Messy surroundings can cause intense distress, and even anticipating an untidy setting can provoke anxiety. This is more than a preference for neatness.

Possible triggers

Entering an untidy room, seeing objects out of place or facing a disorganised workspace.

Name origin

From Greek ataxia (disorder), formed from a- (without) and taxis (order), with -phobia (fear).

Also known as

Ataxiophobia

A fear of dreams or nightmares can affect everyday situations involving vivid dreams, bad dream, dreams and nightmares. It may lead to delaying bedtime, staying alert when tired, changing sleep routines, needing reassurance, or avoiding situations associated with sleep or night-time.

Possible triggers

Remembering a disturbing dream, discussing nightmares or anticipating dreaming when you next sleep.

Name origin

From Greek oneiros (dream) and -phobia.

Freedom itself is the focus of this term.

Possible triggers

Being given unrestricted choice, leaving a highly structured setting or having to decide your own direction.

Name origin

From Greek eleutheros (free) and -phobia (fear).

An informal name for fear focused on Friday the 13th, rather than the number thirteen in every setting.

Possible triggers

Noticing an upcoming Friday the thirteenth or arranging a journey or appointment on that date.

Name origin

A modern formation using Greek paraskeue (Friday), dekatria (thirteen) and phobos (fear).

The fear can centre on God or on the prospect of divine anger.

Possible triggers

Hearing discussion of divine judgement, taking part in worship or thinking about divine anger.

Name origin

A New Latin formation using theo-, from Greek theos (God), and phobia, from Greek phobos (fear).

A fear of going to bed can affect everyday situations involving lying in bed, bedroom at night, night time and going to bed. It may lead to delaying bedtime, staying alert when tired, changing sleep routines, needing reassurance, or avoiding situations associated with sleep or night-time.

Possible triggers

Beginning the bedtime routine, entering the bedroom for the night or getting into bed.

Name origin

From Greek klinē (bed) and -phobia.

A fear of Halloween can affect everyday situations involving spooky decorations, haunted attraction, October 31 and costumes. It may lead to avoiding certain places, images, stories or times of day, checking surroundings, seeking reassurance, or staying away from reminders of the feared idea.

Possible triggers

Seeing Halloween decorations, receiving a Halloween invitation or encountering costumed visitors.

Name origin

Named after the Celtic festival Samhain, combined with -phobia.

A fear of heaven or eternity can affect everyday situations involving life after death, eternal existence, afterlife and heaven. It may lead to repeated rumination, reassurance-seeking, avoiding reminders or conversations, or finding it difficult to stay present because attention is pulled towards the feared idea.

Possible triggers

Discussing an eternal afterlife, hearing descriptions of heaven or reflecting on existence without an end.

Name origin

From Greek ouranos (sky or heaven) and -phobia.

Also known as

Uranophobia

A fear of hell or eternal punishment can affect everyday situations involving eternal punishment, afterlife punishment, damnation and underworld. It may lead to repeated rumination, reassurance-seeking, avoiding reminders or conversations, or finding it difficult to stay present because attention is pulled towards the feared idea.

Possible triggers

Hearing descriptions of hell, encountering religious punishment imagery or discussing eternal punishment.

Name origin

From Greek Styx (mythological river of the underworld) and -phobia.

Also known as

Hadephobia

A fear of human-animal transformation can affect everyday situations involving turning into an animal, human animal hybrid, werewolf and transformation fear. It may lead to avoiding certain places, images, stories or times of day, checking surroundings, seeking reassurance, or staying away from reminders of the feared idea.

Possible triggers

Watching a transformation scene in a film or reading a story in which a person becomes an animal.

Name origin

From Greek zōon (animal) and anthrōpos (human) with -phobia.