Lifestyle

The 10 Most Common Phobias That People Experience

The 10 Most Common Phobias That People Experience

This article was developed via a partnership with BetterHelp. 

Phobias are the most frequent psychiatric condition among women and the second most common among males, according to the American Psychiatric Association.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, phobias afflict about 10% of American people each year.

These phobias usually start in childhood or adolescence and last until maturity. They also have twice the influence on women as they do on males. There are several ideas that explain why phobias arise, including evolutionary and behavioral theories. Whatever the reason, phobias are curable disorders that can be reduced or even completely removed with the use of cognitive and behavioral therapy approaches as well as medication. Read more about the psychology behind phobias here.

Mysophobia

Mysophobia, or an excessive fear of germs and filth, can cause people to clean excessively, wash their hands obsessively, and even avoid things or situations that they believe to be dirty. This phobia may be linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder in some cases. 

People with this widespread phobia may avoid physical contact with others out of fear of contamination, abuse disinfectants, and obsessive attention to media news concerning disease outbreaks. People who suffer from this phobia may avoid places like doctor’s offices, aircraft, schools, and pharmacies, where germs are more likely to be present.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is defined as a dread of being alone in a circumstance or location where escape is impossible. Fear of crowded settings, wide spaces, or scenarios that are likely to provoke a panic attack are examples of this sort of phobia. People will begin to avoid these trigger occurrences, to the point that they will no longer leave their homes.

A third of persons who suffer from panic disorder develop agoraphobia.

Agoraphobia commonly appears between late adolescence and the mid-thirties. Women make up two-thirds of those who suffer from agoraphobia. The disorder frequently begins with a sudden and unexpected panic episode, followed by concern about the risk of another attack.

Social Anxiety

The fear of social situations is known as social phobia, and it can be highly debilitating. Many people develop phobias to the point where they avoid situations, locations, and people who are likely to cause an anxiety attack.

People who suffer from this phobia are afraid of being judged or humiliated in front of others. Even simple, everyday acts like eating a meal might trigger anxiety. Social phobias are common during adolescence and can endure for the rest of one’s life if not treated.

Fear of public speaking is the most common form of social phobia. People with social phobias may avoid social circumstances such as school and work, which can have a significant influence on their well-being and capacity to operate.

Trypanophobia

Trypanophobia is an irrational fear of injections that can lead to persons avoiding medical procedures and doctors. Because people avoid the triggering object and scenario, this phobia, like many others, typically goes untreated. According to estimates, this sort of fear affects anywhere between 20% and 30% of adults.

When persons with this fear are forced to undergo an injection, they may feel dreadful and have a raised heart rate in the days leading up to the treatment. During the injection, some people even pass out.

Because these symptoms are so distressing, people who suffer from this phobia may avoid seeing doctors, dentists, and other medical professionals, even if they have a physical or dental problem that requires treatment.

Astraphobia

The fear of thunder and lightning is astraphobia. When people with this phobia are exposed to weather-related phenomena, they experience strong sensations of fear. Shaking, a high heart rate, and accelerated respiration are common symptoms of astraphobia, which are comparable to those of other phobias.

People with this phobia may go to considerable lengths to take shelter or hide from a thunderstorm or lightning storm, such as hiding under the covers in bed or retreating inside a closet or restroom. People who suffer from this phobia are likewise prone to obsessing over the weather.

They may spend a large lot of time each day studying the local and national weather in order to know when any form of storm might take place. This fear can sometimes progress to agoraphobia, where people are so scared of being struck by lightning or thunder that they are unable to leave their homes.

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.