A phobia is an irrational fear of something that’s unlikely to cause harm. The word itself comes from the Greek word Phobos, which means fear or horror. Hydrophobia, for example, literally translates to fear of water.
When someone has a phobia, they experience intense fear of a certain object or situation. Phobias are different from regular fears because they cause significant distress, possibly interfering with life at home, work, or school. People with phobias actively avoid the phobic object or situation, or endure it within intense fear or anxiety.
Phobias come in all shapes and sizes. Because there are an infinite number of objects and situations, the list of specific phobias is quite long.What are you most afraid of?
There are many things people are fearful of, but here are the ten most common phobias:
1. Social phobias
Social phobias are the most common type of fear.
They are considered an anxiety disorder and include excessive self-consciousness in social situations.
Some people can fear being judged so much they avoid specific situations, like eating in front of others.
Up to one in 20 people have a social phobia.
2. Agoraphobia: fear of open spaces
While it is generally understood to be a fear of open spaces, agoraphobia is a much more complex fear.
It is a serious anxiety disorder than can trap people in their homes or make leading a normal life next to impossible. Some people with agoraphobia avoid specific places or venues.
3. Acrophobia: fear of heights
Some people fear heights, so badly the escalators at the local shopping center give them vertigo.
Vertigo is different to the phobia and is the sense of dizziness people can develop. For others, a cliff-top lookout or a tall building makes their head spin.
4. Pteromerhanophobia: fear of flying
With all the media coverage of air disasters, it is understandable many fears being in a plane crash and hence have a fear of flying. But with more than 100,000 commercial flights around the world each day, the chances of being struck by lightning are higher than dying in a plane crash.
5. Claustrophobia: fear of enclosed spaces
Sometimes the fear of flying is actually more closely linked to a fear of enclosed spaces. People with this fear say they feel like the walls are closing on them.
Some theories suggest there is a genetic link to specific phobias as a kind of dormant survival mechanism.
6. Cynophobia: fear of dogs
A fear of dogs is a common phobia, particularly among children and door-to-door sales agents.
The fear can be exacerbated by a negative experience with an animal and can be one of the most difficult phobias to conquer, given canines can sense people's fear.
7. Ophidiophobia: fear of snakes
Indiana Jones famously quipped "I hate snakes", and he is not alone. A fear of all things long and venomous is common to many. The great thing about snakes is that if you leave them alone, they will leave you alone.
8. Entomophobia: fear of insects
They are small, they crawl, and they often bite, so it is understandable why many people do not like spiders and insects. But they are a crucial link in the food chain, and we cannot live without them.
9. Transphobia: fear of needles
Having a sharp piece of metal stuck in your arm is always an unpleasant thought, and many people develop a strong aversion to needles.
But needles are typically worth the pain with them either delivering vaccinations, delivering blood donations or helping to investigate a potential illness — even creating a tattoo.
10. Astraphobia: fear of storms
It is understandable why the booming sound of thunder can send people's hearts racing, and a fear of storms is common.
Realistically, it is lightning that can hurt people, but the chance of that happening is remote.
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