There are many different kinds of phobias, including agoraphobia and social phobia. A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder defined by a persistent and excessive fear of an object or situation. People with social phobia are afraid of doing common things in front of other people. What are the three classifications of phobic states. On the other hand, fear of confined spaces claustrophobia or open spaces are more serious problems to cope with. Clinical features of four dsmiv specific phobia subtypes. Fear of open spaces, crowds, or leaving a safe place 4. While not comprehensive, this phobia list offers a glimpse of the many phobias that can have a serious impact on an individuals life. Oct 28, 2019 a specific, or simple, phobia is the fear of a particular object or situation. Symptoms of specific phobia according to the dsm, the essential feature of specific phobia is marked and persistent fear of clearly discernible, circumscribed objects or situations. People who are only afraid of a few or a particular type of social interaction have nongeneralized or specific social phobia.
Phobias self help a phobia is a fear of a particular thing or situation. It is a type of anxiety disorder which can precipitate a panic attack. If youre afraid of it, someones probably made up a goofy name for your phobia. This emedtv selection takes a quick look at what phobias are and includes a link to more detailed information on the different types of phobias that exist. Phobia is different than just being scared of something.
Just as people fear many things, there is a large range of things that can become a phobic concern. For example, you may know that it is safe to be out on a balcony in a. The fear is so severe that it interferes with the individuals daily functioning, restricting their activities and causing much distress. The following lists include words ending in phobia, and include fears that have acquired names. Social phobia social phobia is a strong fear of being judged by others and of being embarrassed. It contains a large list of phobias and teaches how to cope with and ultimately cure your fear. A person experiencing a phobia of something feels a deep sense of dread or panic on encountering their source of fear. Generally, there is something specific, like an object. The first is generalized, where anything and everything in the way of social interaction has the potential to send your nerves into overdrive. But again, these arent types of acrophobia, they are merely phobias related or have same symptoms as acrophobia. The first of these is that the fear is intense and includes many of the following sensations.
Different people react differently to various stimuli. Which of the two different types of social phobia do you have. Social phobia is a condition where people are overly concerned about how they appear to others. The term phobia refers to a group of anxiety symptoms brought on by certain objects or situations a specific phobia, formerly called a simple phobia, is a lasting and unreasonable fear caused. People with anxiety disorders are incapacitated with chronic and. Going to extreme lengths to avoid an activity or object because of fear of danger or harm. Phobias are also nearly impossible to understand with the logical mind they just dont seem to make sense. The first of these is that the fear is intense and includes many of the following. Jul 29, 2019 social phobia now called social anxiety disorder more than just shyness, social phobia involves the crippling fear of being humiliated or embarrassed in social situations. Other types of phobias many people dislike certain situations or objects, but to be a true phobia, the fear must interfere with daily life. However, for those experiencing a true phobia, logic doesnt make one bit of difference. People with specific phobias are highly distressed about having the fear, and often will go to great lengths to avoid the object or situation in question.
Acarophobia fear of itching or of the insects that cause itching. If you have a phobia, you will have an overwhelming need to avoid all contact with the source of your anxiety. Phobia from cancer is common more in females at 25% while in males its only 11%. Social phobia social anxiety disorder uc santa barbara. In psychology, phobia is considered an anxiety disorder. Phobia list the ultimate list of phobias and fears. The fear is so strong that it affects, and often damages, the sufferers life. People with social phobia are afraid of doing common things in. The american psychiatric association identifies three types of phobias. The english suffixes phobia, phobic, phobe occur in technical usage in psychiatry to.
Social phobia now called social anxiety disorder more than just shyness, social phobia involves the crippling fear of being humiliated or embarrassed in social situations. However, a phobia is different from a fear for three reasons. As you may notice while you browse through this list, most specific phobias fall into one of four major categories. The suffix phobia is used to coin terms that denote a particular antiethnic or antidemographic sentiment, such as americanophobia, europhobia, francophobia, hispanophobia, and indophobia. This fear can be so strong that it gets in the way of going to work or school or doing other everyday things. You can also learn more about phobia symptoms and what fear is. X list of phobia types xanthophobia fear of the color yellow or the word yellow. A specific, or simple, phobia is the fear of a particular object or situation.
For example, you may know that it is safe to be out on a balcony in a highrise block, but feel terrified to go out on it or even enjoy the view. Two of the most common complex phobias are social phobia and agoraphobia. Dishabiliophobia fear of undressing in front of someone. Specific phobias formerly simple phobia are among the most common of all psychiatric disorders, affecting up to 10% of the population. The affected person goes to great lengths to avoid the situation or object, to a degree greater than the actual danger posed.
Common specific phobias include animals, insects, heights, thunder, driving, public transportation, flying, dental or medical procedures, and elevators. While some people like the thrill of mountaineering, some others fear height. The term, which we use for describing irrational and excessive fear is, phobia. Ithyphallophobia fear of seeing, thinking about or having an erect penis. The term phobia refers to an intense, irrational fear of a particular object or situation, whether real or imagined. On the anxiety page, i spokeabout a hypothetical persons giving up driving because they felt too anxious todrive. Jan 17, 2020 a specific phobia is a fear of a particular object or situation like a person fearing a spider or being in high places. Social anxiety disorder, on the other hand, is a fear of being painfully. Illustration by jr bee, verywell az list of some of the more common phobias.
If you have a phobia, dont let it control your life. The formal diagnosis of specific phobia, or simple phobia, rests on these symptoms, which can be evaluated by psychiatrists and other mental health professionals. Kendra cherry, ms, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Types of phobia mind, the mental health charity help for. May 23, 2017 its difficult to label any phobia as the strangest because most phobias are considered kooky, weird or downright bizarre.
What links here related changes upload file special pages permanent. Usually, the fear is proportionally greater than the actual danger or threat. Accordingly, current and future taxonomies of specific phobia in the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders dsmiv5. Aug 03, 2016 the fear associated with a phobia is much greater than that caused by stress or worry. You can have more than one type of specific phobia. If you have social phobia, you will feel a sense of intense fear in social. This might be while public speaking or using public restrooms, for example. Read this list of common phobias, philias and manias to improve your general awareness and vocabulary. Social phobia also called social anxiety or social anxiety disorder a lot of people can find social situations difficult, or feel shy or awkward at certain times this is completely normal. Aerophobia fear of drafts, air swallowing, or airbourne noxious substances. Phobia simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
A specific phobia is an intense, persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity, or person. Some phobias, such as a fear of flying or driving, are so common that there are. This phobia includes all kinds of diseases, from a simple cold or flu to deadly diseases such as suflas and malaria. Its possible to be afraid of certain situations, animals, and social interactions. If the feared object or situation cannot be avoided, the affected. The american psychiatric association identifies three different categories of phobias. Integrating anxiety and phobia coping strategies into fundamentals of public speaking college courses this study was designed to examine the effectiveness of the fear and loathing of speaking out in public program. Do you suffer from one of the most common types of phobias. Types of phobia mind, the mental health charity help. Phobias can often have a first triggering event, which then results in the individual feeling very frightened when they then think about, see or are reminded of the feared object situation. Antireligious sentiments are expressed in terms such as christianophobia and islamophobia. Although the person with a phobia realizes that the fear is irrational, even thinking about it can cause extreme anxiety. Also climacophobia, and by its name is the fear of climbing, which is also related to acrophobia. Phobias are one of the most common mental illnesses in the united states.
A phobia is an extreme form of fear or anxiety triggered by a particular situation such as going outside or object such as spiders, even when there is no danger. Its difficult to label any phobia as the strangest because most phobias are considered kooky, weird or downright bizarre. The phobia page contents fear versus phobia phobia fear2 phobia triggers specific phobias complex phobias how many people develop phobias. Isopterophobia fear of termites, insects that eat wood. The nature of anxiety disorders fear is an innate alarm response to a dangerous or lifethreatening situation. Phobias limit a persons ability to participate in personal and professional activities that others think are no big deal. A fear for an alsatian may become a fear of all types of dogs in course of time. Fear of heights, fear of driving, fear of spiders these are specific phobias. The phobia typically results in a rapid onset of fear and is present for more than six months. Anxiety is the state in which an individual is inordinately apprehensive, tense, and uneasy about the prospect of something terrible happening. The fear associated with a phobia is much greater than that caused by stress or worry. Specific phobias symptoms center for the treatment and. Understanding the causes of phobias psychology essay. The topic we began talking about in the previous show was fear and anxiety.
The 15 strangest phobias and why they include the fear of. Mar 27, 2011 the formal diagnosis of specific phobia, or simple phobia, rests on these symptoms, which can be evaluated by psychiatrists and other mental health professionals. People with specific phobias actively seek to avoid the feared object or. The main symptom of this disorder is the excessive, unreasonable desire to avoid the feared subject. Other specific phobias, such as the fear of public speaking, are more related to social phobia. Neurotic phobias represents a strong tendency and persistence for the fear to generalize similar objects or events. Medications and therapy help most people overcome phobias. Having a phobia of something can be devastating and can interfere with ordinary existence. A fear of being humiliated or underperforming in social situations. Steven gans, md is boardcertified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at massachusetts general hospital.
Acrophobia is a type of phobia on its own fear of heights. Oup assessment an ability to determine the precise nature of the phobia in terms of specific symptoms, severity and its impact on daily living an ability to help the client identify the specific thoughts, feelings and behaviours. A phobia is a strong, irrational fear about something that poses little or no threat. Onomatophobia fear of hearing a certain word or of names. It develops when a person begins to organise their life around avoiding the thing they are afraid of, whether its an animal, object, place or situation. Specific phobias are the most common type of anxiety disorder. It is not the same as phobia from diseases, this is only phobia from cancer and all its types e. There are different types of talking treatments that may be offered to treat a phobia. The 15 strangest phobias and why they include the fear of paper. Discriminate between the disorders phobia is a fear of a specific object ptsd numbing fear after experiencing a specific trauma panic anxiety that occurs suddenly agoraphobia fear of a panic attack in a public place gad pervasive anxiety that is nonspecific, experiential an chronic 5. Agoraphobia fear of open spaces or of being in crowded, public places like markets.