Fears play out at inopportune times- a fear of falling in love- because of past painful experiences, prevents us from being open to loving and being loved- an essential part of being human and feeling good. A fear of trains can put a dream job out of reach if it's the only practical way to get to work on time. A fear of planes takes away the meaningful people and things in faraway places that could have been.
Fearlessness is rare- almost every person alive is scared of something, whether it's spiders or speed, falling or failing, commitment or crocodiles. In every case, the real fear is real, and labeling a fear may be the first step to overcoming it or preventing it from becoming a phobia- a condition more serious than fear.
The definition of phobia is an aversion to or irrational fear of something. While others may see a particular fear as foolish, for the person with a phobia, the fear makes perfect sense, but it plays out in ways that prevent them from fully engaging in life.
Phobia Of Phobias
Phobophobia, or phobia of phobias is an intense and terrifying fear of being fearful or afraid. The meaning of phobia of phobias is fear of fear, but the fear is of either:
The fear of future anxiety, specifically the physical sensations that accompany fear a person feels could shorten their life or cause permanent damage. The fear could be heart palpitations, shortness of breath, or breaking out into a cold sweat.
The fear that they could develop a specific phobia. By anticipating a potential phobia, phobophobia can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Key to the fears of phobia of phobias is the anticipation that something will happen, the anticipatory anxiety of a specific phobia.
Types Of Phobias
Phobias can be simple phobias of specific things usually occurring in childhood, or complex phobias that develop in adults and are characterized by a deep-rooted fear or anxiety. There are four main categories of simple phobias:
Environmental phobias
Animal phobias
Situational phobias
Bodily phobias
Sexual phobias
Names Of Phobias
To find the name of the phobia you may be suffering from, use Ctrl + F to search, or browse this extensive list of phobia names:
Extensive List of Phobia Names
Phobia name | Fear of | |
|---|---|---|
A | Abultophobia | Fear of bathing |
Achievemephobia | Fear of success | |
Achluophobia | Fear of darkness | |
Acrophobia | Fear of heights | |
Aerophobia | Fear of flying | |
Ailurophobia | Fear of cats | |
Aibohphobia | Fear of palindromes | |
Algophobia | Fear of pain | |
Agoraphobia | Fear of open spaces or crowds where escaping would be difficult | |
Aichmophobia | Fear of needles or pointed objects | |
Alektorophobia | Fear of chickens | |
Algophobia | Fear of pain | |
Amaxophobia | Fear of driving or riding in a car | |
Ambulophobia | Fear of walking | |
Anatidaephobia | Fear that a duck or goose is watching you | |
Androphobia | Fear of men | |
Anemophobia | Fear of air or wind | |
Anginophobia | Fear of angina or choking | |
Angrophobia | Fear of anger | |
Anthrophobia | Fear of flowers | |
Anthropophobia | Fear of people or society | |
Apiphobia | Fear of Bees | |
Aphenphosmphobia | Fear of being touched | |
Arachibutyrophobia | Fear of peanut butter sticking to your mouth | |
Arachnophobia | Fear of spiders | |
Arithmophobia | Fear of numbers | |
Astraphobia | Fear of thunder and lightning | |
Astrophobia | Fear of outer space | |
Ataxophobia | Fear of disorder or untidiness | |
Atelophobia | Fear of imperfection | |
Fear of failure | ||
Automatonophobia | Fear of human-like figures | |
Autophobia | Fear of being alone | |
B | Bacteriophobia | Fear of bacteria |
Barophobia | Fear of gravity | |
Bathmophobia | Fear of stairs or steep slopes | |
Batrachophobia | Fear of amphibians | |
Belonephobia | Fear of pins and needles | |
Bibliophobia | Fear of books | |
Botanophobia | Fear of plants | |
Brontophobia | Fear of thunder | |
C | Cacophobia | Fear of ugliness |
Catagelophobia | Fear of being ridiculed | |
Catoptrophobia | Fear of mirrors | |
Chiclephobia | Fear of chewing gum | |
Chionophobia | Fear of snow | |
Chrometophobia | Fear of spending money | |
Chromophobia | Fear of colors | |
Chronomentrophobia | Fear of clocks | |
Chronophobia | Fear of timethe future or time passing | |
Cibophobia | Fear of food | |
Claustrophobia | Fear of confined spaces | |
Climacophobia | Fear of climbing | |
Coulrophobia | Fear of clowns | |
Cyberphobia | Fear of computers | |
Cynophobia | Fear of dogs | |
D | Daemonophobia | Fear of demons |
Decidophobias | Fear of making decisions | |
Deipnophobia | Fear of dining with others | |
Dendrophobia | Fear of trees | |
Dentophobia | Fear of dentists | |
Domatophobia | Fear of houses | |
Doraphobia | Fear of touching the skin or fur of animals | |
Dyphobia | Fear of the number 2 | |
Dystychiphobia | Fear of accidents | |
E | Ecophobia | Fear of the home |
Elurophobia | Fear of cats | |
Emetophobia | Fear of vomiting | |
Ennaphobia | Fear of the number 9 | |
Entomophobia | Fear of insects | |
Ephebiphobia | Fear of teenagers | |
Eremophobia | Fear of being alone | |
Ergophobia | Fear of work | |
Erotophobia | Fear of sex | |
Equinophobia | Fear of horses | |
Escalaphobia | Fear of escalators | |
F | Friggatriskaidekaphobia | Fear of Friday 13th |
G | Gamophobia | Fear of marriage |
Genuphobia | Fear of knees | |
Gerascophobia | Fear of getting older | |
Germophophia | Fear of germs | |
Globophobia | Fear of balloons | |
Glossophobia | Fear of speaking in public | |
Gynophobia | Fear of women | |
H | Haphephobia | Fear of touch |
Heliophobia | Fear of the sun | |
Hemophobia | Fear of blood | |
Herpetophobia | Fear of reptiles | |
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia | Fear of long words | |
Hydrophobia | Fear of water | |
Hygrophobia | Fear of liquids, dampness, and moisture | |
Hypnophobia | Fear of sleep | |
Hypochondria | Fear of illness | |
i | Iatrophobia | Fear of doctors |
Ichthyophobia | Fear of fish | |
Insectophobia | Fear of insects | |
k | Kakorrhaphiophobia | Fear of failure |
Koinoniphobia | Fear of rooms | |
Koumpounophobia | Fear of buttons | |
Krokodeilophobia | Fear of crocodiles | |
L | Lepidopterophobia | Fear of butterflies or moths |
Leukophobia | Fear of the color white | |
Lilapsophobia | Fear of tornadoes and hurricanes | |
Linonophobia | Fear of string | |
Lockiophobia | Fear of childbirth | |
M | Mageirocophobia | Fear of cooking |
Mastigophobia | Fear of punishment, abuse, or being beaten | |
Megalophobia | Fear of large things | |
Melanophobia | Fear of the color black | |
Melissophobia | Fear of bees | |
Metathesiophobia | Fear of change | |
Microphobia | Fear of small things | |
Monophobia | Fear of being abandoned | |
Muscophobia | Fear of mice | |
Mysophobia | Fear of dirt and germs | |
N | Necrophobia | Fear of death or dead things |
Noctiphobia | Fear of the night | |
Nomophobia | Fear of being without your mobile phone | |
Nosocomephobia | Fear of hospitals | |
Numerophophia | Fear of particular numbers | |
Nyctophobia | Fear of the dark | |
O | Obesophobia | Fear of gaining weight |
Octophobia | Fear of the number 8 | |
Ombrophobia | Fear of rain | |
Omphalophobia | Fear of belly buttons | |
Ophidiophobia | Fear of snakes | |
Optophobia | Fear of opening one’s eyes | |
Ornithophobia | Fear of birds | |
Osmophobia | Fear of smells | |
Ostraconophobia | Fear of shellfish | |
P | Papyrophobia | Fear of paper |
Paraskevidekatriaphobia | Fear of Friday 13th | |
Paruresis | Fear of urinating in public places or in front of others | |
Pathophobia | Fear of disease | |
Pediophobia | Fear of dolls | |
Pedophobia | Fear of children | |
Peniaphobia | Fear of poverty or going broke | |
Philematophobia | Fear of kissing | |
Philophobia | Fear of love | |
Phobophobia | Fear of phobias | |
Pithecophobia | Fear of apes and monkeys | |
Plutophobia | Fear of money | |
Podophobia | Fear of feet | |
Pogonophobia | Fear of beards | |
Porphyrophobia | Fear of the color purple | |
Pteridophobia | Fear of ferns | |
Pteromerhanophobia | Fear of flying | |
Pyrophobia | Fear of fire | |
S | Samhainophobia | Fear of Halloween |
Sciophobia | Fear of shadows | |
Scolionophobia | Fear of school | |
Scoptophobia | Fear of being stared at | |
Selenophobia | Fear of the moon | |
Sociophobia | Fear of social evaluation | |
Somniphobia | Fear of sleep | |
Spheksophobia | Fear of wasps | |
T | Tachophobia | Fear of speed |
Taphephobia | Fear of being interred alive | |
Technophobia | Fear of technology | |
Tetraphobia | Fear of the number 4 | |
Thalassophobia | Fear of the ocean or deep water | |
Trichophobia | Fear of hair | |
Triskaidekaphobia | Fear of the number 13 | |
Triskaphobia | Fear of the number 3 | |
Trypophobia | Fear of clustered patterns of holes | |
Tonitrophobia | Fear of thunder | |
Trypanophobia | Fear of needles/injections | |
Trypophobia | Fear of holes | |
V | Venustraphobia | Fear of beautiful women |
Verminophobia | Fear of germs | |
Vestiphobia | Fear of clothing | |
W | Wiccaphobia | Fear of witches and witchcraft |
X | Xanthophobia | Fear of the color yellow |
Xenophobia | Fear of strangers or foreigners, or strange things | |
Xenophobia | Fear of the unknown (psychological term) | |
Z | Zoophobia | Fear of animals |
Zuigerphobia | Fear of vacuum cleaners | |
*Where fears have two different names, both are listed.
Official Phobia Names
Phobias are not simply fears, but a marked, persistent, irrational, excessive fear triggered by the presence or anticipation of a specific situation or thing. Categorized as an anxiety disorder in the DSM-5, the names of phobias are generally created by combining a Greek (or Latin) translation that describes the phobia as a prefix followed by the suffix phobia as the need arises.
DSM-5 Phobia Diagnosis
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses, also known in its current version as the DSM-5, is the main guide for U.S. mental health providers. A DSM-5 Specific Phobia comparison lists the following elements of a phobia diagnosis:
Anxiety or a marked fear about a specific object or situation (e.g., animals, public speaking).
The feared object or situation provokes fear or anxiety almost immediately.
The phobia is out of proportion to any actual danger posed
The feared object or situation is either actively avoided or tolerated with intense fear or anxiety.
The phobia causes clinically significant distress or debility at work, in social situations, or in other key areas. The phobia is persistent and lasts 6 months or more.
The turmoil can’t be attributed to another mental disorder, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), separation anxiety disorder, or social anxiety disorder.
The phobia is linked to a specific type of animal, natural environment feature, medical procedure or ancillary object, situation, or other type of fear.
Anticipatory Anxiety
Anticipatory anxiety is excessive worry about a future event. Although it's natural to worry about something that may happen in the future, excessive worrying brings in unlikely eventualities. The associated anxiety of something that may or may not happen in the future, effectively mar's present happiness, overshadowing the joy right in front of us.
In a work situation, we may worry about a high-level meeting. Planning, diligently preparing a presentation, and working out a strategy to address any issues raised are effective methods of preparation. Obsessing over any fine detail that may be missed or come up can eclipse the goal being focussed on, and produce high levels of unnecessary stress and anxiety that will diminish the efficacy of the presentation.
Similarly, when getting ready for a date, a to-do list- shower, look good, have a few things ready to talk about, and get there on time, are good ways to make a good impression. But the date is about connecting with another human being, hopefully for a long time into the future. It won't matter how good you look if your values are poles apart. Having a preset value list won't help if it's fake- because a fake relationship won't be meaningful or lasting.
When it comes to natural disasters, if you live on a fault line where earthquakes occur, near a forest where wildfires regularly blaze out of control, or in the valley of a volcano that may erupt, there are ways to be prepared, contingency plans that can be put in place, but worrying is an unproductive way to prevent damage.
Concern over the future is common, obsessing over or trying to control it to the extent that the anxiety spoils the goal is meaningless and debilitating. The future will unfold despite your anxiety, and sadly- sometimes because of your anxiety. Negative thinking can’t produce positive outcomes.
Tips To Cope With Anxiety
Don’t neglect your basic needs: Set aside me-time for self-care regularly.
Eat a balanced diet: Limit caffeine, sugar, and addictive substances that can make anxiety worse.
Address negative thoughts as soon as they pop into your head: Look at them rationally, and decide if you can do something about the concern. If you can't, let it go.
Exercise: It lifts the mood and self-esteem while easing anxiety.
Educate yourself: Learn as much as you can about the things that are causing anxiety.
Get good sleep: Going to bed and getting up at more or less the same time is as important as getting enough hours of sleep
Practice meditation, relaxation, and mindfulness: Centering and grounding yourself from time to time, being grateful, and other mind-calming methods all help reduce anxiety and put things in perspective.
Be kind to yourself: Compassionate people are often guilty of being compassionate to the one person they should care about: themselves.
Apprehensive Living
.
In the dictionary, apprehensive means: anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will happen. Will is the operative word. When it comes to phobias, the fear isn't rational, and will seldom happen. Even if it is likely to happen, worrying can't necessarily prevent it.
The key takeaway: If you are in distress because a phobia is preventing you from feeling whole- reach out to someone who can help. While you are working on healing, find relief in mindfulness, meditation, or NLP techniques that relieve symptoms by exploring the many ways others have found to cope. And never forget that you are not alone, reach out to people- many are willing to help, be there, or just listen, and that human connection is far more meaningful than most future potential events.
More importantly, live life, and find ways to make it meaningful, not anxiety-ridden.
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