Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder or panic situation caused by an insistent and extreme fear of an object or condition. Phobias are generally confirmed when you fear of something for more than six months. Some phobias are normal that doesn’t harm you or scare you to the core.
As per the National Institute of Mental Health, there are around 8% of adults who are suffering from some or other phobias. This is much common in Women than Men. People with phobias generally experience symptoms like a speedy heartbeat, trembling, nausea, illusoriness, and carrying the fear of a specific object, animal, or situation.
In simpler terms, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) bifurcated this mental disorder in different categories. The most common terms are as follows.
1. Phobia related to Animals
2. Phobia related to a Situation
3. Phobia of Natural Environment
4. Phobia related to Medical Treatment
5. Phobia related to an Object
Table of Contents
Let’s Have a Broader Look at Each of The Categories and The Most Bizarre Phobias That Exist In The World.
Phobia Related to Animals
Zoophobia or Animal Phobia is the first category of phobias that are linked to different animals. Some people simply dislike some types of animals while others don’t like their skin, color or behavior. This phobia can be developed at an early age wherein kids start hating animals considering them monsters and non-friendly. If their very first experience had been worse with those animals, the phobia dwells for a lifetime.
Entomophobia – Fear of Insects
Apiphobia – Fear of Bees
Arachnophobia – Fears of Spiders
Ornithophobia – Fear of Birds
Ophidiophobia – Fear of Snakes
Bacteriophobia – Fear of Bacteria
Cynophobia – Fear of Dogs
Elurophobia – Fear of Cats
Equinophobia – Fear of Horses
Herpetophobia – Fear of Reptiles
Insectophobia – Fear of Insects
Verminophobia – Fear of Germs
Phobia Related to Situation
There are people who are scared of being in specific situations. Like standing on high altitude, standing close to rainy water, flying, diving, climbing, getting on an elevator, driving a car, crossing bridges or tunnels, etc. People also fear going out in public, facing the audience, meeting new people or facing cops. Kids fearing of bathing, or getting scolded after doing a mistake also falls under the same category.
Xenophobia – Fear of Strangers or Foreigners
Venustraphobia – Fear of meeting a beautiful Women
Tachophobia – Fear of having a thrill Drive
Sociophobia – Fear of Social Evaluation
Scoptophobia – Fear of being Stared
Scolionophobia – Fear of going to School
Acrophobia – Fear of Heights
Aerophobia – Fear of Flying
Philophobia – Fear of falling in Love
Necrophobia – Fear of Death or seeing dead things
Glossophobia – Fear of speaking in Public
Gamophobia – Fear of getting Married
Phobia of Natural Environment
There are people who are accustomed to a particular environment and refrain to switch. A sudden change in the environment may make them uncomfortable and they may start getting panic attacks or become anxious. Phobia of Natural Environment is majorly based on climate and surroundings such as darkness, height, water, or storm.
Tonitrophobia – Fear of going out in Thunder
Nyctophobia – Fear of the Darkness
Hydrophobia – Fear of going into Water
Ombrophobia – Fear of going out in Rain
Ataxophobia – Fear of Disorder or Untidiness
Barophobia – Fear of Gravity
Chionophobia – Fear of Snow
Noctiphobia – Fear of the Night
Pyrophobia – Fear of Fire
Phobia related to Medical Treatment
Some people also fear of getting medical treatment while others fear of getting into a hospital. At times, the fear can become so excessive that the patient avoids major medical procedures (Example: Surgery, getting Anesthesia or Dental treatment) for a longer time.
Trypanophobia – Fear of Needles/injections
Somniphobia – Fear of Sleep
Pathophobia – Fear of Disease
Nosocomephobia – Fear of hospitals
Iatrophobia – Fear of Doctors
Hypochondria – Fear of Illness
Hemophobia – Fear of Blood
Dentophobia – Fear of Dentists
Belonephobia – Fear of Pins & Needles
Phobias Related to Objects
There are people who are not comfortable with a lot of things. Most of it can be edible items or things related to their daily use.
Alliumphobia – Fear of Garlic Consumption
Geliophobia – Fear of Laughter
Plutophobia – Fear of Money or getting Rich
Xanthophobia – Fear of the color Yellow
Globophobia – Fear of Balloons
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia – Fear of long words
