What are the Most Common Phobias You Should Know About?

If you are in a tiny space, do you freak out? Do you have a deathly fear of heights? Would you refuse to meet your friend's pet snake? Most of the population can relate to at least one of these questions. There seems to be a common fear of snakes, tiny spaces, and heights among many people out there. Phobias, however, are excessive and persistent fears. This article will guide you about what are the most common phobias the people struggle with. Also, we’ll discuss the reason behind phobias and how to treat them. Read on!

What Are the Most Common Phobias? 

1. Social phobia

The fear of being negatively perceived, judged, or rejected by others in social situations causes social phobia or social anxiety disorder. In the US, around 12.1% of adults experience a social anxiety disorder in their lifetime, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).  A fear of certain events, places, or people can cause individuals to avoid them, making everyday functioning difficult. Social phobics may even hide out at home and rely on their loved ones exclusively for basic necessities in severe cases. In certain situations, an individual may experience an increase in social anxiety. People who suffer from anxiety often experience the worst symptoms when they are the center of attention - when they're being watched by a large group of people, for instance, or when they are giving a presentation at work or otherwise addressing a large crowd of people.

2. Claustrophobia

The fear of being trapped in an enclosed space is called claustrophobia. A person with claustrophobia may panic if they are inside an elevator or in a small room without windows. Moreover, some wearing too-tight clothing may trigger a panic attack. Approximately 12.5% of the population suffers from claustrophobia, mostly women. The claustrophobic will often try to avoid situations that might trigger their anxiety. When climbing 30 floors, they'll prefer the stairs instead of the elevator. Similarly, when traveling more than a few miles, they'll walk rather than take the metro.

3. Arachnophobia

Nearly 3% to 15% of people in the USA live with arachnophobia. Typically, arachnophobia  is the fear of spiders. Even if you think about spiders, it can develop intense fear and anxiety. Even though the majority of spiders are not poisonous or dangerous, scientists still do not understand the fear of spiders. However, many of us are scared when we see one nearby. Our ancestors likely inherited this stress reaction from living with and fearing these creatures. You might be wondering why spiders scared them. Well, our ancestors may have been more prone to bites of these creatures. This is because they could have less capability to recover from bites of insects or other injuries.

4. Acrophobia

The fear of heights is called acrophobia. A person may feel reluctant to fly in planes, stay in tall buildings, or even drive over bridges. It is estimated that between 3% and 6% of the US population suffers from acrophobia. Many of us experience nervousness when we look over a balcony on the 50th floor or sit on the tallest roller coaster. However, those who suffer from an actual phobia will experience unpleasant symptoms. Those symptoms include sweating and shaking, feeling paralyzed, crying uncontrollably, and panic attacks.

5. Teraphobia

There is a widespread fear among kids called Teraphobia or the fear of monsters. Children who suffer from this fear can suffer from insomnia if it is not treated correctly, mainly if it develops at a young age. One's mental state may be affected by watching horror movies or reading stories in the same genre. As a result, you should be careful what you feed a child's mind while he or she is growing up. There is no doubt that kids have a wild imagination, and they can make up their own imaginary world of monsters hiding somewhere in their rooms. The fear of a scary beast under your bed or in your closet is one of the reasons most kids avoid sleeping in their beds. In order to help your children overcome this fear and convince them that monsters don't exist, we have prepared a list of 7 ways to help them. 

6.  Mysophobia

Mysophobia is a terrible fear of germs or dirt. In an environment containing germs, you may make more efforts to ignore situations where you can come in contact with germs again. You may find yourself caught up in a cycle of repetitive behaviors that adversely affect your quality of life. That repetitive behavior is similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a type of mental illness.

7. Astraphobia

Astraphobia, also known as brontophobia or fear of thunderstorms and lightning, is an irrational and extreme fear of thunderstorms and lightning. In the Greek language, astraphobia is derived from the words 'astrape,' which means lightning, and the word phobia, which means fear. In other words, it is a type of phobia, which is defined as a persistent and excessive fear of some objects or situations which can interfere with one's ability to function on a day-to-day basis.  If you suffer from astraphobia, you may find that you feel intense anxiety when preparing for a thunderstorm, watch the weather forecast excessively, and experience panic attacks during a thunderstorm. 

8. Agoraphobia

The fear of being unable to escape is agoraphobia. It causes people to avoid places and situations that might make them feel trapped, helpless, embarrassed, or scared. During stressful situations, people with agoraphobia often experience nausea and a rapid heartbeat. Symptoms may also appear before the dreaded situation even occurs. Some people with this condition avoid doing daily activities. Those activities include going to the bank or grocery stores and spending most of their time at home. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 1.3% of American adults suffer from agoraphobia. In severe cases, agoraphobia can be harmful. Despite realizing their fears are illogical, people living with agoraphobia cannot dare to change those fears. It can impact their school or work performance along with their personal relationships.

9. Trypanophobia 

Trypanophobia is the fear of needles. As young children do not enjoy the pricking sensation, they have more fear of injecting needles. In adult age, many individuals can bear the pain of needles more quickly. However, in certain cases, this fear stays in adulthood. There is a possibility that this fear can become intense occasionally.

10. Nyctophobia 

Nyctophobia is basically a fear of darkness or night. Symptoms related to anxiety and depression may develop along with such a phobia. It is common for children to be afraid of the dark, and it is seen as a regular part of growing up. According to studies focused on this phobia, humans often fear the dark because it lacks any visual stimuli. Due to the inability to see what's around them, people may fear the dark and night. It may be time to see your doctor if your fear has started to affect your daily life and sleep patterns.

What Causes Phobias?

The following factors contribute to different types of phobias:

• Traumatic experiences: Past traumas or incidents with you or someone else can create phobias.

• Genetics: In some cases, genetics are responsible for phobias. This means an individual can suffer from any type of phobia if it runs in the family.

• Informational transmission: Some people may develop phobia when they repeatedly see or hear about some incidents.

• Learned fears: Some people may learn about certain phobias from people around them. This, as a result, can create phobia. Individuals with overprotective parents are more likely to have certain types of phobias.

Complications Associated with Phobias

Some people find the phobias silly. However, they can be damaging and distressing. A person can experience the following complications:

• Social isolation

• Mood disorders

• Drug misuse

• Suicidal thoughts

• Pressure on loved ones

Treatment Options for Phobia

Phobias, in general, are treatable. The following treatment options can help treat different phobias:

Behavioral therapy: It consists of two types of therapy:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy: In this therapy, psychologists help you understand a variety of ways to understand and react to your fear.

• Exposure therapy: It helps you change your response towards a particular source of phobia.

Medications: These are the effective medications to treat phobias:

• Antidepressants: Doctors might suggest Serotonin reuptake inhibitors. These medications impact the brain's serotonin levels, helping lift mood.

• Beta-blockers: They relieve the anxiety symptoms that come with a phobia.

• Tranquilizers: Healthcare providers may prescribe this medication. It also helps treat symptoms of anxiety that develop due to a phobia. 

Final Thoughts

We hope you know about what are the most common phobias. Consider seeking help from a professional if you believe that you may be suffering from a phobia. Additionally, by attending phobia clinics and support groups, many people have also been able to overcome their fears. It is also possible for some people to overcome their phobias with the help of medications. However, these medications are not usually used in the initial stages of therapy. Some medications can cause anxiety, doctors recommend using them carefully with other therapy. In case you liked this post about what are the most common phobias, feel free to share it in the comments section. Let us know whether or not you have conquered one of these phobias.