Ombrophobia or Pluviophobia is the fear of rain- a fairly common anxiety disorder seen in kids and adults alike. The term Ombrophobia originates from Greek ‘Ombros’ meaning “storm of rain” and phobos meaning “fear or aversion”. The term Ombrophobia has even been used to describe certain species of plants called Ombrophobes and ombrophiles which have their root systems … [Read more...]

Arithmophobia or Numerophobia is the exaggerated, constant and often irrational fear of numbers. The words Arithmophobia and Numerophobia both have Latin/Greek origins where the root word stands for numbers, and phobos is Greek for “deep aversion or fear”. Many people from all over the world fear numbers. Some might specifically fear numbers such as 13 … [Read more...]

Disposophobia is the fear of losing things or an intense fear of getting rid of stuff. It is also called ‘Hoarding disorder’. Many people worldwide are known to be affected by this phobia and a recent survey has shown that Britons are number one in this list. The word ‘Disposophobia’ has Greek origins. The root word ‘Dispos’ means fear of getting rid of personal … [Read more...]

Photophobia is an irrational and persistent fear of light. The word originates from Greek ‘phos’ meaning light and ‘phobos’ who is the Greek God of fear. In this phobia, the sufferer shows an abnormal sensitivity to light. While many people suffer from headaches or experience pain or discomfort to their eyes owing to light, Photophobia is different as the sufferer … [Read more...]

Samhainophobia is the fear of Halloween or the fear of the festival of the dead. The term Samhainophobia originates from ‘Samhuin’ meaning summer’s end. The Samhain festival was celebrated by the Celts for marking the transition between summer and winter. The word Samhuin has Irish-Scottish-Gaelic roots generally meaning ‘All Hallows Eve’. Many people, especially … [Read more...]

The word Allodoxaphobia can be considered a derivative of doxophobia though both words have contradictory meanings. Where doxophobia stands for the fear of expressing opinions, Allodoxaphobia is the fear of hearing other people’s opinions. The word Allodoxaphobia comes from Greek ‘allo’ meaning different, ‘dox’ meaning opinion and ‘phobos’ which comes from the Greek God of … [Read more...]

The word Coulrophobia means a persistent and irrational fear of clowns. It possibly originates from Greek Kolon meaning stilt or stilt-walkers which are often used by clowns. The word clown might have even originated from Cloyne, Clod or Colonus- a rustic country bumpkin, farmer, yokel or someone who lacks common sense. Coulrophobic individuals report feeling “shaken … [Read more...]

Ergophobia is the deep and persistent fear of work. The other names for this phobia are Ergasiophobia, or ‘work aversion’. Both the terms are derived from Greek ergon meaning work and phobos which comes from the Greek God of fear. Ergophobia is a part of social anxiety disorder. The individuals suffering from it are afraid to seek employment from fear of being yelled at by … [Read more...]

It is estimated that there are more than 300 different types of phobias and almost 10% of the world’s population suffers from these. Spheksophobia is one of the more common phobias belonging to this list. Explained simply, Spheksophobia is the persistent fear of wasps. The word is derived from Greek spheco meaning wasps and Phobos the ‘Greek God of fear’ or … [Read more...]

Perhaps the famous lines by E. M Cioran in his 1964 book ‘The Fall into Time” perfectly summarizes all that a Chronophobic individual goes through. Chronophobia is defined as the persistent and often irrational fear of the future or the fear of passing time. Since time can be considered as a “specific object”, Chronophobia falls under the category of specific phobias. The … [Read more...]

Technophobia is the constant and persistent fear of technology and, in greater depth, is defined as “the feeling of severe anxiety associated with using anything technologically advanced”. The word Technophobia is derived from Greek ‘Techne’ meaning “art, skill or craft” and phobos meaning “fear or aversion”. Technophobia is known to affect many people around the world. … [Read more...]

Didaskaleinophobia is the fear of school or fear of going to school. Nearly 2 to 5% of school going children is known to be inflicted with such phobia. The word Didaskaleinophobia is derived from Greek Didasko meaning to teach and phobos meaning aversion or fear. Another common term for the fear of school is Scholionophobia which is derived from Latin scius for … [Read more...]

The fear of loud noises phobia is known by several different names: Ligyrophobia, acousticophobia, sonophobia or phonophobia. All these different terms have their roots in Greek for “loud noise, sound or alarm”. No matter how prepared one is: the sudden burst of an alarm can leave one shocked and panic stricken. Ligyrophobia is a fairly common phobia, affecting many … [Read more...]

Nosocomephobia is the extreme fear of hospitals. It is a fairly common phobia; many people (including US President Richard Nixon) are known to suffer from it. Nixon’s remark that “If I go to a hospital, I’m fairly sure I won’t come out of it alive” is quite well known. Nosocomephobia is derived from Greek and Latin words. Greek ‘nosos’ stands for diseases while ‘comes’ … [Read more...]

Chaetophobia is a rare phobia which causes an irrational, abnormal and persistent fear of hair. The word is derived from Greek khaite which means ‘loose flowing hair’ and phobos meaning aversion or fear. Other names used for the phobia include Trichopathophobia where tricho is Greek for hair and patho for disease. Thus Trichopathophobia means extreme “fear of hair disease” … [Read more...]