Phobias from A-H
Haphephobia
Although it is rare, the fear of touch often has wide-ranging implications in both romantic and nonromantic relationships. In extreme cases, sufferers may not be able to tolerate even the most incidental contact from a relative or friend.
Febriphobia
Although fevers are a natural part of the body's response, some fevers indicate more severe medical troubles. For those with febriphobia, even a slight elevation in temperature may induce panic. How can we manage our fears and make reasoned medical decisions for our families?
Height-Related Phobias
Although they all fall under the general label of height-related phobias, anxiety at height is related to a wide range of specific fears.
Fear of Elevators
Elevator accidents are prominently featured in pop culture, but they rarely occur in real life. Nonetheless, elevator phobias are surprisingly common. What is so scary about an elevator?
What Is the Fear of Escalators?
Although escalator accidents occasionally occur, most are due to the rider's negligence. Yet many people are afraid to use escalators. What are some of the causes for this common phobia, and how can we get through the fear?
Heliophobia
The fear of sunlight, known as heliophobia, is often mild and easy to manage. More severe cases, though, may require professional intervention.
Ablutophobia
Although relatively uncommon, the fear of bathing can have devastating consequences. Social isolation and trouble at work or school are not uncommon in those with ablutophobia. Read on for information on the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.
Acrophobia
Acrophobia is the fear of heights. It is more general than aerophobia (fear of flying), and is not the same thing as vertigo. Read on for information on this common specific phobia.
Aerophobia
Aerophobia, or fear of flying, is a relatively common but potentially devastating phobia. Learn some causes of aerophobia and how it is generally treated.
Aquaphobia
Aquaphobia, or fear of water, can be devastating. Without treatment, it could lead to numerous other fears, isolation and even depression. Learn more about aquaphobia and how it is treated.
Arachnophobia
Arachnophobia is one of the most common specific phobias. Experts are not yet sure what causes this phobia, but many feel that it may have evolved as an ancient survival mechanism. Read on for more information about this common phobia.
Astraphobia
Astraphobia, or the fear of thunder and lightning, is especially common in children; however, it can affect people of any age. Read on for more on this relatively common phobia.
Astrophobia
Astrophobia, or fear of space, is a relatively common phobia. It may take different forms, from fear of aliens to fear of space exploration. Read on for more information on the fear of space.
Automatonophobia
Although full blown automatonophobia, or fear of humanoid figures, is rare, a certain level of nervousness is common. Read on for more on this unique phobia.
Bathmophobia
Bathmophobia, or fear of stairs and slopes, can be tricky to diagnose. Symptoms are shared with a range of other disorders, such as fear of heights, fear of climbing and medical vertigo. Learn more about this complicated phobia.
Bibliophobia
Bibliophobia is a relatively uncommon phobia that involves the fear of books. You may be afraid of all books or only those of a certain style or genre. Read on for more information on this unusual phobia.
Bromidrophobia
Bromidrophobia, or fear of body odors, can be largely traced to the current obsession with cleanliness. Read on for more on this relatively common phobia.
Cemetery Tombstones
Placophobia, or fear of cemetery tombstones, is generally related to thanatophobia, or fear of death. Even for those who are not afraid of death, it is not unusual to become nervous or uncomfortable in cemeteries, funeral homes or other places related to the dead. However, when a fear of cemetery tombstones or other hallmarks of death becomes...
Cibophobia
Cibophobia, or fear of food, is a relatively common but highly devastating phobia. Read on for important information on this complicated phobia.
Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia is the fear of enclosed spaces. This disorder can be quite life-limiting, leading sufferers to avoid activities from MRIs to roller coasters. Read on for information that all claustrophobia sufferers should have.
Climacophobia
Climacophobia, or fear of climbing, can be complicated to diagnose. It may be linked to several other phobias, including acrophobia and bathmophobia. Find out more about this unique phobia.
Clown Phobia
Coulrophobia, or fear of clowns, seems pervasive in our society. Yet very little scientific research has been performed. How can something that seems so innocent be a source of such terror? Read on for a historical look at clown phobia.
Cruise Ship Phobia
Separate from other cruise-related fears, such as claustrophobia and fear of the water, cruise ship phobia is an actual fear of the ship itself. What causes this fear and how can it be treated?
Cynophobia
Cynophobia, or fear of dogs, is extremely common. What causes this phobia, and how can it affect your life? Is treatment available? Find out here!
Dentophobia
Dentophobia, or fear of dentists, is incredibly common. It can become problematic, though, when it leads you to avoid needed dental treatments. Read on for more information on dentophobia.
Doomsday Phobias
Doomsday phobias are a relatively broad category that can encompass a wide range of more specific phobias. Any phobia that involves fear of the end of the world could be classified as a doomsday phobia. Learn more about these surprisingly common phobias.
Emetophobia
Emetophobia, or fear of vomiting, is surprisingly common, though little discussed. The fear may be caused by many different factors, and can have devastating consequences for sufferers. Find out more here.
Fears of Failure and Success
Fear of failure and success are related conditions that can prevent you from reaching your full potential. Read on for a description of the two disorders.
Glossophobia
Glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking, is surprisingly common. Unfortunately, it can also be extremely life-limiting. Here you will find information on diagnosing and treating this common phobia.
Hemophobia
Hemophobia, or fear of blood, is a common specific phobia. Unlike most specific phobias, it can lead to low blood pressure and even fainting. Learn more about this unique phobia.
Herpetophobia
Herpetophobia, or fear of reptiles, is relatively common around the world. As such, it is often exploited by Halloween events such as Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights 2008. Read on for more on this common phobia.
Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia
Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia, or fear of the number 666, is surprisingly common. Shrouded in religious belief, the fear can be quite pervasive. Read on to learn more about this unique phobia.
Hypochondriasis
Hyponchondriasis, or hypochondria, is an often-misunderstood disorder. It is not technically a phobia, but shares many of the same symptoms. Read on for more information on the symptoms and treatment for hypochondriasis.
Carnival Phobias
Carnivals form a fitting backdrop for many horror books and movies. Why is someplace so seemingly cheery so scary, and what phobias might be triggered?
What Is the Fear of Friday the 13th?
Depending on your perspective, you might see Friday the 13th as mildly frightening, somewhat unlucky or even a joke. But it can also be a source of life-limiting anxiety. Friday the 13th fears are surprisingly common.
What Is the Fear of Being Buried Alive?
Although rare, accidental live burial does occasionally occur. This idea has sparked fear and trepidation throughout history, leading to some unusual coping methods.
What Is the Fear of Madness?
Frequently highlighted in 19th century Gothic horror, the fear of madness is still surprisingly common today. The phobia may be more common in highly intelligent people and those with mentally ill family members.
What Is the Fear of New Ideas?
Cenophobia, or the fear of new ideas, is especially common in conservative corporate cultures. Yet cenophobia is stifling to growth. What should we know about this surprisingly common fear?
What Is the Fear of Chemicals?
Chemophobia, or the fear of chemicals, has led to numerous movements including the use of organic foods and natural cleaning products. Why is chemophobia so widespread and how can consumers decide what to do?
What Is Food Neophobia?
Food neophobia can be frustrating for both the sufferer and his loved ones. Picky eating could cause you to miss out on important nutrients, as well as creating awkward social situations.
What Is the Fear of Cooking a Holiday Dinner?
The fear of cooking a turkey is a widespread problem. Some people are afraid of causing illness, while others are afraid the results will be less than beautiful. Whatever your fear, you are not alone.
What Is the Fear of Demons?
The fear of demons, or daemonophobia, is surprisingly complicated. The fear may intertwine with religious beliefs, Hollywood films, and childhood issues. What is involved in daemonophobia and how can it be effectively managed?
What Is the Fear of Churches?
Ecclesiophobia, or the fear of churches, may describe two different fears. Some people are afraid of the building, while others fear the religious rituals. Why are churches so scary?
Food Phobias
Phobias related to food can be life-limiting, causing sufferers to dramatically curtail eating patterns. Though the individual phobias vary, many of the effects are the same.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia
Although hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia is a playful name, the fear of long words can have life-limiting effects. The phobia is often related to such fears as the fear of books and the fear of poetry, but may also stand alone.
Genuphobia
The fear of knees can be life-limiting, preventing sufferers from participating in certain activities, religious rituals, or even job tasks. The exact nature of the fear varies from person to person.
What Is the Fear of Throwing Things Out?
Disposophobia is a marketing term for hoarding. The disorder generally worsens over time and can wreak havoc on a sufferer's life. Learn how to tell the difference between hoarding and general messiness.
What Is the Fear of Time?
The fear of time often results in derealization, in which time seems to speed and slow at random. Surprisingly common among prisoners and older adults, chronophobia can have a major impact on overall mental health.
What Is the Fear of Deformity?
Dysmorphophobia is a broad phobia that encompasses not only the fear of developing a deformity but also the fear of disfigurement in others. The phobia is based in a variety of factors including medical phobias and the fear of strangers.
Animal Phobias
Although it is possible to develop a phobia of anything, some animals are much more feared than others. Why are we more scared of certain animals? Find out here.
What Is the Fear of Driving?
Although driving fears are often linked to agoraphobia or other disorders, they also occur independently. A fear of driving can be devastating, but often responds well to simple treatments.
Fear of Accidents
Dystychiphobia, the fear of accidents, is uncommon but often life-limiting. What is this fear and how can we cope with it?
What Is the Fear of Insects?
The fear of insects, or entomophobia, encompasses both fears of specific animals such as spiders or bees, and a more generalized fear of "bugs." Yet we generally fear something other than the animal, such as contamination or pain.
What Is the Fear of Sharp Objects?
The fear of sharp objects, or aichmophobia, varies widely between sufferers. Some people have a mild fear of a specific type of object, while others are terrified of anything that they perceive as sharp.
What Is the Fear of Anger?
The fear of anger, or angrophobia, can eventually wreak havoc on our psyches. Unexpressed anger is often turned inward, causing numerous problems. How can we stop angrophobia before it gets to this point?
What Is the Fear of Flowers?
Anthophobia, or the fear of flowers, is relatively rare. In many cases, it is linked to other phobias, though it can also stand alone. How can we cope with this life-limiting fear?
Fear of Human Responses
While social phobia is a more generalized fear of others, the fear of human responses specifically focuses on the ways that other people might react in a panicked situation. How can this fear affect our lives?
What Is the Fear of Cats?
The fear of cats includes a fear of physical harm and a fear of evil. Both types of cat phobia can significantly limit the sufferer's lifestyle.
What Is the Fear of Getting Well?
Phobias, like other mental health disorders, often ebb and flow. Although there are many possible reasons for this, one of the most common is the fear of getting well.
Arachibutyrophobia
Although arachibutyrophobia is rare, sufferers may be unable to consume peanut products at all. Why is the thought of peanut butter sticking in our mouths so frightening?
What Is the Fear of Bees?
Apiphobia generally, though not always, begins with a bee sting. The stings are painful and the experience is often frightening, but most people recover quickly. A phobia of bees can limit outdoor activities dramatically, as bees are difficult to avoid during certain times of year. For those who are allergic to bees, a fear of bees is not...
Genophobia
Also known as coitophobia, genophobia is the specific fear of sexual intercourse. The often devastating fear can wreak havoc on even the most committed relationship.
Erotophobia
The fear of sex, or erotophobia, is a complicated phobia that is often linked with a variety of other related fears. The phobia may have devastating consequences for romantic relationships.
Gymnophobia
The fear of nudity, or gymnophobia, is often complex. It can cause difficulty across a broad range of daily life experiences, but fortunately, there is help.
Cabin Fever
Although everyone reacts differently to intense isolation, cabin fever has many common symptoms. Have a look at this surprisingly common phenomenon.
Chionophobia
The fear of snow, also known as chionophobia, is relatively complex. Some people develop this fear based on pre-existing phobias, while for others it appears alone.
Cryophobia
The fear of cold, also known as cryophobia, affects sufferers in unique ways. It is more likely to occur following a negative experience but may also occur independently.
Cleithrophobia
The fear of being trapped, or cleithrophobia, is sometimes confused with the fear of small spaces, or claustrophobia. Yet the two are not interchangeable. The main difference is in the specific focus of the phobia.
Anemophobia
Often the result of another phobia, the fear of air is relatively complex. This phobia is fairly common in children, but rare in teens and adults.
What Is the Fear of the Northern Lights?
The fear of the northern lights, or auroraphobia, is relatively rare. The phobia is generally rooted in a larger fear of doomsday, and is a subset of the fear of astronomy.
Anthropophobia
Related to social phobia, the fear of people is a specific phobia. Those with anthrophobia actually fear other people rather than social situations.
Erythrophobia
Erythrophobia, or the fear of blushing, can be frustrating. The more we worry about blushing, the more we are likely to blush. Have a look inside this unusual fear.
Fear of Abandonment
Although it is not technically named as a phobia, the fear of abandonment is both common and potentially devastating. This fear is complex, but unraveling it is extremely important.
Fluoxetine
Fluoxetine, better known by its brand name Prozac, is an SSRI. An antidepressant, Prozac is sometimes prescribed for social phobia and other phobias. Like any medication, it has both risks and benefits.
What Is the Fear of Chewing Gum?
Oprah Winfrey suffers from the rare phobia known as chiclephobia, or the fear of chewing gum. Like all phobias, it varies widely in both severity and symptoms.
Hikikomori
Similar to both social phobia and agoraphobia, hikikomori is almost always experienced by Asian males. The phenomenon is relatively new and has not been extensively researched.
Ataque de Nervios
Ataque de nervios shares many symptoms with panic attacks but is not the same disorder. Ataque de nervios appears primarily in Latina women over age 45.
