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 | |
Achluophobia | Fear of darkness |
Acrophobia | Fear of heights |
Aerophobia | Fear of flying |
Algophobia | Fear of pain |
Alektorophobia | Fear of chickens |
Agoraphobia | Fear of public spaces or crowds |
Aichmophobia | Fear of needles or pointed objects |
Amaxophobia | Fear of riding in a car |
Androphobia | Fear of men |
Anginophobia | Fear of angina or choking |
Anthophobia | Fear of flowers |
Anthropophobia | Fear of people or society |
Aphenphosmphobia | Fear of being touched |
Arachnophobia | Fear of spiders |
Arithmophobia | Fear of numbers |
Astraphobia | Fear of thunder and lightning |
Ataxophobia | Fear of disorder or untidiness |
Atelophobia | Fear of imperfection |
Atychiphobia | Fear of failure |
Autophobia | Fear of being alone |
B | |
Bacteriophobia | Fear of bacteria |
Barophobia | Fear of gravity |
Bathmophobia | Fear of stairs or steep slopes |
Batrachophobia | Fear of amphibians |
Belonephobia | Fear of pins and needles |
Bibliophobia | Fear of books |
Botanophobia | Fear of plants |
C | |
Cacophobia | Fear of ugliness |
Catagelophobia | Fear of being ridiculed |
Catoptrophobia | Fear of mirrors |
Chionophobia | Fear of snow |
Chromophobia | Fear of colors |
Chronomentrophobia | Fear of clocks |
Claustrophobia | Fear of confined spaces |
Coulrophobia | Fear of clowns |
Cyberphobia | Fear of computers |
Cynophobia | Fear of dogs |
D | |
Dendrophobia | Fear of trees |
Dentophobia | Fear of dentists |
Domatophobia | Fear of houses |
Dystychiphobia | Fear of accidents |
E | |
Ecophobia | Fear of the home |
Elurophobia | Fear of cats |
Entomophobia | Fear of insects |
Ephebiphobia | Fear of teenagers |
Equinophobia | Fear of horses |
F, G | |
Gamophobia | Fear of marriage |
Genuphobia | Fear of knees |
Glossophobia | Fear of speaking in public |
Gynophobia | Fear of women |
H | |
Heliophobia | Fear of the sun |
Hemophobia | Fear of blood |
Herpetophobia | Fear of reptiles |
Hydrophobia | Fear of water |
Hypochondria | Fear of illness |
I-K | |
Iatrophobia | Fear of doctors |
Insectophobia | Fear of insects |
Koinoniphobia | Fear of rooms full of people |
L | |
Leukophobia | Fear of the color white |
Lilapsophobia | Fear of tornadoes and hurricanes |
Lockiophobia | Fear of childbirth |
M | |
Mageirocophobia | Fear of cooking |
Megalophobia | Fear of large things |
Melanophobia | Fear of the color black |
Microphobia | Fear of small things |
Mysophobia | Fear of dirt and germs |
N | |
Necrophobia | Fear of death or dead things |
Noctiphobia | Fear of the night |
Nosocomephobia | Fear of hospitals |
Nyctophobia | Fear of the dark |
O | |
Obesophobia | Fear of gaining weight |
Octophobia | Fear of the figure 8 |
Ombrophobia | Fear of rain |
Ophidiophobia | Fear of snakes |
Ornithophobia | Fear of birds |
P | |
Papyrophobia | Fear of paper |
Pathophobia | Fear of disease |
Pedophobia | Fear of children |
Philophobia | Fear of love |
Phobophobia | Fear of phobias |
Podophobia | Fear of feet |
Pogonophobia | Fear of beards |
Porphyrophobia | Fear of the color purple |
Pteridophobia | Fear of ferns |
Pteromerhanophobia | Fear of flying |
Pyrophobia | Fear of fire |
Q-S | |
Samhainophobia | Fear of Halloween |
Scolionophobia | Fear of school |
Selenophobia | Fear of the moon |
Sociophobia | Fear of social evaluation |
Somniphobia | Fear of sleep |
T | |
Tachophobia | Fear of speed |
Technophobia | Fear of technology |
Tonitrophobia | Fear of thunder |
Trypanophobia | Fear of needles or injections |
U-Z | |
Venustraphobia | Fear of beautiful women |
Verminophobia | Fear of germs |
Wiccaphobia | Fear of witches and witchcraft |
Xenophobia | Fear of strangers or foreigners |
Zoophobia | Fear 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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