Some are related to people, some phobias are spatial and others can be connected to specific objects or animals. The physical symptoms, when one is brought into close contact with the source of the phobia, can be anything from shallow breathing, nausea, dizziness and an intense desire to get away from whatever is causing the problem. Others will suffer a full blown panic attack. They are caused by a combination of biological and environmental factors, and can develop in the early childhood years or later on during adolescence.
Here is a list of the most common phobias afflicting people today.
Agoraphobia - This is the fear of open spaces. In Greek it translates as 'fear of the marketplace.'
Claustrophobia - People with this phobia are reluctant to enter tight, enclosed places like elevators or caves.
Acrophobia - High buildings would be strictly off limits for those who suffer from a fear of heights.
Mysophobia - People with this phobia will do anything to avoid germs and contamination.
Xenophobia - It's an extreme fear of foreign people or objects.
Necrophobia - This is the fear of dead people and everything associated with death, such as a coffin, a hearse or a funeral home.
Brontophobia - This is the fear of thunder and lightning.
Carcinophobia - This is the fear of cancer.
Aviophobia - This fear of flying stops countless people from enjoying domestic and foreign vacations.
Arachnophobia - Spiders are terrifying creatures to people who have this phobia. It's not entirely unreasonable considering that some of them are poisonous.
All of the above phobias are recognized and accepted as legitimate by the scientific community. The root of the phobia can be traced back to a traumatic event or as something as benign as a television show or movie.
Here is a list of rare and unusual phobias.
Coulrophobia - People with this phobia have an extreme fear of clowns.
Ergasiophobia - This is the fear of working and making decisions. People with this phobia will procrastinate constantly to avoid starting any kind of task.
Gephyrophobia - People with this phobia are afraid of bridges. As a result they will try to find another route to their destination in any way possible.
Neophobia - This is the fear of trying anything new, or breaking out of an entrenched routine.
Nomophobia - As weird as it might sound this is the fear of being out of mobile phone contact. Running out of credit and low battery power fuels this phobia.
Oneirophobia - This is the fear of dreams. It may not sound so bad, but it's a distressing condition to many people.
Triskaidekaphobia - Some might joke about this fear of the number thirteen, but it's quite worrying to those who suffer from it. It's thought to bring bad luck. In some countries, hospitals and apartment buildings often do not have a 13th floor. King Philip IV of France had many soldiers of the Knights Templar arrested, tortured and burned at the stake on October 13, 1307. Guess what day of the week that was? It was a Friday.
How to Treat Phobias
If you or a relative/close friend is suffering from a specific phobia, there are a number of options for treatment. Immersion therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, relaxation techniques and medication can help to reduce the negative effects.
Scott Hayden - Since joining Suite101 in early 2007, I've contributed articles about travel, history and health. My speciality is writing about workplace ...
