A–Z list of phobias, fears and their meanings

A fear of death can affect sleep, health decisions, relationships, future planning and situations that bring mortality to mind. It may lead to repeated rumination, reassurance-seeking, avoiding conversations or reminders, or finding it difficult to stay present because attention is pulled towards death.

Possible triggers

Attending a funeral, discussing mortality or hearing news of someone's death.

Name origin

From Greek Thanatos (personification of death) and -phobia.

The focus is material that is decaying, rather than germs or dirt in general.

Possible triggers

Finding spoiled food, encountering rotting plant material or noticing the smell of decay.

Possible name origin

The origin of this name is unclear. The ending -phobia comes from Greek phobos (fear); a reliable derivation of the first part has not been established.

A fear of deep or open sea can affect everyday situations involving far from shore, boat in open water, deep sea and open water.

Possible triggers

Looking out over open sea, travelling by boat away from shore or seeing deep underwater footage.

Name origin

From Greek thalassa (sea) and -phobia.

A fear of demons or evil entities can affect everyday situations involving evil spirit, dark entity, possession and haunted. 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 film involving demons, encountering demonic imagery or hearing a supernatural story.

Name origin

From Greek daimon (spirit) and -phobia.

Also known as

Daemonophobia

A fear of dental treatment can affect everyday situations involving root canal, dental surgery, dentist and drill. It may lead to postponing appointments or treatment, worrying for days beforehand, seeking repeated reassurance, or avoiding healthcare that would otherwise be straightforward.

Possible triggers

Examples include hearing a dental drill, noticing the smells inside a dental practice, reclining in the treatment chair or thinking about an upcoming appointment.

Name origin

From Latin dens (tooth) and -phobia.

Also known as

Odontophobia

The concern centres on needing to rely on other people.

Possible triggers

Having to ask for help, accepting assistance or anticipating relying on another person.

Possible name origin

The origin of this name is unclear. Although -phobia comes from Greek phobos (fear), the origin of the first part in this particular name is uncertain.

A fear of depths can affect everyday situations involving looking into depth, deep hole, cliff edge and deep pit.

Possible triggers

Looking into a deep well, standing above a quarry or seeing a steep drop below a viewing point.

Name origin

From Greek bathos (depth) and -phobia.

A fear of developing a serious illness can affect everyday situations involving getting sick, serious illness, medical results and diagnosis. It may lead to monitoring symptoms, checking the body, searching for reassurance, repeatedly seeking medical certainty, or avoiding reminders of illness.

Possible triggers

Reading about a serious illness, hearing someone discuss a diagnosis or anticipating a health investigation.

Name origin

From Greek nosos (disease) and -phobia.

Also known as

Pathophobia

The concern is developing wrinkles, rather than every aspect of growing older.

Possible triggers

Noticing a facial line, looking closely in a mirror or discussing skin ageing.

Name origin

From Greek rhytis (wrinkle) and -phobia (fear).

A fear of diabetes can affect everyday situations involving high blood sugar, blood sugar, glucose levels and insulin. It may lead to monitoring symptoms, checking the body, searching for reassurance, repeatedly seeking medical certainty, or avoiding reminders of illness.

Possible triggers

Reading about diabetes, discussing a diabetes test or hearing about someone else's diagnosis.

Name origin

From Greek diabetes (siphon) and -phobia.