Phobias

Common and not so common phobias

Phobias abound. Some are very common and may be founded in our instinctive fear of something that might harm us, for instance Ophidiophobia, a fear of snakes. Others are more irrational and less easy to understand such as Tetraphobia, fear of the number 4.

Be aware that this list is very subjective. I chose it by lookintg for lists of phobias with their definitions, checking my dictionairies and encyclopedias, and then creating these two much smaller lists, easier to read and understand.

A phobia can be defined as a strong fear or dread of a thing or event which is out of proportion to the reality of the situation. All phobias are debilitating when they affect your ability to lead a normal life or engage in productive work.

Unusual or Less Well Known Phobias

Ablutophobia – fear of bathing, washing, or cleaning.
Anthophobia – fear of flowers.
Catoptrophobia ~ Fear of mirrors or of one's own reflection.
Coulrophobia – fear of clowns.
Haptephobia – fear of being touched.
Neophobia, Cainophobia, Cainotophobia, Cenophobia, Centophobia, Kainolophobia, Kainophobia – fear of newness, novelty.
Nomophobia – fear of being out of mobile phone contact.
Panphobia – fear of everything.
Phobophobia – fear of having a phobia.

Common or Well Known Phobias

Just to reassure you, somewhat, here are some phobias that you may have heard of already.

Acrophobia, Altophobia – fear of heights.
Astraphobia, Astrapophobia, Brontophobia, Keraunophobia – fear of thunder, lightning and storms.
Claustrophobia – fear of confined spaces.
Hydrophobia, aquaphobia – fear of water.
Musophobia – fear of mice and/or rats.
Ornithophobia – fear of birds.
Ophidiophobia – fear of snakes.
Sociophobia – fear of people or social situations.
Technophobia – fear of technology.
Xenophobia – fear of strangers, foreigners, or aliens.

There is also a list of phobias.