Types of Phobia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Phobia is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by a persistent and excessive fear. For some people, phobias are often considered trivial or difficult to understand. This causes people with phobias to often feel isolated or even mocked by those around them. In fact, phobia is a medical condition that can be cured with proper treatment.

Well Flokqers, so you won’t be confused when someone experiences excessive fear, here we discuss the types, causes, and ways to overcome the most common phobias. You can also find a list of 100 phobias at the end of the article.


Read also: The Complete Guide to Maintain Your Mental Health


Most Common Types of Phobia

According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the American Psychiatric Association outlines several of the most common phobias, including:

1. Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is the fear of places or situations. People who suffer from this phobia feel that their environment is unsafe and that there is no way to escape. These places or situations can include open spaces, public transportation, shopping centers, or simply being outside the house.

When someone with agoraphobia is trapped in that place or situation, they will experience a panic attack. The symptoms of this phobia can appear almost every time the situation is faced and last for more than six months. In severe cases, the sufferer may not dare to leave the house at all.

2. Social Phobia

Have you ever felt scared when being watched by many people or being in a crowd? That is often experienced by those with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) or social phobia. They are afraid and anxious about social situations. People with social phobia are afraid of what others think of them.

Some symptoms that arise from social phobia include:

  • Excessively flushed face
  • Excessive sweating
  • Trembling body
  • Heart racing too fast
  • Nausea
  • Speaking in a stutter or too quickly.
  • Panic attack or suddenly fainting.

3. Specific Phobia

You often meet or see people who are afraid of heights or don’t dare to hold insects. They most likely experience specific phobia. Those people have a phobia to a specific object. According to the DSM, specific phobias are usually divided into 5 general categories:

  • fears related to animals (spiders, dogs, insects)
  • fears related to the natural environment (heights, thunder, darkness)
  • fears related to blood, injury, or medical issues (injections, broken bones, falls)
  • fears related to specific situations (flying, riding an elevator, driving)
  • others (choking, loud noises, drowning)

Some symptoms that appear when the sufferer experiences this phobia include:

  • Excessive discomfort
  • Heart racing too fast
  • Excessive sweating
  • Shortness of breath
  • Tense muscles
  • Panic attack or fainting.

Also read: Online Psychologist and Therapy in Indonesia


How to Overcome Phobias

Everyone has the right to live without being overshadowed by fear. With appropriate treatment, phobias can be overcome. Here are effective ways to overcome phobias:

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective therapies for overcoming phobias. CBT helps sufferers learn to gradually face their fears and change the way they respond to frightening situations.

2. Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy aims to reduce fear by involving the person directly in the feared situations. This therapy can be done gradually, starting from simulations or images to real-life experiences.

3. Relaxation and Breathing Techniques
For those with phobias, the anxiety that arises can be very intense. Therefore, relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing can be very helpful. Deep breathing exercises help calm the nervous system and reduce tension, while other techniques can help divert attention from fear.

4. Medications
In some cases, individuals with phobias who experience severe anxiety may need medications such as antidepressants or benzodiazepines. However, medications are usually used only as a supportive measure and are still combined with psychological therapy.

5. Social Support
Receiving support from friends, family, or support groups can be very beneficial for those with phobias. Talking to someone who understands the condition can provide comfort and reduce feelings of isolation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What causes someone to experience a phobia?
A: Phobias can be caused by various factors, including traumatic experiences, genetic factors, and environmental factors.

Q: Can phobias be cured?
A: Phobias can be overcome with the right treatment. Although not “completely cured,” many phobia sufferers manage to reduce their symptoms.

Q: Do phobias only occur in adults?
A: No, phobias can occur in anyone, whether children, teenagers, or adults. In children, phobias are often related to fears of things like darkness or monsters. In adulthood, phobias are often triggered by traumatic experiences or excessive stress.


Read also: Best Child Therapists in Jakarta


100 Types of Phobia that Exist

Learning about a phobia is a complex process. Most people don’t seek treatment for this condition, so most cases go unnoticed. Phobias also vary based on experience, culture, gender, age, and many other factors.

Therefore, there are still many phobias of people whose types and names are unknown. Here are 100 types of phobia you most likely encounter on a daily basis.

A
AchluophobiaFear of darkness
AcrophobiaFear of heights
AerophobiaFear of flying
AlgophobiaFear of pain
AlektorophobiaFear of chickens
AgoraphobiaFear of public spaces or crowds
AichmophobiaFear of needles or pointed objects
AmaxophobiaFear of riding in a car
AndrophobiaFear of men
AnginophobiaFear of angina or choking
AnthophobiaFear of flowers
AnthropophobiaFear of people or society
AphenphosmphobiaFear of being touched
ArachnophobiaFear of spiders
ArithmophobiaFear of numbers
AstraphobiaFear of thunder and lightning
AtaxophobiaFear of disorder or untidiness
AtelophobiaFear of imperfection
AtychiphobiaFear of failure
AutophobiaFear of being alone
B
BacteriophobiaFear of bacteria
BarophobiaFear of gravity
BathmophobiaFear of stairs or steep slopes
BatrachophobiaFear of amphibians
BelonephobiaFear of pins and needles
BibliophobiaFear of books
BotanophobiaFear of plants
C
CacophobiaFear of ugliness
CatagelophobiaFear of being ridiculed
CatoptrophobiaFear of mirrors
ChionophobiaFear of snow
ChromophobiaFear of colors
ChronomentrophobiaFear of clocks
ClaustrophobiaFear of confined spaces
CoulrophobiaFear of clowns
CyberphobiaFear of computers
CynophobiaFear of dogs
D
DendrophobiaFear of trees
DentophobiaFear of dentists
DomatophobiaFear of houses
DystychiphobiaFear of accidents
E
EcophobiaFear of the home
ElurophobiaFear of cats
EntomophobiaFear of insects
EphebiphobiaFear of teenagers
EquinophobiaFear of horses
F, G
GamophobiaFear of marriage
GenuphobiaFear of knees
GlossophobiaFear of speaking in public
GynophobiaFear of women
H
HeliophobiaFear of the sun
HemophobiaFear of blood
HerpetophobiaFear of reptiles
HydrophobiaFear of water
HypochondriaFear of illness
I-K
IatrophobiaFear of doctors
InsectophobiaFear of insects
KoinoniphobiaFear of rooms full of people
L
LeukophobiaFear of the color white
LilapsophobiaFear of tornadoes and hurricanes
LockiophobiaFear of childbirth
M
MageirocophobiaFear of cooking
MegalophobiaFear of large things
MelanophobiaFear of the color black
MicrophobiaFear of small things
MysophobiaFear of dirt and germs
N
NecrophobiaFear of death or dead things
NoctiphobiaFear of the night
NosocomephobiaFear of hospitals
NyctophobiaFear of the dark
O
ObesophobiaFear of gaining weight
OctophobiaFear of the figure 8
OmbrophobiaFear of rain
OphidiophobiaFear of snakes
OrnithophobiaFear of birds
P
PapyrophobiaFear of paper
PathophobiaFear of disease
PedophobiaFear of children
PhilophobiaFear of love
PhobophobiaFear of phobias
PodophobiaFear of feet
PogonophobiaFear of beards
PorphyrophobiaFear of the color purple
PteridophobiaFear of ferns
PteromerhanophobiaFear of flying
PyrophobiaFear of fire
Q-S
SamhainophobiaFear of Halloween
ScolionophobiaFear of school
SelenophobiaFear of the moon
SociophobiaFear of social evaluation
SomniphobiaFear of sleep
T
TachophobiaFear of speed
TechnophobiaFear of technology
TonitrophobiaFear of thunder
TrypanophobiaFear of needles or injections
U-Z
VenustraphobiaFear of beautiful women
VerminophobiaFear of germs
WiccaphobiaFear of witches and witchcraft
XenophobiaFear of strangers or foreigners
ZoophobiaFear of animals

Also read: 5 Best Mental Therapists and Counseling in Jakarta


Well, above is a list of the 100 most common types of phobias that people have. After you know the types, symptoms, and how to deal with them, you don’t have any more questions, right?

Do you or someone you know have a phobia that is not mentioned in this article? Share your experience in the comments section, or seek professional help to get the appropriate treatment!

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