FEAROF

  • Phobia List
  • Top 10 Phobias
  • What is Fear?
  • Statistics
  • Treatment
  • Phobias
  • Reader Stories
  • Phobia Chat Room
  • About
You are here: Home / Phobias / Fear of Everything Phobia – Panophobia or Pantophobia

Fear of Everything Phobia – Panophobia or Pantophobia

By Editorial Staff 44 Comments

Panophobia

Panophobia or the fear of everything phobia might sound bizarre, but it does exist in the list of non-specific phobias. It is known by other names like Omniphobia or Pantophobia. Panto stands for ‘all or everything’ in the Greek language. The word ‘Panophobia’ also might have originated from The Greek God Pan. (This deity is believed to cause feelings of panic or anxiety.)

Fear of Everything Phobia - Panophobia

Panophobes or Panophobics, as they are known, tend to suffer from one or more different kinds of phobias which we have covered on this website. They remain in a constant state of fear believing there is ‘persistent evil’ or ‘something terrible about to happen’. Naturally, having this condition can be detrimental to one’s success and can deeply impact one’s day-to-day life.

Causes of Panophobia

As mentioned before, Panophobia can be triggered by several other phobias. The intense anxiety or fear that something terrible is about to happen can be triggered by negative news, events or traumatic episodes in the past. The person might actually turn into a Phobophobic individual, where s/he might fear anxiety itself. This becomes a vicious circle as the Panophobe believes that his/her condition can turn into something worse, thereby intensifying the symptoms of all other phobias.

Often the causes of Panophobia or fear of everything are difficult to trace, since the Panophobe cannot remember how it all started. Nobody is born with this phobia; the brain just learns to fear everything negative or that which it perceives as ‘being dangerous’.

The fear of everything phobia can be different for different people, but it generally increases over time. The sufferer can end up with hundreds of phobias thus making him afraid of intangible or tangible items or situations.

Symptoms of Fear of everything phobia

A person suffering from Panophobia can appear socially withdrawn, anxious and afraid all the time. S/he might stay away from events and interactions.

There are various physical and psychological symptoms accompanying the phobia:

  • Dizziness or fainting
  • Heart palpitations
  • Rapid breathing
  • Sweating
  • Avoidance behavior
  • Goosebumps
  • Crying, screaming
  • Depression

These sufferers also experience an adrenalin rush all the time as they are constantly on the alert. This may be followed by a period of fatigue or ‘crash’ that leaves him/her drained.

Overcoming Panophobia

There is good news for those suffering from Panophobia. It is a curable condition and many therapies like Hypnotherapy, gradual desensitization etc are known to help.

  • Most therapists use Gradual desensitization to slowly re-introduce the phobic to objects or situations s/he is afraid of. When done in a controlled environment, the phobic gradually learns to dispel his fears. S/he also learns to rationalize fearful or anxious thoughts into positive ones.
  • In other extreme methods, the Panophobe is given adrenalin boost and then guided through the fear response caused by a particular situation. This helps the phobic avoid the “fight or flight” response that his mind is constantly attuned to on account of perceived “danger all around”.
  • Energy therapies like mind-body Yoga, Tai Chi, Meditation, positive visualization or affirmations are also encouraged as part of the overall therapy for treating Panophobia.
  • Neuro Linguistic Programming is another beneficial therapy that can help the Phobic become more aware of how the brain creates reality. This can help the Panophobe overcome the preconceived notions.

As a part of these therapies, the phobic should also try and convince the mind to look behind the logic of issues; doing so can be very beneficial in working through one’s Panophobia.

Tell Your Story

Comments

  1. Kay says

    March 27, 2023 at 11:05 am

    I am afraid of everything. It happened a little after my husband passed away. I moved to a new home, and this irrational fear started. It started when I felt there was a presence of something evil. I could not sleep and had to start taking a benzo to go to sleep. But I had to have the Tv and light on also. I could not leave the house because of the fear of impending doom I always felt. It’s gotten better in the past few years, but my personality has changed drastically. I’m no longer social or even talk that much. I’m withdrawn and avoid people and everything else in life. It’s just really sad and frustrating.

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    May 12, 2021 at 8:25 pm

    I’m not scared of everything, but I’m scared of enough things that I will come across something that scares me at least 5 times a day. Is this still panophobia or is it just having a bunch of phobias?

    Reply
  3. Nah says

    April 12, 2021 at 11:01 pm

    Omg. I know this is bad but I am so happy that I am not the only one with this. In some way all these comments made me feel better. I cannot be on a floor level on my own for more than 5 minutes, I can’t stay in the dark, I can barely shower and at some point I even had to sleep in the same room as my brother for 3 years straight. This phobia made me feel alone for so long but I feel a bit better now.

    Reply
  4. Deirdre Elias says

    April 12, 2021 at 8:39 pm

    I have a fear of going places by myself. I can’t follow directions. I am afraid I will turn the wrong way and hurt someone. I am afraid of going out in the dark and people I love dying. I have spent over a year in the house only going out 3 times. I suffer from depression. (MDD) Major Depressive Disorder.

    Reply
  5. Raveena says

    April 5, 2021 at 1:51 am

    I know someone who is afraid of everything like animals, insects, bugs, butterflies, height, depth, water bodies, rides in amusement parks, even 3d pictures. What is this called?

    Reply
  6. sanjana Konwar says

    November 13, 2020 at 6:29 pm

    Hi. I’m tired of this thing. I feel like there is something or someone who wants to harm me. I feel afraid to go to the bathroom alone. I feel afraid at night. I am even scared of being in my room alone. When I try to meditate and close my eyes, I feel some energy trying to come near me. I feel hot and stressed and I’m trying to run away. I feel afraid at the smallest sound I hear.

    Reply
    • Vaishnavi Verma says

      January 13, 2021 at 2:41 am

      This is exactly what happens to me too.

      Reply
      • Irene Yong says

        December 16, 2021 at 4:30 am

        Me too, I am afraid of everything. I suspect I have this Panophobia. I am afraid of animals, fast-moving vehicles, taking a plane, dental treatment, swollen medicine pills. I am scared of many things in my daily life. I have bad moods and depression sometimes. Anyone, please help. Thanks.

        Reply
  7. Vishal says

    April 25, 2020 at 11:42 am

    I have a different situation of fear of everything. I repeat the things I do like I turn on and off switch multiple times, if I had to put a book on the table I pick and put it multiple times. When I walk I look at the ground continuously. I have a fear of looking myself in the mirror and also fear of cameras (like I don’t wanna take my pictures). I don’t know if anyone have the same problems as me. I would really appreciate any help because this fear is killing me slowly.

    Reply
    • Yogi says

      July 25, 2020 at 8:34 am

      I think that might be OCD, look into it to see if you have it. And if you do have the same symptoms I would recommend talking to a doctor or a professional about it.

      Reply
  8. Claudette says

    June 30, 2019 at 9:14 pm

    It’s a real illness and it’s crippling, exhausting and isolating and definitely not a joking matter.

    Reply
  9. cAIQUE says

    April 15, 2019 at 2:54 pm

    which person with panophobia literally can’t function absolutely any time at all (while Megan can’t function most not all of the time)

    Reply
  10. Essay Mafia says

    March 26, 2019 at 8:56 am

    Hi,

    People who are facing too many fears at a time need to try to think positive and your positive assumptions will help you just ignore the fear of everything and think about what you love to do.

    Reply
  11. mr gps says

    January 14, 2019 at 10:20 pm

    Hey I have panophobia and the same time I can see horror films, documentaries, but eat less and control several of my fears. I have semiphobia.

    Reply
  12. Shannon says

    August 4, 2018 at 5:47 am

    Yep, I have panophobia also…. I’m consistently afraid of everything…. I’m terrified to sleep sometimes….. I can feel something bad’s gonna happen at any time, anywhere…… I mostly am terrified of leaving my house because strange things happen in the outside world that scare me…. I’m also sick and tired of being made fun of because of my fears…….just, hmm….I wish I could get over these fears but it feels like it’s impossible….

    Reply
    • Richard Willis says

      May 31, 2019 at 8:56 pm

      Im exactly the same! Push bikes on the pavement send me off my trolley! Then i worry about myself and i get worse. On a bad day i shout at myself for losing the plot and off i go again worrying, non-stop! RICHARD.

      Reply
    • Latrice says

      June 11, 2019 at 4:35 am

      I’m that same way, people say you’re so scared of everything… I really hate that I’m like this… smh

      Reply
  13. Jannah Vincent Loves Pandas says

    February 11, 2017 at 11:26 pm

    did you make one about the fear of big spaces?

    Reply
    • Jordan says

      July 31, 2017 at 5:14 pm

      I’m literally scared of everything I can’t walk anywhere in my house without looking behind me I can’t watch horror movies they scare me for weeks

      Reply
      • Camila says

        August 13, 2017 at 1:39 pm

        Me too I’m scared of everything but fight hard not be. I got this when I was very little around 13 and now I’m 37. And I still fear everything.

        Reply
        • Shouvik says

          November 17, 2018 at 10:52 am

          I have this all time fear feeling, it was there since childhood but I kept thinking that I would overcome it, now I am 32 and unable to find any way to move on. I am very much scared of people, I can’t do anything except sitting idle at home. I feel depressed by seeing people and try to run away from everywhere. Please help me urgently.

          Reply
          • Karen says

            May 24, 2021 at 7:30 pm

            I had this. I went to a Christian counselor. I was put on medication. That was when I was 27. I am now 69. I still have bouts of anxiety but, nothing like it was. I think a lot of mine was from childhood experiences. We all have different stories.

      • andrew says

        October 15, 2017 at 6:56 am

        good for me i dont have panophobia
        though but I have trypophobia

        Reply
  14. student15 says

    April 18, 2016 at 8:02 pm

    I have to do a report on this phobia, I have to find the statistics of it.. any help? I’m 15.

    Reply
    • Julia Miller says

      February 21, 2017 at 5:22 pm

      look it up that is what I’m doing for my report, and so its been going pretty good, I’m 11.

      Reply
      • cAIQUE says

        April 15, 2019 at 2:35 pm

        what is a panophobia report

        Reply
  15. Sachin says

    April 3, 2016 at 1:19 pm

    I have fear of sound, smell, anxiety problem.. because of these phobias i go in depression. Please help me get out these phobias, because of this im not able to do anything.. i want to live like other people.

    Reply
    • cAIQUE says

      April 15, 2019 at 2:32 pm

      this isn’t panophobia this is acousticophobia, osmophobia. anxiety problems

      Reply
    • Richard Willis says

      May 31, 2019 at 8:59 pm

      Im exactly the same! Please help me too! RICH.

      Reply
  16. Sebastian Wehrmeyer says

    March 10, 2016 at 3:24 am

    I have dumbassaphobia (fear of stupidity).

    Reply
    • Sunny Johnson says

      January 14, 2017 at 2:54 am

      same boy same

      Reply
    • Eloisa says

      February 17, 2017 at 6:59 pm

      that is a real fear but you spelled it wrong

      Reply
  17. Martha says

    December 8, 2015 at 3:11 am

    I have a fear of podophobia. This is the fear of feet. They disgust me. Please wear closed toe shoes. Refrain from saying “feet” “toes” or looking at my feet. I hate feet. Stop. Let’s work together to stop feet. Thank you.

    Reply
  18. Theo says

    September 24, 2015 at 5:37 pm

    I feel so bad for you, although I did think it was a bit more extreme, no offence. I don’t have a phobia that I know of so hopefully you don’t have a bad life.

    Reply
  19. Megan says

    July 17, 2015 at 1:23 am

    I have panophobia extremely bad, and I literally can not function most of the time. I can barely leave the house, I can barely go to school (I actually have to redo my junior year because I just never went), I constantly fear my mom is just going to die if I’m not with her, I can barely talk to people, I certainly can’t sleep. I could go on for hours. This sucks.

    Reply
    • Rayanna says

      March 10, 2016 at 4:48 am

      I have it too but not super extreme but i can’t sleep or use most bathrooms. It’s hard to shower alone also. I’m 11.

      Reply
      • xxnonamexx says

        March 30, 2016 at 3:24 pm

        I have it and it can be really scary sometimes and i also can’t shower alone cause i get anxious. I usually just shower with my shower door open or something like that. And i can panic really bad. I went to see a psychologist but it didn’t really help much.

        Reply
  20. Jelly says

    March 22, 2015 at 9:39 pm

    I suffer from Emetophobia and fear of having diarrhea.

    Reply
    • cat says

      March 28, 2015 at 5:42 pm

      Why did you tell us that, like I have kinemortophobia fear of zombies

      Reply
      • Abida Hamimi says

        April 26, 2015 at 12:09 pm

        I’m afraid of everything.

        Reply
        • david says

          May 13, 2015 at 6:38 pm

          How big a percentage of people in the world are having this?

          Reply
        • david says

          May 13, 2015 at 6:50 pm

          Abida hamimi, even if you shout at other people and family because you didn’t like something, do you get afraid and think they will kill you? And also, do you get afraid if you shout at other people and family for a good reason do you think that they will kill you? Sorry for the long and weird question.

          Reply
        • Sarah says

          April 23, 2016 at 8:33 pm

          I’m afraid of heights insects and dead stuff and there is a lot of things that I’m scared of.

          Reply
          • Sarah says

            April 23, 2016 at 9:26 pm

            I have always been scared of poop. I’ve been afraid of animal poop and also human poop but not my own. I know that’s what everyone does. I’m even scared to go horse back riding because of seeing the horses pooping a lot and boy they can poop and those turds are huge and every time I think of it I think I will have to be sick to my stomach.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

FEAROF HAS BEEN FEATURED ON

FEAROF has been featured on these websites



FEAROF's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE: CALL 988



About FEAROF · Contact · Privacy Policy · Disclaimer · Copyright © 2023