Phobias Blog

Shubo-kyofu, or fear of a deformed body, is a culturally-bound Japanese phobia. Similar to dysmorphophobia, the fear is a subtype of taijin kyofusho, or Japanese social phobia. Learn more about the differences between this and Western fears of deformity.

A subtype of taijin kyofusho, or a Japanese form of social phobia, jiko-shisen-kyofu is literally the fear of one's own glance. In the West, jiko-shisen-kyofu is often considered a specific phobia, but in Japan it is usually treated with traditional methods. Learn more about this unusual phobia.

Koro, or fear of genital retraction, is often but not always linked to Asian males. It sometimes appears as mass hysteria in other parts of the world from Africa to the United States. What is this fear, and why does it hit large groups?

A relatively new disorder in young Asian males, hikikomori resembles both social phobia and agoraphobia. Yet it is not exactly the same. Have a look at this troubling new phenomenon.

Literally translated, "attack of the nerves," ataque de nervios is relatively common among Latina women over 45 years old. It looks similar to a panic attack, but has a number of subtle differences. Have a look at this complex disorder.

Practiced by Japanese mental health professionals, Morita therapy is used to treat a wide variety of conditions including phobias. Traditional Morita therapy requires a three-week hospital stay. Today, the treatment is often adapted for outpatient use.

Like bromidrophobia and the Japanese jiko-shu-kyofu, olfactory reference syndrome is concerned with body odors. Yet the condition also has much in common with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Learn more about this relatively unusual condition.

Taijin kyofusho is a relatively complicated Japanese form of social phobia. Rather than being afraid of embarrassing themselves, sufferers fear that they will embarrass others. Learn more about this complex phobia.

Although rare, the fear of chewing gum can be tough to live with--just ask Oprah Winfrey. Apparently she is so afraid of the substance that she had it banned inside her studio. While Oprah's fear can be directly traced to her grandmother's tendency to keep used gum, many people have no memory of any sort of childhood chewing gum trauma. Do you have this fear? How do you cope with our gum-loving society? Share your thoughts!

Parnate, or tranylcypromine, is sometimes used in the treatment of phobias. Like all MAOIs, it has a number of side effects and can interact with a wide range of both medications and foods. Parnate is often very effective, but it is important to understand the risks and benefits. Here's a closer look at this relatively common medication.