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Phobias, types of anxiety disorders, are intense, irrational fears that a person can’t shake off even when there is no real danger. People affected by phobias recognize that their fears are unreasonable but they cannot control them. Individuals affected by a Specific Phobia will go out of their way to avoid the object or situation, and even the mere mention of them will cause anxiety. Specific Phobias can be linked to nearly any object or situation. Such as fear of insects, fear of heights, fear of flying, fear of the dark – even fear of going out in public. Many have been given familiar and not so familiar names:
- Acrophobia – fear of heights.
- Aerophobia – fear of flying.
- Agoraphobia – fear of leaving one’s home.
- Arachnophobia – fear of spiders.
- Astraphobia – fear of thunder and lightning.
- Aviophobia – fear of airplanes.
- Claustrophobia – fear of confined spaces.
- Hemophobia – fear of the sight of blood.
- Microphobia – fear of germs.
- Nyctophobia – fear of darkness.
- Ophidiophobia – fear of snakes.
- Pathophobia – fear of disease.
- Pyrophobia – fear of fire.
- Pogonophobia – fear of beards.
- Xenophobia – fear of strangers.
- Zoophobia – fear of animals.
Fear of Fear
You can combine the root word with the word phobia and any number of fears can be named. For example, acarophobia, a fear of itching, phobosophobia, a fear of fear and so forth.
Nearly everyone has a few mild phobias, such as a fear of heights, enclosed spaces, or bugs, but true phobias may lead to vomiting, panic attacks, wild climbing or running around – even fainting. For a phobic disorder to exist, the person’s life must be disrupted by the fear. Some people will drive 50 miles out of their way to avoid crossing a bridge.
If you have a phobia, you aren’t alone. Nearly 10 percent of all adults have a phobic disorder.
This report is not a diagnosis. We hope this information can guide you toward improving your life.
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