can cause anxiety when seeing or being exposed to purple objects or environments.
Learn More →Pteromerhanophobia
Pteromerhanophobia is the intense fear of flying. Also known as aerophobia or aviatophobia, it causes severe anxiety about being in an airplane or other flying vehicle.
Learn More →Pyrophobia
Pyrophobia is the fear of fire. This phobia can develop from traumatic experiences with fire or from learned associations with danger and destruction.
Learn More →Ranidaphobia
Ranidaphobia is the fear of frogs or toads. This phobia can cause extreme discomfort around amphibians, even in controlled environments.
Learn More →Scoleciphobia
Scoleciphobia, or vermiphobia, is the intense fear of worms. Sufferers may experience panic at the sight of earthworms or even worm-like shapes.
Learn More →Scolionophobia
Scolionophobia is the fear of school. This can manifest as anxiety about attending school, schoolwork, or any school-related activities.
Learn More →Selenophobia
Selenophobia is the persistent and irrational fear of the moon. Sufferers feel intense anxiety at the sight of the moon or even thinking about it.
Learn More →Soceraphobia
Soceraphobia is the fear of parents-in-law. This can include anxiety about meeting, interacting with, or living with one's partner's parents.
Learn More →Social Phobia
Social phobia, or social anxiety disorder, is the fear of social situations. Individuals may worry excessively about being judged or embarrassed in social settings.
Learn More →Somniphobia
Somniphobia is the fear of sleep or falling asleep. People with this phobia may stay awake for long periods due to anxiety about sleeping or having nightmares.
Learn More →Spectrophobia
Spectrophobia is the fear of mirrors. This can include fear of seeing one's reflection or being near mirrors, often related to self-image concerns.
Learn More →Tachophobia
Tachophobia is the abnormal and persistent fear of speed. Sufferers experience anxiety when moving fast in vehicles, on amusement rides, or even watching fast-paced objects.
Learn More →Thalassophobia
Thalassophobia is the fear of the ocean, deep water, or large bodies of water. This phobia can make beaches, boats, or even seeing pictures of the ocean extremely anxiety-inducing.
Learn More →Thanatophobia
Thanatophobia is the fear of death. This existential phobia can cause anxiety about dying, funerals, or the afterlife.
Learn More →Tokophobia
Tokophobia is the fear of pregnancy or childbirth. This phobia can affect women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, often due to fear of the birthing process.
Learn More →Triskaidekaphobia
Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13. This superstition-based phobia is common in Western cultures and can cause anxiety around the number 13.
Learn More →Trypanophobia
Trypanophobia is the fear of needles and injections. This common phobia can make medical procedures extremely difficult and often develops in childhood.
Learn More →Trypophobia
Trypophobia is the fear of irregular patterns or clusters of small holes and bumps. It can cause intense discomfort when seeing things like honeycombs, lotus seed pods, or aerated chocolate.
Learn More →Vestiphobia
Vestiphobia is the fear of clothing. This can manifest as anxiety about wearing certain clothes, being seen in clothing, or even the concept of clothing itself.
Learn More →Xenophobia
Xenophobia is the fear of strangers or foreigners. This social phobia can manifest as prejudice or discrimination against people from different cultures or backgrounds.
Learn More →Zemmiphobia
Zemmiphobia is the fear of the great mole rat. This extremely rare phobia involves intense fear of these burrowing rodents.
Learn More →Zoophobia
Zoophobia is the fear of animals in general. This can include fear of specific animals or all animals, making it difficult to enjoy zoos or nature.
Learn More →When to Seek Help
If a phobia is interfering with your daily life, work, or relationships, it's important to seek professional help. Mental health professionals can provide effective treatments including cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and medication when appropriate.