Phobias: an overview

Published: April 21, 2020

Fear is a natural and normal response to something we may perceive as a danger, and is a part of every single one of us. People suffering from varied phobias try to avoid what they are afraid of (as long as what they are afraid of is something avoidable and of no or little harm) so that can avoid reactions to phobias. Some of these may include panic attacks, shortness of breath, trembling, rapid heartbeat and a strong desire to get away (the flee response).

Here are some common and uncommon phobias in a nutshell:

Acrophobia - the fear of heights

Aquaphobia - the fear of water

Arachnophobia - the fear of spiders

Ataxophobia - the fear of disorder

Aviophobia - the fear of flying

Botanophobia - the fear of plants

Chiclephobia - the fear of chewing gum

Claustrophobia - the fear of enclosed spaces

Coulrophobia - the fear of clowns

Eisoptrophobia - the fear of seeing oneself in the mirror

Hapophobia - the fear of being touched