Phobias

Is a Phobia Triggering Your Fight or Flight Response?

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Should You Deal With Your Phobia on Your Own?

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Revolving Door Syndrome With Phobias

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Social Anxiety Disorder Symptoms and Progression

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Phobia Symptoms, Types, and Treatment

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder (DDD): Definition, Symptoms, Traits, Causes, Treatment

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Human Behavior and Evolutionary Psychology

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

How to Fly Safely With Claustrophobia

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Effects of Phobias on Your Emotions and Personality

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

The Concept of Jung's Collective Unconscious Explained

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

How Constructivism Relates to Understandings of Phobias

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

A Look at Culture-Specific Phobias

By Lisa Fritscher

Resources for Phobia Support

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

How Many People Have Phobias in the United States?

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Tabula Rasa in Psychology

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Common Phobic Reactions for the Three Types of Phobias

By Lisa Fritscher

Identifying and Coping With Anticipatory Anxiety

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Using Behavior Modeling Theory for Phobic Patients

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

The Link Between Religious Faith and Fear

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

The Psychoanalytic Theory of Transference

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Conversion Disorder: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Medically reviewed by Akeem Marsh, MD

How Mass Hysteria Is Related to Groupthink

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

What Is a Presenting Problem?

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Understanding Intake Interviews for Phobias

By Lisa Fritscher

Medical Model Use in Psychology

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Magical Thinking Benefits and Mental Health Concerns

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Medication to Treat Claustrophobia While Traveling

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

When Your Fears About Dying Are Unhealthy

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Understanding Phobias and How to Manage Them

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Phobias

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

3 Major Theories on How Phobias Develop

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

The Medical Model in Psychology on Phobias and the Brain

By Lisa Fritscher

Mental Health Research on the Genetics of Phobias

By Lisa Fritscher

Object Relations Theory and the Mom Factor

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

How Different Factors Cause Certain Phobias

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Learning Theory and Phobias

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Understanding Social Cognitive Theory for Phobias

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Psychoanalytic Theory of Phobias

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Tokophobia: Symptoms and Treatments for Childbirth Fear

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Questions to Ask Yourself After a Preliminary Diagnosis

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

How to Tell the Difference Between a Fear and a Phobia

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for a Specific Phobia

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

The Symptoms of Agoraphobia

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

How Phobias Differ From Other Mental Disorders

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Diagnostic Criteria for Phobias

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

How to Face Your Fears: Healthy Ways to Cope

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Pros and Cons of the DSM in Mental Health Diagnosis

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Therapeutic Role-Playing for Phobia Treatment

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Counter-Transference in Therapy

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

How Eclectic Therapy Helps a Client's Needs

By Lisa Fritscher

How Psychoeducational Group Therapy Can Help Phobias

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Treating Specific Phobia With Drugs

By Lisa Fritscher

What Is Hypnotherapy?

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Talk Therapy as a Treatment Option for Phobias

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

How Behavioral Therapy Is Used in the Treatment of Fears

By Lisa Fritscher

Thought Stopping and Controlling Obsessive Thoughts

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

What to Know About Therapeutic Rapport

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Alternative Therapy Treatments for Phobias

By Lisa Fritscher

Finding a Therapist to Treat Your Phobia

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

What Are the Goals of Therapy for Specific Phobias?

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Your First Therapy Appointment for Phobia Overview

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Mental Health Relaxation Tips for Phobias

By Lisa Fritscher

How Individual Therapy Works

By Lisa Fritscher

How Parroting Is Used in Therapy

By Lisa Fritscher

A Support Person Is Necessary for Treating Phobias

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

D-Cycloserine as a Promising Phobia Treatment

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Overcoming Setbacks in a Group Setting

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Treatment Options for Phobias

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Using SSRI Anxiety Medication for Phobias

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

How a Therapeutic Treatment Plan Can Help You

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Is Anatidaephobia a Real Condition?

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Understanding Enochlophobia or the Fear of Crowds

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Nomophobia: The Fear of Being Without Your Phone

Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW

Trichophobia: Coping With the Fear of Hair

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Gynophobia: Coping With the Fear of Women

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Thalassophobia: Coping With the Fear of the Ocean

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Do You Have a Fear of Cruise Ships?

By Lisa Fritscher

10 of the Most Common Phobias

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Could Your Eating Problems Be a Specific Phobia of Vomiting?

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Cleithrophobia: The Fear of Being Trapped

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Understanding Erotophobia or the Fear of Sex

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Understanding the Fear of People

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Coping With the Fear of Water

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

How to Help Children Overcome the Fear of Death

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Coping With Haphephobia or the Fear of Being Touched

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Coping WIth Daemonophobia or the Fear of Demons

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Coping With Teraphobia or the Fear of Monsters

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

6 Best Ways to Cope With the Fear of Traveling

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Is Stage Fright Considered a Phobia?

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Heliophobia or Fear of Sunlight

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Coping With Angrophobia or the Fear of Anger

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

There Really Is a Cruise Ship Phobia

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Scoptophobia or the Fear of Being Stared At

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Necrophobia: Coping With the Fear of Dead Things

By Kendra Cherry

Olfactory Reference Characteristics and Treatment

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Separation Anxiety: Definition, Symptoms, Traits, Causes, Treatment

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Genuphobia, the Fear of Knees

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Coping With Zuigerphobia or the Fear of Vacuum Cleaners

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Understanding Anemophobia, the Fear of Air

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Causes, Treatment, and Complications of Climacophobia

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Symptoms and Factors of Dementophobia

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

The Fear of Witchcraft or Wiccaphobia

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Cryophobia and Understanding the Fear of Cold

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Fluoxetine Side Effects and Controversies

Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD, FAAN

Understanding Puerto Rico Syndrome

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Xenophobia: Definition, Symptoms, Traits, Causes, Treatment

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Coping With Osmophobia or the Fear of Smells

Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD, FAAN

Phobophobia Is the Fear of Phobias

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Dysmorphophobia Is the Fear of Deformity

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Phobia of Self-Promotion: How It Could Be Hurting You

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Taijin Kyofusho: Japanese Social Phobia

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Fear of Intimacy: Signs, Causes, and Coping Strategies

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Paraphobia or the Fear of Sexual Perversion

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Coping With Ostraconophobia or the Fear of Shellfish

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Overcoming a Fear of the Dark (Nyctophobia)

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Understanding Arachnophobia or the Fear of Spiders

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Overview of Astraphobia, a Fear of Thunderstorms

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Coping With Ornithophobia or the Fear of Birds

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Coping With Cibophobia or the Fear of Food

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Coping With Coulrophobia or the Fear of Clowns

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Coping WIth Koro or the Fear of Genital Retraction

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Ablutophobia and the Irrational Fear of Bathing

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Automatonophobia or Fear of Human-Like Figures

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Coping With Astrophobia or the Fear of Outer Space

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Amaxophobia Symptoms and Treatment

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Arachibutyrophobia or Fear of Peanut Butter

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Understanding Food Phobias and Their Causes

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Coping With Chiclephobia, or the Fear of Chewing Gum

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Understanding Bromidrophobia or Fear of Smelling Bad

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

The Fear of Accidents or Dystychiphobia

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Coping With Siderodromophobia, or the Fear of Trains

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Overcoming the Fear of Failure and Success

By Lisa Fritscher

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia and the Fear of 666

Medically reviewed by Carly Snyder, MD

Coping With Cynophobia or the Fear of Dogs

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

What to Know About Nosophobia or Fear of a Disease

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Managing a Road Trip If You Have Claustrophobia

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Genophobia or the Fear of Sexual Intercourse

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Herpetophobia or Fear of Reptiles

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Fear or Phobia of Haunted Houses

Medically reviewed by Carly Snyder, MD

Coping With Metrophobia or the Fear of Poetry

By Lisa Fritscher

Fear of Going to the Dentist aka Dentophobia

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Understanding Rhabdophobia or the Fear of Magic

By Lisa Fritscher

How to Manage Claustrophobia During Medical Procedures

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Ecclesiophobia or Fear of Churches as a Specific Phobia

By Lisa Fritscher

Understanding Pyrophobia or the Fear of Fire

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Fear of Vulnerability and Learning to Trust Again

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

How to Deal WIth Kleptophobia or the Fear of Theft

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

The Fear of Loud Noises or Ligyrophobia

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Understanding Illyngophobia or the Fear of Vertigo

By Lisa Fritscher

Is Your Fear of Animals Normal or a Full-Blown Phobia?

By Lisa Fritscher

Understanding Xylophobia or the Fear of Wooded Areas

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Cabin Fever Symptoms and Coping Skills

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Understanding the Fear of Insects or Entomophobia

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Understanding the Fear of Cats

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Coping With a Fear of Swallowing (Phagophobia)

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Is a Fear of the Number 8 Common?

By Lisa Fritscher

Could You Have a Fear of Politics or Politicophobia?

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

What Is the Fear and Phobia of Bees?

By Lisa Fritscher

Neophobia as the Fear of New Things

By Lisa Fritscher

Technophobia Is the Fear of Technology

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

The Fear of Hospitals or Nosocomephobia

By Lisa Fritscher

Coping With Pseudodysphagia

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Coping With Phasmophobia or the Fear of Ghosts

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Maskaphobia, Also Known as the Fear of Masks

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Coping With Gymnophobia or the Fear of Nudity

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Chronophobia or the Fear of Time

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Mysophobia: Coping With the Fear of Germs

By Lisa Fritscher

Lilapsophobia or the Fear of Tornadoes or Hurricanes

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

What Is Anthophobia?

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

The Fear of Mirrors or Catoptrophobia

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

What Phobia Is the Fear of Numbers?

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Understanding Kinemortophobia or the Fear of Zombies

By Lisa Fritscher

Mageirocophobia: How to Manage the Fear of Cooking

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Understanding the Fear of Butterflies and Moths

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Bibliophobia and How to Overcome It

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Phobias Related to the Winter Season

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

The Different Types of Doomsday Phobias

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Understanding Fear of Abandonment

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Monophobia: The Fear of Being Alone

By Lisa Fritscher

Thanatophobia Diagnosis and Treatment

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Understanding Your Fear of Elevators

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Coping With the Fear of Blood

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

What Is Acrophobia?

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Understanding the Fear of Buttons

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Understanding the Causes of Bathmophobia

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

What to Know About Philemaphobia or the Fear of Kissing

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

What to Know About Erythrophobia, the Fear of Blushing

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Fear of Rejection and Consequences

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

How Zoloft (Sertraline) Works

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

What Is the Fear of Driving?

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Glossophobia or the Fear of Public Speaking

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Fear of Submerged Cars

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Coping With Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Overview of the Fear of Escalators

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

The Fear of Sharp Objects: Aichmophobia 101

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Illness Anxiety Disorder: Definition, Symptoms, Traits, Causes, Treatment

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

A to Z: List of Phobias, From the Strange to the Common

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Could You Have Samhainophobia or the Fear of Halloween?

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Pediophobia or the Fear of Dolls

By Lisa Fritscher

Roller Coaster Phobia

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Emetophobia Causes and Treatment

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

The Fear of Snakes, or Ophidiophobia

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Overcoming the Fear of Flying

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Fear of the Number 13 in Our Culture

By Lisa Fritscher

Understanding Iatrophobia or Fear of Doctors

Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

Claustrophobia (Fear of Small Spaces): Causes & Coping

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Overcoming Trypanophobia or the Fear of Needles

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Understanding Chionophobia or the Fear of Snow

Reviewed by David Susman, PhD

Coping With Thanatophobia or the Fear of Death

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Understanding Megalophobia or the Fear of Large Objects

Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

The Fear of Winter Driving in the Snow

By Lisa Fritscher