List of Phobia Words

A phobia is an intense fear. Often this fear is irrational and causes immobilizing terror. A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder and is usually treatable. The most common type of phobia is a simple phobia, or the fear of a specific object. A social phobia is a fear of being in common or uncommon social situations. Agoraphobia is the fear of being alone in busy places where it might be difficult to leave or get away.

Specific, or Simple, Phobias

A specific phobia often begins in the teen years or in adulthood. Usually the person stricken with a phobia of this type realizes that the fear that they have is irrational, but she cannot stop herself from being afraid. Specific phobias are more common in women than in men, but no one knows for sure what causes them. Some common specific phobias include cynophobia, or the fear of dogs; entomophobia, or the fear of insects; and musophobia, or the fear of mice. Other specific phobias include numerophobia, which is the fear of numbers; verminophobia, which is the fear of germs; and ornithophobia, or the fear of birds.

Social Phobia

People with a social phobia are often afraid of being harshly scrutinized by others. They feel overwhelmingly anxious in social situations, and may be afraid that they will embarrass themselves in some way. Some with social phobias find that certain situations, such as eating in front of others or having to make a speech, cause them severe anxiety, while others are affected more severely and find all social situations difficult. Often, people with social phobia will also experience physical manifestations of their anxiety, such as stomach pain, nausea, sweating and trembling.

Agoraphobia

People with agoraphobia feel extreme fear in situations where they feel it would be difficult or embarrassing to leave. Common places that incite fear include elevators, airplanes, bridges and public transportation. People with severe cases of agoraphobia may become housebound in order to avoid public places and crowds. Some factors in developing agoraphobia include having a panic disorder, having a nervous or anxious personality, and abusing alcohol or other drugs.