Phobia –derived from the Greek word ‘Phobos’ literally meaning fear or horror. Phobias refers to an acute, implausible fear or feeling of antipathy towards a certain object, group, or concept.
Those suffering from a phobia make conscious efforts to avoid the feared object and escape situations that are difficult for them to endure or which cause anxiety to them regarding the same.
An encounter with these feared objects or concepts makes them overwhelmed, stressed, and leads to the person losing self-control. The chief features include:
- Symptoms of Phobias
- Causes of Phobias
- Treatment of Phobias
- Types of Phobias
Symptoms Of Various Phobias
- Trembling
- Nausea
- Panic attack
- Increased heart rate
- Sweating
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Shortness of Breath
- Tingling sensations
- Losing control of body movements
- Sudden changes in body temperature
- Thirsty
- Choking sensation
- Experience Overwhelming Anxiety
Causes Of Phobias
1. Genetics
Phobias faced by family members can be passed to the next generation through the passage of memories and experiences via DNA. Close relatives having anxiety or related disorders may pass genetics causing phobias or fears to their successors.
Moreover, anxiety may be acquired from family members and others who behave in a noticeably stressed or anxious manner around a child. Certain phobias may develop from existing genetic disorders.
Also, a twin baby is likely to develop a phobia if their other twin has been identified with one. For example, Agoraphobia.
2. Pessimistic and Negative Environments/Instances
Phobias can be developed due to certain negative, frightening, and panic-stricken events or accidents. Such objects or situations are those in which the mind and memory start associating with stress, anxiety, and discomfort.
All this leads to the creation of phobias and fears i.e. not wanting to face the situation again. For example, nearly falling off a very high building roof.
3. Brain Injuries or Disorders by birth
A brain injury leads to alteration in the Amygdala due to which the brain starts to process fear differently. Brain injuries can cause trauma and put one at risk of developing phobias or anxiety disorders which can further lead to phobias.
This might happen due to an imbalance in brain chemicals or damaged neurotransmitters of the brain. Cognitive damages and communication impairments due to brain injuries may adversely affect the social abilities of a person and cause phobias. For example, Sociophobia.
4. Substance Abuse
Excessive amounts of dope and alcohol may impair certain functions of the brain. These are often consumed in excess by people suffering from anxiety and depression issues. Drugs can also cause paranoia and hallucinations. For example, Marijuana can cause phobias 15 percent of the time.
5. Long Term and Deep Rooted Stress
Anxiety and stress taken for a long period of time can cause phobias regarding certain situations. For example, Ergophobia.
Treatment Of Phobias
1. Psychotherapy
This includes exposure to the patient’s phobias by making them face the object or situation they fear the most one at a time. This requires a lot of support and courage from the patient’s side.
This also includes cognitive therapy in terms of change of perception towards the feared object, by the development of confidence in terms of thoughts, feelings, and body sensations/movements.
2. Medications
Used for a short period of time, mostly used to identify the phobia detail. Includes usage of beta-blockers, sedatives, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines to control anxiety, adrenaline rush and to help the patient remain calm and relaxed.
3. Yoga and Relaxation Techniques
Deep breathing, certain yoga poses, and introspection exercises can help remove anxiety, calm the patient, and help them face their phobias.
4. Physical Exercises
Cardio exercises can help vent out stress, anxiety, and produce endorphins in the mind, which helps reduce fear and depression.
5. Homeopathy
Herbal remedies can help treat phobias. This helps eliminate anxiety by balancing the hormones. These include Lycopodium, Pulsatilla, Aconite, Gelsemium, etc.
6. Hypnotherapy
Helps explore the phobia in an extensive manner. It helps improve learned responses governed by the subconscious mind. It also eliminates anxiety.
Types Of Phobias
There are majorly 5 types of Phobias related to:
- Natural Environment
- Animals
- Medical Treatment
- Certain Motions
- Certain Situations
| Phobia Name | Description |
| Acrophobia | Fear of heights |
| Hydrophobia | Fear of water |
| Hemophobia | Fear of blood |
| Claustrophobia | Fear of confined spaces |
| Autophobia | Fear of being alone |
| Aerophobia | Fear of flying |
| Achluophobia | Fear of darkness |
| Amathophobia | Fear of dust |
| Antlophobia | Fear of floods |
| Arithmophobia | Fear of numbers |
| Arsonphobia | Fear of fire |
| Atelophobia | Fear of imperfection |
| Bibliophobia | Fear of books |
| Botanophobia | Fear of plants |
| Barophobia | Fear of gravity |
| Bathmophobia | Fear of stairs |
| Catoptrophobia | Fear of mirrors |
| Chionophobia | Fear of snow |
| Chorophobia | Fear of dancing |
| Chronophobia | Fear of time |
| Chaetophobia | Fear of hair |
| Coulrophobia | Fear of clowns |
| Cynophobia | Fear of dogs |
| Coimetrophobia | Fear of cemeteries |
| Chromophobia | Fear of colors |
| Cleptophobia | Fear of stealing |
| Cholerophobia | Fear of anger |
| Dendrophobia | Fear of trees |
| Dipsophobia | Fear of drinking |
| Decidophobia | Fear of making decisions |
| Ecophobia | Fear of home |
| Electrophobia | Fear of electricity |
| Equinophobia | Fear of horses |
| Ergophobia | Fear of work |
| Epistemophobia | Fear of knowledge |
| Felinophobia | Fear of cats |
| Febriphobia | Fear of fever |
| Frigophobia | Fear of cold |
| Geliophobia | Fear of laughter |
| Gamophobia | Fear of marriage |
| Gerascophobia | Fear of growing old |
| Glossophobia | Fear of speaking in public |
| Graphophobia | Fear of writing |
| Gynephobia | Fear of women |
| Heliophobia | Fear of the sun |
| Homophobia | Fear of men |
| Homichlophobia | Fear of fog |
| Hylophobia | Fear of forests |
| Hypnophobia | Fear of sleep |
| Hygrophobia | Fear of liquids |
| Hypengyophobia | Fear of responsibility |
| Ichthyophobia | Fear of fish |
| Iophobia | Fear of poison |
| Ideophobia | Fear of ideas |
| Kymophobia | Fear of waves |
| Kakorrhaphiophobia | Fear of failure |
| Koinoniphobia | Fear of rooms |
| Lachanophobia | Fear of vegetables |
| Ligyrophobia | Fear of loud noises around |
| Lyssophobia | Fear of becoming mad or crazy |
| Mageirocophobia | Fear of cooking |
| Melophobia | Fear of music |
| Methyphobia | Fear of alcohol |
| Metathesiophobia | Fear of changes |
| Mechanophobia | Fear of machines |
| Mnemophobia | Fear of memories |
| Myrmecophobia | Fear of ants |
| Nelophobia | Fear of glass |
| Noctiphobia | Fear of the night |
| Nomatophobia | Fear of names |
| Nephophobia | Fear of clouds |
| Obesophobia | Fear of gaining some weight |
| Oneirophobia | Fear of dreams |
| Olfactophobia | Fear of smells |
| Ochophobia | Fear of vehicles |
| Ornithophobia | Fear of birds |
| Papyrophobia | Fear of paper |
| Pedophobia | Fear of children |
| Pediophobia | Fear of dolls |
| Panophobia | Fear of everything |
| Phasmophobia | Fear of ghosts |
| Phengophobia | Fear of daylight |
| Phronemophobia | Fear of thinking |
| Poinephobia | Fear of punishment |
| Pupaphobia | Fear of puppets |
| Rhytiphobia | Fear of wrinkles |
| Sciophobia | Fear of shadows |
| Tachophobia | Fear of speed |
| Thermophobia | Fear of heat |
| Traumatophobia | Fear of injuries |
| Verbophobia | Fear of words |
| Vaccinophobia | Fear of vaccination |
| Vestiphobia | Fear of clothing |
| Wiccaphobia | Fear of witches |
| Xerophobia | Fear of dryness |
| Xyrophobia | Fear of razors |
| Xenophobia | Fear of strangers |
| Zelophobia | Fear of jealousy |
| Zeusophobia | Fear of God |
| Chiraptophobia | Fear Of Being Touched/Contacted |
| Acarophobia | Fear Of Itching |
| Aerophobia | Fear Of Drafts |
| Cathisophobia | Fear Of Sitting |
| Cacophobia | Fear Of Ugliness |
| Ecclesiophobia | Fear Of Churches |
| Selenophobia | Fear Of The Moon |
| Siderophobia | Fear Of The Stars |
| Syngenesophobia | Fear Of Relatives |
| Tachophobia | Fear Of Speed |
| Technophobia | Fear Of Technology |
| Uranophobia | Fear Of Heaven |
| Pharmacophobia | Fear Of Drugs |
| Ophidiophobia | Fear Of Snakes |
| Hamartophobia | Fear Of Sinning |
| Quadrophobia | Fear Of The Number Four |
| Nosocomephobia | Fear Of Hospitals |
| Necrophobia | Fear Of Death/ Dead Things |
| Aulophobia | Fear Of Flutes |
| Enetophobia | Fear Of Pins |
Conclusion
These are the must-know phobias, knowing the meanings of which help boost general knowledge, prepare well for competitive exams, and also help in recognizing fears and the way to urgently treat them shall the situation arise.
It is essential to have this basic knowledge of various fears faced by patients in order to understand the seriousness of such situations and to spread awareness regarding them.