List of Common and Unusual Phobias

A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder that causes an excessive, marked, irrational fear of a specific object or situation. Someone with a phobia could be afraid of certain people, animals, objects, places, situations, or activities.

Common symptoms of phobias include:

• Shortness of breath
• Panic
• Rapid heart rate
• Shaking or trembling
• Urge to flee

When people go to extreme lengths to avoid what makes them afraid, their daily functioning in work, school, and relationships can suffer.

This article covers the three main types of phobias. It also lists some of the most common phobias as well as rare ones.

How Are Phobias Classified

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), there are several different types of phobias. The three main types of phobias—specific phobia, agoraphobia, and social phobia—include several subtypes.

All three types of phobias fall under the broader category of anxiety disorders. About 30% of U.S. adults experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lifetime.

Specific Phobias

Specific phobias refer to an intense, persistent, and marked fear of a specific object or situation (such as flying, feet, or heights). People with specific phobias may be aware that their anxiety is disproportionate or unnecessary but feel helpless to control their distress.

The following are some categories of specific phobias:

• Animal Type: Common examples include fear of dogs, snakes, or spiders.
• Natural Environment: This can include fear of heights, storms, or water.
• Blood-Injection-Injury Type: These phobias include a fear of seeing blood, receiving a blood test, getting vaccinated, or even watching television shows that display medical procedures.
• Situational Type: These phobias can be as diverse as fear of airplanes to fear of public speaking; it encompasses fear of elevators, driving, and enclosed places.
• Other Types: This category includes all others not covered by the other four types of specific phobias. Examples include fear of sickness, loud noises, and even clowns (coulrophobia).
  

Between 3% and 15% of people meet the diagnostic criteria for a specific phobia.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder in which you avoid certain situations because you have an intense fear of being trapped or unable to escape. You may suffer panic attacks in open spaces or other environments.

Situations that can cause anxiety include:

• Public transportation
• Shopping centers
• Parking logs
• Bridges
• Crowds of people
  

In the United States, about 1.3% of adults have experienced agoraphobia at least once.

Social Phobia

Also called social anxiety disorder, social phobia involves intense fear and self-consciousness in social situations. Social phobia can lead people to avoid speaking in public, attending events, meeting new people, or even seeking employment.

List of Common Phobias

Many phobias involve situations in which you sense a loss of control. Here is a list of common specific phobias for which people seek treatment:

• Acrophobia: Fear of heights
  
• Aerophobia: Fear of flying
• Amaxophobia: Fear of driving
• Aquaphobia: Fear of water
• Arachnophobia: Fear of spiders
• Astraphobia: Fear of storms
• Claustrophobia: Fear of confined or tight spaces
• Dentophobia: Fear of dentists
• Glossophobia: Fear of public speaking
• Hemophobia: Fear of blood
• Monophobia: Fear of being alone
• Mysophobia: Fear of germs
  
• Nosocomephobia: Fear of hospitals
• Nyctophobia: Fear of the dark
  
• Ornithophobia: Fear of birds
• Phasmophobia: Fear of ghosts
• Zoophobia: Fear of animals
  

Uncommon Phobias

While you’ve probably heard of agoraphobia, claustrophobia, or animal phobias, there are many other phobias. Some less well-known ones include:

Medical Phobias

From doctors to any medical-related situation, these can include:

• Lockiophobia: Fear of childbirth
• Nosocomephobia: Fear of hospitals
  
• Nosophobia: Fear of getting sick
• Trypanophobia: Fear of injections

Sexual and Bodily Phobias

These can affect your perception of yourself or your relationships with others. Some examples:

• Erotophobia: Fear of sexual intimacy
• Omphalophobia: Fear of belly buttons
• Philematophobia: Fear of kissing
  
• Podophobia: Fear of feet
• Trichophobia: Fear of hair
  

Environmental Phobias

These are related to various places and locations:

• Bathmophobia: Fear of stairs
• Scolionophobia: Fear of school
  
• Thalassophobia: Fear of the ocean
• Xylophobia: Fear of the forest

Situational Phobias

These phobias can affect simple daily activities:

• Amaxophobia: Fear of driving
  
• Ataxophobia: Fear of disorder or untidiness
• Ergophobia: Fear of work
• Hodophobia: Fear of traveling

Fear of Certain Objects

These fears too, are related to everyday things or unusual objects such as:

• Automatonophobia: Fear of animatronics
• Chronomentrophobia: Fear of clocks
• Cibophobia: Fear of food
• Papyrophobia: Fear of paper
  

No matter how strange or unexpected your phobia may seem, help is available. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your healthcare provider for help with your anxiety symptoms.

Phobia Treatment

There is no single known cause of phobias. In some cases, a traumatic event can trigger a persistent, intense fear. In other cases, phobias may run in families. 

However, phobias are usually treatable. Treatment for phobias may include:

• Exposure therapy: This is a kind of behavioral therapy that involves gradually confronting the source of your anxiety in order to break the cycle of avoidance.
• Psychotherapy: Specific psychotherapy approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in a group or individual setting may be helpful with phobias.
• Prescribed medications: These include antidepressants, beta-blockers, and anti-anxiety medications (such as benzodiazepines).
• Relaxation techniques: Examples are breathing techniques and mindfulness exercises

Some people with phobias are afraid to seek help out of shame. Others don’t know that phobia treatment options are available. But with a qualified therapist, most treatment for phobias is effective.

Summary

A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder that causes persistent, intense, and often irrational fear about a certain situation or thing.

Specific phobias are those that involve intense fear about a specific object or situation, including common fears such as claustrophobia. Other common phobias include social phobia and agoraphobia.

Treatment is effective for most people with phobias. Phobia treatment options include exposure therapy, prescribed medications, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness techniques.

A Word From Verywell

Many people with phobias are ashamed to talk about their fears and anxiety. But help is available and usually effective. Don’t be afraid to talk to your healthcare provider if your anxiety is interfering with your daily life.