A final list of common phobias: spiders, germs, heights and more

How many of these intense fears have you heard about before?


Everyone scared with something , but some of us suffer from a paralyzing fear of everyday things. Research shows that around 75% of the population has A fear of speaking in public , by doing one of the most common phobias in the world. Other conditions based on fear are rarer, such as octophobia, hatred for the eight number, or leukophobia, a fear of white color. If you want to know more about current events that scare your human colleagues enough that science has named them, read the rest. We bring you the ultimate List of phobias , well-known more obscure dread that you may have never heard of before.

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What are phobias?

woman hiding her face in shirt to escape from common phobias
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The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines a phobia as an "excessive and persistent fear of an object, a specific situation or activity which is generally not harmful". A phobia is considered an anxiety disorder - disintegrating other fears according to the measure in which an individual is affected as well as his inability to overcome the problem. According to the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5), there are three main types of phobias: specific phobias, agoraphobia and social phobias.

Specific phobias

A specific phobia is an intense fear of an object or a particular situation, such as a fear of spiders or heights. According to mental health experts, on 12.5% of adults In the United States, the majority of them women suffer from one of the most specific phobias.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is the fear of places or situations that can cause feelings of trapping, helplessness or embarrassment. Those who suffer from the condition can avoid public transport, open or closed spaces, tailoring and / or large crowds. It is estimated that only 1.7% of the population deals with agoraphobia, with symptoms that usually appear before The age of 35 .

Social phobias

Finally, there are social phobias or social anxiety disorders. These terms describe a fear of social situations that can lead an individual to feel embarrassed, humiliated or judged by others. Often, affected people will avoid social gatherings, public speaking or social situations where they can have to interact with foreigners. It is estimated that around 12.1% of American adults live a social phobia at some point in their lives.

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The ultimate list of phobias

1. Fear of the heights (acrophobia)

Tourists posing on a glass floor in a skyscraper
Anton Gvozdikov / Shutterstock

One of the most common fears lived around the world, acrophobia is the specific term for the fear of heights. In addition to avoiding the roller coaster or high observation bridges, people with more serious forms of the disease can even undergo panic and anxiety when crossing a bridge or looking at a photograph of a Large peak. During the last years, Virtual reality experiences have been developed to provide exposure therapy to those who try to conquer this fear.

2. Fear of theft (airophobia)

woman demonstrating a fear of flying while seated on an airplane
Kudla / Shutterstock

Have you ever experienced a panic crisis before getting on a plane? If so, you are not alone. In the United States, more than 25 million adults suffer from a The fear of flying , according to the Cleveland Clinic.

People affected by airophobia may experience extreme anxiety or panic attacks during a flight, especially during takeoff and landing. Others suffer from a general fear of being "trapped" on the plane. Interestingly, very few people with the state are really afraid of dying during their flight. According to mental health experts, visualizations Can help reduce anxiety before their next departure.

In relation: 46 plane facts you should know before booking your next trip .

3. Fear of thunder (astraphobia)

two dogs hiding under a blanket
SMRM1977 / Shutterstock

If you have pets, you probably know that many dogs and cats suffer from this condition - and some humans do it too. Astraphobia is the name of the fear of thunder or lightning . Most affected people are children, but phobia can sometimes last in adulthood.

4. Fear of spiders (arachnophobia)

spider web
Olga Alonkina / Shutterstock

The next step on our list of phobias is arachnophobia - a serious fear of spiders and cobwebs. It is estimated that this phobia affects anywhere Three to 15% of the population . Women are more likely to be afflicted than men.

5. Fear of speaking in public (glossophobia)

man holding a piece of paper and wiping sweat in front of microphone
VCHAL / Shutterstock

As mentioned, the fear of speaking in public is one of the most common phobias in the world. Individuals with glossophobia avoid the situations in which they must speak in front of a large crowd for fear of being tried, embarrassed or rejected. It is estimated that the condition affects as much as One in four American .

6. Fear of being touched (Haphephobia)

woman cringing at man's hand on her shoulder
Just dance / shutterstock

This social phobia is an intense and overwhelming fear of being touched. People with this condition are intolerant of any type of contact, even initiated by friends or family. Haphephobia is not a physical condition and should not be confused with Allodynia, or a Hypersensitivity to touch .

7. Fear of the sun (heliophobia)

person trying to block the sun with their hand
S B Stock / Shutterstock

People Heliophobia suffering Discover an extreme fear of the sun, sunlight or other types of bright light. In some cases, the condition is linked to the fear of developing skin cancer or other diseases caused by prolonged exposure to the sun. People with heliophobia can change their lifestyle or work schedules to avoid clarity hours.

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8. Fear of germs (mysophobia)

germaphobe cleaning door handle with gloves and sanitizer
Alina Troeva / Shutterstock

Mysophobia also extends to an extreme fear of dirt or contamination. The steps that people take to avoid situations that can Expose them to germs tend to become more serious over time and can parallel to other conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder. Emotional trauma is generally to blame, although the family history of anxious disorders should also be taken into account.

9. Fear of darkness (nyctophobia)

mother and daughter checking under the bed for monsters
Fizkes / Shutterstock

Also known as scotophobia or lygophobia, this phobia mainly has an impact on children. According to webmd, children between the ages of Six and 12 are the most likely to feel a fear of darkness. Fortunately, most are able to overcome it. This phobia can also include a fear of what cannot be seen in the dark, which is aggravated by noises which are not associated with any visual index.

10. Fear of gaining weight (obesophobia)

woman stepping on the scale while struggling with a fear of gaining weight
Prostock-Studio / Shutterstock

Also known as Pocrescophobia, this condition is the most widespread among adolescents But can also come to men. In addition to anxiety about weight, individuals may experience fear responses to situations associated with weight gain, such as being near a scale or attending social events with food.

In relation: 37 strange facts on the human body which will amaze you with your mind .

11. Fear of snakes (ophidiophobia)

school girl scared of snake
IXEPOP / Shutterstock

Ophidiophobia is one of the most common specific phobias in the world. The condition can be associated with herpetophobia, a fear of all reptiles, or zoophobia, the fear of all animals. It is estimated that around one in 10 American adults is afraid of snakes.

12. Fear of death (Thanatophobia)

row of coffins representing a fear of death
Alexander Denisenko / Shutterstock

While some people suffering from thanatophobia are afraid of being dead, others are much more concerned with the dying . It has been reported that men and women are experiencing a peak in this type of anxiety in their twenties, although women are more likely to undergo a secondary point at one point in the fifties.

13. Fear of childbirth (Tokophobia)

pregnant woman holding her belly
Demkat / Shutterstock

This phobia is presented in two different ways: primary tokophobia affects women who have never given birth but feel an extreme anxiety compared to the perspective. Secondary tokophobia presents women who have already give birth And is a form of post-traumatic stress disorder (SSPT). Current research suggests that the condition currently affects three to 14% of the population. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

14. Fear of injections (trypanophobia)

man avoiding needles due to a fear of injection
Prostock-Studio / Shutterstock

According to the CDC, more than 25% of American American adults suffer from a Fear of needles . The majority of these cases developed during childhood. Those who have been diagnosed with trypanophobia experience significant distress when they consider a stick of needle. Although the condition is generally associated with past trauma, some suspect that there is also a genetic component Also.

15. Fear of circle clusters (trypophobia)

bee isolated over white background
Irin-k / Shutterstock

Trypophobia refers to an aversion or repulsion to objects containing repetitive patterns or clusters of small holes. Experts believe that phobia dates back to our early evolution, because these forms strongly resemble things that we had to avoid surviving, including infectious diseases and bees. Some studies suggest that around 17% of Children and adults are affected.

In relation: 75 strange animal facts that everyone should know .

Phobia symptoms

Most phobias are accompanied by certain symptoms which help to differentiate them from other fears or anxiety. Some of the most common include:

  • Extreme or irrational fear of specific triggers
  • An inability to control your response to fear
  • Request to flee
  • Anxiety, panic or fear
  • Tremor or tremor
  • The presence of another mental health disorder
  • Quick heart rate
  • Panic crises
  • Avoidance behaviors
  • Shortness of breath

Phobia treatment

Different treatment options are available for those with current phobias. Some of the most popular methods include:

  • Exhibition therapy : This method is to face the phobic object in different ways. These confrontations are carried out in a safe space created, where patients are recalled that they are not real in danger. Practitioners are counting more and more on Virtual reality experiences To perform this shape treatment.
  • Cognitivo-behavioral therapy : The treatment of phobias can also include the fight against problematic or irrational thinking. Cognitivo-behavioral therapy (TCC) helps individuals overcome their intense fears by helping them to change specific thinking or behavior.
  • Relaxation techniques : Deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, visualization and guided imaging are also useful in the treatment of phobias. These methods are often applied during exposure treatment.

Wrap

This is all for our list of phobias, but be sure to come back with us soon for even more facts. You can also Subscribe to our newsletter To take advantage of similar content, as well as the last on well-being, entertainment and travel.


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