Are you scared of going out in the dark or fearful of gaining or regaining weight?

Do you always try to stay away from dogs and do not want to fly?

You hate going to the circus because you can’t stand the sight of a clown?

Snow and mirrors are the type of things you could happily live without.

Visiting a dentist remains the last item on your checklist that is always unchecked.

You are happy to be single as the thought of marriage peeves you to the extreme or

You don’t like men, women and even beautiful women (it’s really a different category)

 

What Causes Phobias

A lot many of us may have such fears however we gradually begin to consider them as a part of our personality.  We learn to live with them, and very rarely do we confront their existence to see them out of our life.

Phobias can lead to changes in the brain activity and one of the major parts of the brain for inducing this fear is amygdala.  Amygdala is the seat of emotional triggers and stores memories to warn us in case we encounter similar experiences again which then causes learned fear.

Another major discomfort to people with phobias is the expectation of encountering an object that they fear the most.  They would always expect to see a spider or a snake where none exists, but this expectation does lead to unnecessary fear and anxiety, the major culprit being the amygdala present in the right hemisphere of our brain.

 

Symptoms

Some of the symptoms related to phobias include

• increased heartbeat
• chaotic breathing
• uncontrollable shaking

awkward feelings and constant thought of the harm the object you are fearful of could do to you.

Four categories of Phobia

• Fear of natural environment like trees, water etc.
• Fear of animals like lizards, horses, dogs etc.
• Fear of Medical treatment or mutilation like dentistry, blood etc.
• Fear of situations like flying, driving etc.

Now, lets go back to the fears we discussed at the beginning of this article.

The 12 phobias we discussed about initially are;

• Achluophobia – The Fear of darkness

A lot of had this fear growing up, however it subsided as we became older.  Some people though continue to remain fearful of the dark.

• Obesophobia – Fear of gaining weight

Most of the population may be suffering from this phobia right now especially with much lesser physical activities to indulge in.

• Cynophobia – Fear of Dogs

Although people with pets may think of this fear as weird, but there are a lot of others who are afraid of dogs (there is a similar phobia for cat as well-Elurophobia)

• Pteromerhanophobia – Fear of flying

Not the people clutching their seats but the ones who insist on traveling by any other means except an airplane. Kim Jong-il, father of Kim Jong-un was obsessive about not taking a flight even on overseas trips.

• Coulrophobia – Fear of clowns

Although, a lot many kids love them, they can also evoke fear amongst many.

• Chionophobia – Fear of snow

Most of us love snow clad mountain peaks.  However, for some it is a cause of fear.

• Catoptrophobia – Fear of mirrors

What’s the first thing you do after waking up or before leaving for work.  Yes, use a mirror, but there are people who just couldn’t perform this simple ritual without getting scared.

• Dentophobia – Fear of dentist

This would have a long list of followers me included.  Most of us dread a visit to the doctor who opens our mouth to literally keep it clean.

• Gamophobia – Fear of marriage

All the singles out there, you know what’s keeping your from getting hitched.

• Androphobia – Fear of men

Well, for women it could be the men

• Gynophobia – Fear of Women

And for men it could be women.

• Venustraphobia – Fear of beautiful women

Such a fear exists too and has got a name as well.  Aren’t you surprised?

 

Which one’s do you have, would be amusing to know.  Do write down in the comments.