phobia

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A phobia is an irrational fear of something that’s unlikely to cause harm. The word itself comes from the Greek word phobos, which means fear or horror.

Hydrophobia, for example, literally translates to fear of water.

When someone has a phobia, they experience intense fear of a certain object or situation. Phobias are different than regular fears because they cause significant distress, possibly interfering with life at home, work, or school.

People with phobias actively avoid the phobic object or situation, or endure it within intense fear or anxiety.

Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are very common. They’re estimated to affect more than 30 percent of U.S. adults at some time in their lives.

In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), the American Psychiatric Association outlines several of the most common phobias.

Agoraphobia, a fear of places or situations that trigger fear or helplessness, is singled out as a particularly common fear with its own unique diagnosis. Social phobias, which are fears related to social situations, are also singled out with a unique diagnosis.

Specific phobias are a broad category of unique phobias related to specific objects and situations. Specific phobias affect an estimated 12.5 percent of American adults.

Phobias come in all shapes and sizes. Because there are an infinite number of objects and situations, the list of specific phobias is quite long.

According to the DSM, specific phobias typically fall within five 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)
• other (choking, loud noises, drowning)

These categories encompass an infinite number of specific objects and situations.

There’s no official list of phobias beyond what’s outlined in the DSM, so clinicians and researchers make up names for them as the need arises. This is typically done by combining a Greek (or sometimes Latin) prefix that describes the phobia with the -phobia suffix.

For example, a fear of water would be named by combining hydro (water) and phobia (fear).

There’s also such a thing as a fear of fears (phobophobia). This is actually more common than you might imagine.

People with anxiety disorders sometimes experience panic attacks when they’re in certain situations. These panic attacks can be so uncomfortable that people do everything they can to avoid them in the future.

For example, if you have a panic attack while sailing, you may fear sailing in the future, but you may also fear panic attacks or fear developing hydrophobia.

Personality disorders are a group of mental health conditions that are characterized by inflexible and unhealthy patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. These inner experiences and behaviors often differ from the expectations of the culture in which someone lives.

People with personality disorders usually have a hard time getting along with others and dealing with everyday problems in the ways that are expected by a cultural group. They commonly believe that their way of thinking and behaving is completely normal. However, they tend to have a view of the world that is quite different than others. As a result, they may find it difficult to participate in social, educational, and family activities. They also place blame on others for their challenges. These behaviors and attitudes often cause problems and limitations in relationships, social encounters, and work or school settings. They may also make people with personality disorders feel isolated, which can contribute to depression and anxiety.

The cause of personality disorders isn’t known. However, it is believed that they may be triggered by genetic and environmental influences, most prominently childhood trauma.

Personality disorders tend to emerge in the teenage years or early adulthood. The symptoms vary depending on the specific type of personality disorder. Treatment typically includes talk therapy and medication.

What Are the Different Types of Personality Disorders?

There are numerous different types of personality disorders. They are grouped into three clusters based on similar characteristics and symptoms. Some people may have signs and symptoms of multiple personality disorders.

Cluster A: Suspicious

• Paranoid personality disorder: People with paranoid personality disorder are very distrustful of others and suspicious of their motives. They also tend to hold grudges.
• Schizoid personality disorder: People with this type of disorder display little interest in forming personal relationships or partaking in social interactions. They usually don’t pick up on normal social cues, so they can seem emotionally cold.
• Schizotypal personality disorder: In schizotypal personality disorder, people believe they can influence other people or events with their thoughts. They often misinterpret behaviors. This causes them to have inappropriate emotional responses. They may consistently avoid having intimate relationships.

Cluster B: Emotional and Impulsive

• Antisocial personality disorder: People with antisocial personality disorder tend to manipulate or treat others harshly without expressing remorse for their actions. They may lie, steal, or abuse alcohol or drugs.
• Borderline personality disorder: People with this type of disorder often feel empty and abandoned, regardless of family or community support. They may have difficulty dealing with stressful events. They may have episodes of paranoia. They also tend to engage in risky and impulsive behavior, such as unsafe sex, binge drinking, and gambling.
• Histrionic personality disorder: In histrionic personality disorder, people frequently try to gain more attention by being overly dramatic or sexually provocative. They are easily influenced by other people and are extremely sensitive to criticism or disapproval.
• Narcissistic personality disorder: People with narcissistic personality disorder believe that they are more important than others. They tend to exaggerate their achievements and may brag about their attractiveness or success. They have a deep need for admiration, but lack empathy for other people.

Cluster C: Anxious

• Avoidant personality disorder: People with this type of disorder often experience feelings of inadequacy, inferiority or unattractiveness. They usually dwell on criticism from others and avoid participating in new activities or making new friends.
• Dependent personality disorder: In dependent personality disorder, people heavily depend on other people to meet their emotional and physical needs. They usually avoid being alone. They regularly need reassurance when making decisions. They may also be likely to tolerate physical and verbal abuse.
• Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: People with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder have an overwhelming need for order. They strongly adhere to rules and regulations. They feel extremely uncomfortable when perfection isn’t achieved. They may even neglect personal relationships to focus on making a project perfect.

Common phobias list

Studying specific phobias is a complicated process. Most people don’t seek treatment for these conditions, so cases largely go unreported.

These phobias also vary based on cultural experiences, gender, and age.

A 1998 survey of more than 8,000 respondents published in the British Journal of Psychiatry Trusted Source found that some of the most common phobias include:

• acrophobia, fear of heights
• aerophobia, fear of flying
• arachnophobia, fear of spiders
• astraphobia, fear of thunder and lightning
• autophobia, fear of being alone
• claustrophobia, fear of confined or crowded spaces
• hemophobia, fear of blood
• hydrophobia, fear of water
• ophidiophobia, fear of snakes
• zoophobia, fear of animals

Unique phobias

Specific phobias tend to be incredibly specific. Some so much so that they may only affect a handful of people at a time.

These are difficult to identify because most people don’t report unusual fears to their doctors.

Examples of some of the more unusual phobias include:

• alektorophobia, fear of chickens
• onomatophobia, fear of names
• pogonophobia, fear of beards
• nephophobia, fear of clouds
• cryophobia, fear of ice or cold

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The sum of all fears so far

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

How Is a Personality Disorder Diagnosed?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), is a reference doctors and mental health professionals use to help diagnose mental health conditions. Each personality disorder has criteria that must be met for a diagnosis. A primary care or mental health provider will ask you questions based on these criteria to determine the type of personality disorder. In order for a diagnosis to be made, the behaviors and feelings must be consistent across many life circumstances. They should also cause significant distress and impairment in at least two of the following areas:

• the way you perceive or interpret yourself and other people
• the way you act when dealing with other people
• the appropriateness of your emotional responses
• how well you can control your impulses

In some cases, your primary care or mental health provider may perform blood tests to determine whether a medical problem is causing your symptoms. They may also order a screening test for alcohol and drugs.

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How Is a Personality Disorder Treated?

Treatment can vary depending on the type and severity of your personality disorder. It may include psychotherapy and medications.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, may help in managing personality disorders. During psychotherapy, you and a therapist can discuss your condition, as well as your feelings and thoughts. This can provide you with insight on how to manage your symptoms and behaviors that interfere with your daily life.

There are many different types of psychotherapy. Dialectical behavior therapy can include group and individual sessions where people learn how to tolerate stress and improve relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to teach people how to change negative thinking patterns so they can better cope with everyday challenges.

Medication

There aren’t any drugs approved for the treatment of personality disorders. However, certain types of prescription medications might be helpful in reducing various personality disorder symptoms:

• antidepressants, which can help improve a depressed mood, anger, or impulsivity
• mood stabilizers, which prevent mood swings and reduce irritability and aggression
• antipsychotic medications, also known as neuroleptics, which may be beneficial for people who often lose touch with reality
• anti-anxiety medications, which help relieve anxiety, agitation, and insomnia

What Is the Outlook for Someone with a Personality Disorder?

The most important aspect of treating a personality disorder is the recognition that the problem exists in the first place. People with these types of disorders believe that their personality traits are normal, so they can become quite upset when someone suggests that they may have a personality disorder.

If someone recognizes that they have a personality disorder and engages in treatment, they should see an improvement in their symptoms. It’s beneficial for friends or family members to be involved in their therapy sessions as well. It’s also important for someone with a personality disorder to avoid drinking alcohol and using illicit drugs. These substances can have a negative impact on emotions and interfere with treatment.

How to Help Someone with a Personality Disorder

If you are close to someone you suspect might have a personality disorder, you should encourage them to seek help. They may get angry or defensive, but it’s important to avoid arguing with them. Instead, focus on expressing your feelings and voicing your concerns about their behaviors.

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