14 Common Fears and Phobias People Struggle With, Based on Research
The world can be terrifying, especially if you’ve got some specific fear you can’t shake off. Phobias are irrational and leave you helpless, but you’re not alone; the world is full of people who fear something, and often, it makes them as clueless as the rest of us. Here are the most common fears and phobias people have, and they cannot help it no matter how hard they try. Which one of these phobias do you have?
Claustrophobia
People with claustrophobia hate elevators and cupboards because they fear they’ll suffocate. This fear of enclosed and confined spaces can be so intense that the person experiencing it could have trouble breathing and even pass out. Claustrophobia isn’t limited to rooms; claustrophobic people can also panic when they’re in highly crowded areas like malls.
Arachnophobia
Arachnophobia, or the fear of spiders, is one of the most common fears in the world. This phobia often stems from the spider or arachnid’s unusual appearance, unsettling and skittish behavior, and, frankly, too many legs. Arachnophobia makes people highly uncomfortable, anxious, and downright terrified if they even think of encountering a spider.
Acrophobia
Acrophobia is the fear of heights, which causes extreme anxiety in places and situations where the person knows they’re above height. It causes intense fear and doesn’t go away even if the person is inside; being close to windows in high-rise buildings can trigger it, too. Acrophobia mainly involves the fear of falling or losing control in situations that could lead to death.
Aerophobia
Aerophobia is the fear of flying. People with aerophobia can almost never travel on a plane, and if they do, they require extreme anti-anxiety measures to do so. People with aerophobia fear they’ll experience something terrifying like a plane crash. It can get so bad that the fear can cause breathing problems, shaking, sweating, and panic attacks at the idea of flying.
Agoraphobia
Places that get incredibly crowded and don’t seem to have escape routes are anxiety-inducing for almost everyone, but agoraphobia can cause severe panic attacks. Most agoraphobia avoid public places like malls, concerts, and even restaurants because of fear. This can limit their interaction and isolate them because they only find their home comforting.
Ophidiophobia
Ophidiophobia is the fear of snakes. While most people are a bit unsettled by snakes, those with ophidiophobia are terrified of them even if they see one on TV. Ophidiophobia most probably stems from a fear of being bitter, cultural associations, or the venom of many snake species. In extreme cases, people with ophidiophobia might even be scared to go outside because of the fear.
Cynophobia
Cynophobia is the fear of dogs, and it can vary from person to person. People with mild cynophobia won’t panic if they see a dog but will feel too scared to let it approach. People with intense cynophobia might avoid public settings altogether if they know there are dogs. Primarily, cynophobia stems from past experiences (bites/aggressive dog behavior).
Trypanophobia
The idea of being injected scared most of us when we were kids, but some never outgrow the fear. Trypanophobia is the intense fear of needles; it can get so bad that people actively refuse medical care if it involves a needle. Most of the time, the fear stems from the pain of the needle, though it could also be because of its intimidating appearance.
Social Phobia
We’ve all had moments of public embarrassment where we wanted to go home and bury ourselves in our duvets. Still, people with social phobia often isolate themselves because of the fear they’ll be embarrassed in public. The mere idea of encountering situations that could put them on the spot (group gatherings and public speaking) scares them. Interestingly, social phobia is often because of an anxiety disorder.
Mysophobia
Mysophobia is the fear of germs. It usually stems from the fear of being infected. Many germaphobes with mild mysophobia sanitize every surface they come across because they fear getting sick. In extreme cases, germaphobes might even actively avoid going out of the house because they’ll be scared of being infected from places that they aren’t sure are clean.
Astraphobia
Many people are terrified of rainy weather and thunderstorms because of the sudden blinking of lightning and the following roars of thunder. People with astraphobia can experience shakes, breathing issues, panic attacks, and intense anxiety at the slightest hint of a storm; they usually hide indoors and avoid going out in such weather.
Thalassophobia
Thalassophobia is the fear of deep bodies of water (sea, ocean, rivers). Most thalassophobia fear the sea/ocean because they can never predict what they’ll encounter, especially with most of the ocean being unexplored. The darkness at the depths is another factor that piles onto the fear. Most people with thalassophobia avoid going to the beach or near water altogether.
Nyctophobia
Nyctophobia is the fear of the dark, something many people experience as kids but can carry into adulthood. Those with this fear can feel anxious or scared when they’re in dark places or when the lights go out. It’s not just about the darkness but also the fear of what’s hidden in it. Simple things like going to sleep or walking through a dark room can feel scary and overwhelming.
Monophobia
Monophobia is the fear of being alone, and it can be really distressing. People with this fear often feel anxious or upset when they’re by themselves, whether at home or in public. This fear can make them avoid being alone or always seek the company of others. It can make it hard to feel comfortable in their own space or enjoy moments of solitude.
More For You
No matter what fear or phobia you’ve, if you have friends around you, they can help you overcome anything. Friends don’t only give you support when needed; they also help increase your lifespan.
This article was inspired by Very Well Mind, NCBI, and Baptist Health and first appeared on Rbitaliablog.
