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Phobias - what are our most common fears?

Marcin Rokita

You can read this text in 3 min.

Phobias - what are our most common fears?

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Watching horror movies

Almost all of us have some kind of fear. Some are more intense than others. Sometimes they are rooted in traumatic experiences.

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Table of contents:

  1. Arachnophobia
  2. Ophidiophobia
  3. Acrophobia
  4. Cynophobia
  5. Claustrophobia
  6. Coulrophobia
  7. Haemophobia
  8. Glossaphobia
  9. Nyctophobia

People struggle with many phobias. The most common ones are:

Arachnophobia

Arachnophobia is the fear of spiders. Many people struggle with this problem. It is usually linked to childhood memories. Some people are frightened by the appearance of spiders, others get chills at the very thought that something could walk on their skin. In early medieval times, spiders were thought to spread the plague and were seen as a source of food and water contamination, leading to a widespread fear of spiders.

Ophidiophobia

Ophidiophobia or fear of snakes. Some experts believe that fear of snakes may be an innate survival mechanism to protect humans from venomous reptiles. Others argue that if this were the case, phobia would not be so common. Ophidiophobia can lead people to avoid places such as gardens or pet shops.

Acrophobia

Acrophobia - fear of heights. Unlike many fears, this fear can derive from other phobias such as fear of flying and roller coasters. This phobia can also vary in severity. Some people may avoid things like ladders or be afraid of climbing, while others are unable to ride a lift or walk to a high floor in a building.

Cynophobia

Cynophobia is a fear of dogs. It is often the result of a traumatic experience. For example, someone bitten by a dog as a child may experience a fear of dogs into adulthood. This phobia can result in avoidance of relatives and friends who have four-legged dogs.

Claustrophobia

Most people know that claustrophobia is the fear of enclosed spaces. This fear can be triggered by a traumatic past experience, such as being stuck in a lift.

Coulrophobia

Coulrophobia is a fear of clowns. In many cases it develops in childhood. Clowns are often portrayed in the media as evil characters, (as was the case with serial killer John Wayne Gacy, who dressed up in a clown costume) which can deeply affect a child's psyche.

Haemophobia

Haemophobia or fear of blood. Some people experience feelings of dizziness and sometimes faint at the sight of blood - even with a small cut. The origins of this fear are unclear, but it may be related to a fear of death.

Glossaphobia

Glossaphobia is a phobia of public speaking. It can manifest itself in childhood. It is estimated that 75% of people experience this fear to varying degrees. However, it can be fought and overcome.

Nyctophobia

Nyctophobia is one of the most common childhood fears. It is a fear of the dark. This phobia is triggered by a misperception of what might happen in the dark. This problem is most common in childhood, but can sometimes accompany adults as well.

If you feel that you have similar fears, you may want to talk to a psychologist or psychiatrist. After a thorough analysis of your complaints and their causes, your doctor will suggest an appropriate therapy. During it, you will learn such behaviour and way of thinking that will allow you to eliminate these troublesome ailments from your life.