Yahoo Lifestyle The Ultimate List of 350 Surprising and Common Phobias from A-Z
Everyone is afraid of something—it’s what makes us human. From being scared of certain animals and objects to specific situations, the list of fears that people can have is endless. Though fears shouldn’t be viewed as a weakness, they are actually a natural reaction that helps protect people from danger and potential threats. However, when someone constantly has intense feelings of anxiety and terror about something that isn’t necessary, it’s no longer just a fear—it crosses over into being a phobia. And there is quite the list of common phobias from A-Z that people can relate to.
If you’re someone who has a phobia that you feel has taken over your life, you’re not alone. A lot of people have them. In fact, it’s estimated that over 19 million Americans, from children to adults, have at least one phobia that they struggle with. Even the bravest characters in movies are affected by them. Take Elsa from Frozen, for instance; her cryophobia fuels a deep anxiety about her ice powers, leading her to withdraw and isolate herself from her town and family because she’s worried if she doesn’t, she’ll cause harm to those she loves. This illustrates how an intense fear can deeply affect a person’s daily choices and behaviors as try to navigate life with a phobia. The struggle to manage what terrifies them often shapes their actions and decisions in significant ways.
To learn all about phobias, keep reading. We cover everything from the different types there are to what causes them in the first place. We even let you in on if they are curable or not. Plus, we rounded up over 300 of the most common and unique phobias, 350 to be exact. To see what they are, check out the complete list, below. You may even be surprised to find out what some of them are, which goes to show that pretty much anything can be considered terrifying to someone.
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What Is a Phobia?
The difference between being afraid of something and having a phobia lies in the intensity and impact of that fear. Fear is a normal response to a perceived threat and is often rational, but a phobia is an anxiety disorder. It involves a person having an irrational and overwhelming fear that is uncontrollable. The fear surrounding a phobia can become so intense that individuals go to great lengths to avoid encountering the source of their anxiety, which often leads to them altering their daily lives to escape it. This aversion can significantly impact their overall well-being, demonstrating just how powerful and consuming phobias can be.
For example, if the sight of a snake in a movie scene triggers someone to have a full-blown panic attack, or if someone goes to great lengths to avoid a snake-themed ride at an amusement park, or refuses to go hiking because they are nervous that they might run into a snake, it indicates that their anxiety has reached a level that significantly disrupts their daily life and is a clear sign of phobic behavior. This extreme response highlights how phobias can transform ordinary situations into sources of distress.
Different Types of Phobias
Phobias can generally be categorized into three main groups: specific phobias, social phobias and agoraphobia phobias.
Specific phobias are intense fears tied to particular objects or situations, ranging from common triggers, like spiders or heights, to less popular ones. Social phobias, on the other hand, involve a profound fear of social interactions or situations where one might be judged or scrutinized, leading to anxiety about public speaking, meeting new people, or even eating in front of others. Lastly, agoraphobia, which encompasses the fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable, often manifests as a fear of leaving home or being in crowded places.
Each of these groups presents its own challenges and intricacies, highlighting the different ways fear can affect our lives.
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Common Phobia vs. Rare Phobia: What's the Difference?
If you think about a phobia you have, most of the time it will be something that is considered to be a common phobia, which means it’s something that a lot of people have a fear of, like a fear of heights.
However, if you have a phobia that isn’t super recognized in society, it is considered to be a rare phobia. Those phobias can include unusual fears, like those associated with specific objects. The key difference of the two lies in their commonness and societal recognition, with common phobias often being the focus of popular discourse, while rare phobias can leave individuals feeling isolated in their fears.
List of Common Phobias A-Z
A
1. Ablutophobia: fear of bathing
2. Acarophobia: fear of itching or of the insects that cause itching
3. Acerophobia: fear of sourness
4. Aeronausiphobia: fear of vomiting secondary to airsickness
5. Aerophobia: fear of aircraft or flying
6. Aerophobia: fear of drafts, air swallowing, or airborne noxious substances
7. Agateophobia: fear of insanity
8. Agliophobia: fear of pain
9. Agraphobia: fear of sexual abuse
10. Agrizoophobia: fear of wild animals
11. Aichmophobia: fear of sharp or pointed objects
12. Albuminurophobia: fear of kidney disease
13. Alektorophobia: fear of chickens
14. Alliumphobia: fear of the strong-scented Allium genus: garlic, onions, chives, shallots
15. Amathophobia: fear of dust
16. Amaxophobia: fear of riding in a car
17. Ambulophobia: fear of walking
18. Amnesiphobia: fear of amnesia
19. Amychophobia: fear of scratches
20. Anablephobia: fear of looking up
21. Anatidaephobia: fear of ducks
22. Ancraophobia: fear of wind
23. Anthophobia: fear of flowers
24. Anthropophobia: fear of human beings
25. Antlophobia: fear of floods
26. Anuptaphobia: fear of staying single
27. Apotemnophobia: fear of amputees
28. Arachibutyrophobia: fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth
29. Arachnophobia: fear of spiders and other arachnids such as scorpions
30. Arithmophobia: fear of numbers
31. Asthenophobia: fear of fainting
32. Astrophobia: fear of stars
33. Asymmetriphobia: fear of asymmetrical things
34. Ataxophobia: fear of disorder or untidiness
35. Atelophobia: fear of imperfection
36. Athazagoraphobia: fear of being forgotten
37. Atomosophobia: fear of atomic explosions
38. Autophobia: fear of isolation
39. Aulophobia: fear of flutes
40. Aurophobia: fear of gold
41. Auroraphobia: fear of Northern lights
42. Automatonophobia: fear of ventriloquist’s dummies
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B
43. Bacillophobia: fear of microbes
44. Bacteriophobia: fear of bacteria
45. Ballistophobia: fear of missiles or bullets
46. Barophobia: fear of gravity
47. Bathmophobia: fear of stairs
48. Batophobia: fear of being close to high buildings
49. Belonephobia: fear of needles
50. Bibliophobia: fear of books
51. Bogyphobia: fear of the Bogeyman
52. Botanophobia: fear of plants
53. Brontophobia: fear of thunder and lightning
54. Bufonophobia: fear of toads
C
55. Cacophobia: fear of ugliness
56. Cainotophobia: fear of newness
57. Caligynephobia: fear of beautiful women
58. Carcinophobia: fear of cancer
59. Cardiophobia: fear of the heart
60. Carnophobia: fear of meat
61. Catagelophobia: fear of being ridiculed
62. Catapedaphobia: fear of jumping from high and low places
63. Chemophobia: fear of chemicals
64. Cherophobia: fear of happiness
65. Chionophobia: fear of snow
66. Chirophobia: fear of hands
67. Chiclephobia: fear of chewing gum
68. Chiroptophobia: fear of bats
69. Cholerophobia: fear of anger
70. Chorophobia: fear of dancing
71. Christianophobia: fear of Christians
72. Chrematophobia: fear of money
73. Chromophobia: fear of colors
74. Chronomentrophobia: fear of clocks
75. Chronophobia: fear of time and time moving forward
76. Cibophobia: fear of food
77. Claustrophobia: fear of having no escape and being closed in
78. Cleisiophobia: fear of being locked in an enclosed place
79. Climacophobia: fear of climbing
80. Clinophobia: fear of going to bed
81. Cnidophobia: fear of stings
82. Coimetrophobia: fear of cemeteries
83. Coitophobia: fear of coitus
84. Cometophobia: fear of comets
85. Consecotaleophobia: fear of chopsticks
86. Coprastasophobia: fear of constipation
87. Coprophobia: fear of feces
88. Coronaphobia: fear of COVID-19
89. Coulrophobia: fear of clowns
90. Cryophobia: fear of ice
91. Crystallophobia: fear of crystals
92. Cyberphobia: fear of computers
93. Cyclophobia: fear of bicycles
94. Cymophobia: fear of wave-like motions
95. Cynophobia: fear of dogs
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D
96. Decidophobia: fear of making decisions
97. Defecaloesiophobia: fear of painful bowel movements
98. Demonophobia: fear of demons
99. Dendrophobia: fear of trees
100. Deipnophobia: fear of dining with others
101. Dermatophobia: fear of skin disease
102. Diabetophobia: fear of diabetes
103. Diagraphephobia: fear of losing your computer data
104. Didaskaleinophobia: fear of going to school
105. Dinophobia: fear of whirlpools
106. Dipsophobia: fear of drinking
107. Dishabiliophobia: fear of undressing in front of someone
108. Disposophobia: fear of throwing stuff out
109. Domatophobia: fear of houses
110. Doraphobia: fear of fur or skins of animals
111. Doxophobia: fear of expressing opinions or of receiving praise
112. Dromophobia: fear of crossing streets
113. Dystychiphobia: fear of accidents
E
114. Eisoptrophobia: fear of mirrors or seeing one’s reflection in a mirror
115. Electrophobia: fear of electricity
116.Eleutherophobia: fear of freedom
117. Emetophobia: fear of throwing up
118. Enetophobia: fear of pins
119. Eosophobia: fear of dawn
120. Ephebiphobia: fear of youth
121. Epistaxiophobia: fear of nosebleeds
122. Epistemophobia: fear of knowledge
123. Eremophobia: fear of being oneself
124. Ereuthrophobia: fear of blushing
125. Ergophobia: fear of work
126. Erythrophobia: fear of the color red
F
127. Fibriophobia: fear of getting a fever
128. Euphobia: fear of hearing good news
129. Francophobia: fear of France
130. Felinophobia: fear of cats
131. Frigophobia: fear of cold things
G
132. Galeophobia: fear of sharks
133. Gamophobia: fear of marriage
134. Gelotophobia: fear of being laughed at
135.Geniophobia: fear of chins
136. Genuphobia: fear of knees
137. Gephyrophobia: fear of bridges
138. Germanophobia: fear of Germans
139. Gerontophobia: fear of aging or the elderly
140. Geumophobia: fear of taste
141. Globophobia: fear of balloons
142. Glossophobia: fear of speaking in public or of trying to speak
143. Gymnophobia: fear of nudity
144. Gynophobia: fear of adult women
H
145. Halitophobia: fear of bad breath
146. Hamartophobia: fear of sinning
147. Haphephobia: fear of being touched
148. Harpaxophobia: fear of being robbed
149. Heliophobia: fear of sunlight
150. Helminthophobia: fear of worms
151. Hemophobia: fear of blood
152. Heptadekaphobia: fear of the number 17
153. Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia: fear of the number 666
154. Hibernophobia: fear of Irish people
155. Hinduphobia: fear of Hindus
156. Hippophobia: fear of horses
157. Hippopotomonsrosesquippedaliophobia: fear of long words
158. Hierophobia: fear of priests
159. Hispanophobia: fear of Hispanic people, Hispanic culture, and the Spanish language
160. Hobophobia: fear of bums or beggars
161. Hodophobia: fear of travel
162. Homichlophobia: fear of fog
163. Homilophobia: fear of sermons
164. Hominophobia: fear of men
165. Homophobia: fear of homosexuality, homosexuals, or gays
166. Hoplophobia: fear of firearms
167. Hydrophobia: fear of water
168. Hygrophobia: fear of liquids, dampness, or moisture
169. Hylophobia: fear of forests
170. Hypnophobia: fear of sleep
171. Hypochondria: fear of illness
I
172. Iatrophobia: fear of going to the doctor or of doctors
173. Ichthyophobia: fear of fish
174. Ideophobia: fear of ideas
175. Insectophobia: fear of insects
176. Iranophobia: fear of Iran or Iranian culture
177. Islamophobia: fear of Muslims
178. Isolophobia: fear of solitude, being alone
179. Isopterophobia: fear of termites
J
180. Japanophobia: fear of Japanese
181. Judeophobia: fear of Jews
K
182. Kakorrhaphiophobia: fear of failure
183. Katsaridaphobia: fear of cockroaches
184. Kinesophobia: fear of movement
185. Kopophobia: fear of fatigue
186. Koryophobia: fear of the Koreans
187. Koumpounophobia: fear of buttons on clothing
188. Kymophobia: fear of waves
189. Kyphophobia: fear of stooping
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L
190. Lachanophobia: fear of vegetables
191. Latinophobia: fear of Latin people
192. Lepidopterophobia: fear of butterflies
193. Leprophobia or Lepraphobia: fear of leprosy
194. Leukophobia: fear of the color white
195. Ligyrophobia: fear of loud noises
196. Lilapsophobia: fear of tornadoes or hurricanes
197. Limnophobia: fear of lakes
197. Linonophobia: fear of string
198. Lipophobia: fear of fats in food
199. Liticaphobia: fear of lawsuits
200. Logophobia: fear of words
201. Lusophobia: fear of the Portuguese, Portuguese culture, and the Portuguese language
202. Lyssophobia: fear of rabies
M
203. Macrophobia: fear of long waits
204. Mageiricophobia: fear of cooking
205. Maieusiophobia: fear of childbirth
206. Masklophobia: fear of people in masks, costumes, and mascots
207. Mechanophobia: fear of machines
208. Megalophobia: fear of large objects
209. Melanophobia: fear of the color black
210. Melissophobia: fear of bees
211. Melophobia: fear of music
212. Meningitophobia: fear of brain disease
213. Menophobia: fear of menstruation
214. Merinthophobia: fear of being bound or tied up
215. Metallophobia: fear of metal
216. Meteorophobia: fear of meteors
217. Mysophobia: fear of being contaminated with dirt
218. Musophobia: fear of mice or rats
219. Mycophobia: fear of mushrooms
220. Mycrophobia: fear of small things
221. Myrmecophobia: fear of ants
222. Myxophobia: fear of slime
N
223. Neophobia: fear of anything new
224. Nephophobia: fear of clouds
225. Noctiphobia: fear of the night
226. Nosocomephobia: fear of hospitals
227. Nosophobia: fear of contracting a disease
228. Nostophobia: fear of returning home
229. Nucleomituphobia: fear of nuclear weapons
O
230. Obesophobia: fear of gaining weight
231. Ochlophobia: fear of crowds
232. Ochophobia: fear of vehicles
233. Odontophobia: fear of dentists
234. Oikophobia: fear of home surroundings and household appliances
235. Ombrophobia: fear of rain or of being rained on
236. Omphalophobia: fear of belly buttons
237. Ophidiophobia: fear of snakes
238. Ophthalmophobia: fear of being stared at
239. Opiophobia: fear medical doctors experience of prescribing needed pain medications for patients
240. Ornithophobia: fear of birds
241. Ostraconophobia: fear of shellfish
P
242. Papaphobia: fear of the Pope
243. Papyrophobia: fear of paper
244. Panphobia: fear of everything or the constant fear of an unknown
245. Parasitophobia: fear of parasites
246. Phagophobia: fear of swallowing
247. Phalacrophobia: fear of becoming bald
248. Paraskavedekatriaphobia: fear of Friday the 13th
249. Pediophobia: fear of dolls
250. Pedophobia: fear of babies
251. Peladophobia: fear of bald people
252. Peniaphobia: fear of poverty
253. Philematophobia: fear of kissing
254. Philophobia: fear of love
255. Phthiriophobia: fear of lice
256. Phyllophobia: fear of leaves
257. Placophobia: fear of tombstones
258. Pocrescophobia: fear of gaining weight
259. Podophobia: fear of feet
260. Pogonophobia: fear of beards
261. Polonophobia: fear of the Polish
262. Polyphobia: fear of many things
263. Porphyrophobia: fear of the color purple
264 .Potamophobia: fear of rivers or running water
265. Pteridophobia: fear of ferns
266. Pteronophobia: fear of being tickled by feathers
267. Pupaphobia: fear of puppets
268. Pyrophobia: fear of fire
Q
269. Quadraphobia: fear of the number four
270. Quadriplegiphobia: fear of becoming a quadriplegic
271. Quintaphobia: fear of the number five
R
272. Radiophobia: fear of radioactivity or X-rays
273. Ranidaphobia: fear of frogs
274. Rhytiphobia: fear of getting wrinkles
275. Russophobia: fear of Russians
S
276. Samhainophobia: fear of Halloween
277. Scelerophibia: fear of bad men, burglars
278. Sciophobia: fear of shadows
279. Scolionophobia: fear of school
280. Scotomaphobia: fear of blindness
281. Scotophobia: fear of darkness
282. Scriptophobia: fear of writing in public
283. Selachophobia: fear of sharks
284. Selaphobia: fear of light flashes
285. Selenophobia: fear of the moon
286. Siderodromophobia: fear of trains or railroads
287. Sinophobia: fear of Chinese people
288. Soceraphobia: fear of parents-in-law
289. Sophophobia: fear of learning
290. Soteriophobia: fear of dependence on others
291. Spacephobia: fear of outer space
292. Spectrophobia: fear of specters or ghosts
293. Spheksophobia: fear of wasps
294. Stasiphobia: fear of standing
295. Staurophobia: fear of crosses
296. Stenophobia: fear of narrow things
297. Submechanophobia: fear of partially or fully submerged man-made objects
298. Suriphobia: fear of mice
299. Symbolophobia: fear of symbolism
300. Symmetrophobia: fear of symmetry
301. Syngenesophobia: fear of relatives
T
302. Tachophobia: fear of speed
303. Taeniophobia: fear of tapeworms
304. Taphophobia: fear of being buried alive
305. Taphophobia: fear of graves or fear of being placed in a grave while still alive
306. Tapinophobia: fear of being contagious
307. Taurophobia: fear of bulls
308. Technophobia: fear of advanced technology
309. Telephobia: fear of making or taking telephone calls
310. Teratophobia: fear of giving birth to a monster
311. Testophobia: fear of taking tests
312. Tetanophobia: fear of lockjaw, tetanus
313.Textophobia: fear of certain fabrics
314. Thaasophobia: fear of sitting
315. Thalassophobia: fear of being in the ocean
316. Thanatophobia: fear of dying
317. Theatrophobia: fear of theaters
318. Thermophobia: fear of intolerance to high temperatures
319. Tokophobia: fear of pregnancy
320. Tomophobia: fear of invasive medical procedure
321. Tonitrophobia: fear of thunder
322. Topophobia: fear of certain places or situations, such as stage fright
323. Toxiphobia: fear of being poisoned
324. Traumatophobia: fear of having an injury
325. Trichinophobia: fear of trichinosis
326. Trichophobia: fear of hair loss
327. Tropophobia: fear of moving or making changes
328. Trypanophobia: fear of injections
329. Trypophobia: fear of holes or textures with a pattern of holes
U
330. Urophobia: fear of urine or urinating
V
331. Vaccinophobia: fear of vaccination
332. Vehophobia: fear of driving
333. Verbophobia: fear of words
334. Verminophobia: fear of germs
335. Vestiphobia: fear of clothing
336. Virginitiphobia: fear of rape
337. Vitricophobia: fear of stepfather
W
338. Wiccaphobia: fear of witches and witchcraft
X
339. Xanthophobia: fear of the color yellow
340. Xenoglossophobia: fear of foreign languages
341. Xenophobia: fear of foreigners
342. Xerophobia: fear of dryness
343. Xylophobia: fear of wooden objects
344. Xyrophobia: fear of razors
Y
345. Ymophobia: fear of being contrary in general
Z
346. Zelophobia: fear of jealousy
347. Zemmiphobia: fear of the great mole rat
348. Zeusophobia: fear of God or gods
349. Zoophobia: fear of animals
350. Zuigerphobia: fear of vacuum cleaners
What Causes Phobias?
Some people develop phobias during childhood, others during adolescence and some don’t until their early adulthood. Research suggests that phobias can occur from a variety of things. They can be caused by a person’s genetics; they can be a result of environmental factors and they can also come about from traumatic encounters.
Can Phobias Be Cured?
If you suffer from certain phobias, the good news is, most phobias can be treated successfully, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
One of the most popular approaches involves exposure therapy, which gradually exposes a person to the thing they fear in a safe environment. Another option is cognitive behavior therapy, which helps find coping strategies for link connections between thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
Mindful therapy is also an option. It is a CBT-based technique that focuses on improving emotional regulation by reducing stress and anxiety. Virtual Reality technology has also become a helpful way to treat people with phobias. It enables those to face their specific fears, like flying in airplanes, that are harder or more costly to integrate into sessions.
There are also different types of medication that can help a person. Though, because everyone is different, one form of treatment might work better for one person than another.
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