The concern is taking on responsibility, rather than only worrying about neglecting a duty.

Possible triggers

Being put in charge of a task, accepting responsibility for someone or making a decision others will depend on.

Name origin

From Greek hypengyos (responsible) and phobos (fear).

Also known as

Hypegiaphobia

A fear of sacred objects or rituals can affect everyday situations involving holy object, religious ceremony, sacred place and religious ritual. 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

Entering a ritual setting, encountering a sacred object or being invited to take part in a religious ceremony.

Name origin

From Greek hieros (sacred) and -phobia.

A fear of sin or wrongdoing can affect everyday decisions, relationships, religious practice and situations involving moral uncertainty. It may lead to repeated checking, reassurance-seeking, confession, avoidance or difficulty moving on from ordinary mistakes because they feel unusually significant.

Possible triggers

Making a moral decision, recalling something you regard as wrong or hearing a discussion of sin.

Name origin

From Greek hamartia (error or sin) and -phobia.

Also known as

Enosiophobia, Peccatiphobia

A fear of sleep can affect everyday situations involving going to bed, falling asleep, sleeping alone and bedtime. 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

Examples include approaching bedtime, trying to fall asleep or anticipating another nightmare or episode of sleep paralysis.

Name origin

From Latin somnus (sleep) and -phobia.

Also known as

Hypnophobia

A fear of sugar or sweet foods can affect everyday situations involving sweets, desserts, chocolate and cake. It may lead to restricting foods, checking ingredients or preparation, avoiding meals, shops or restaurants, or relying heavily on familiar choices.

Possible triggers

Being offered a sweet dessert, seeing sugar added to food or choosing from sweet drinks.

Name origin

From Greek hyper (excess), glykys (sweet) and -phobia.

A fear of sunlight can affect everyday situations involving bright sun, sun exposure, UV rays and bright day.

Possible triggers

Stepping from shade into sunshine, sitting beside a sunlit window or planning a daytime outdoor activity.

Name origin

From Greek helios (sun) and -phobia.

This long descriptive name concerns the number 666 and the troubling significance someone may attach to it. Encountering the number does not itself predict harm.

Possible triggers

Seeing 666 on a receipt, being assigned it as a number, or noticing it within an address or reference code.

Name origin

The Greek components hexakosioi, hexekonta and hex mean six hundred, sixty and six. Phobia adds the meaning of fear.

Travelling is the concern, rather than one particular form of transport.

Possible triggers

Packing for a trip, planning an unfamiliar route or anticipating leaving familiar surroundings.

Name origin

From Greek hodos (road, path or way) and -phobia (fear).

A fear of vehicles can affect everyday situations involving riding in vehicles, cars, buses and trains. It may lead to avoiding certain journeys, routes or vehicles, planning extensively, relying on other people for transport, or cancelling trips altogether.

Possible triggers

Approaching a parked vehicle, standing near moving traffic or anticipating a journey in a vehicle.

Name origin

From Greek okhos (vehicle) and -phobia.

Also known as

Amaxophobia, Hamaxophobia, Motorphobia

Hypochondriasis, also called hypochondria, is an older diagnostic term for persistent worry about having a serious illness. Current assessment may identify illness anxiety disorder or somatic symptom disorder, depending on the symptoms. These are not simply specific phobias. Health anxiety can involve repeated checking or seeking reassurance, and can continue despite reassuring test results. New or unexplained symptoms still deserve appropriate medical assessment.

Possible triggers

Noticing an unfamiliar bodily sensation, reading health information or waiting for reassurance about a health concern.

Name origin

From Greek hypo (under) and khondros (cartilage). The original anatomical meaning referred to the area beneath the ribs.