A fear of butterflies or moths can affect everyday situations involving moth in room, fluttering wings, insect wings and butterflies. It may lead to scanning surroundings, avoiding places where the animal might appear, asking other people to check or deal with it, or leaving suddenly when one is seen.

Possible triggers

A moth entering a lit room, a butterfly flying close by or visiting a butterfly house.

Name origin

From Greek lepidoptera (scale-winged insects) and -phobia.

A fear of computers can affect everyday situations involving online systems, typing, computer and internet. It may lead to avoiding touching, using or being near the object, asking others to deal with it, changing routines, or checking surroundings for the trigger.

Possible triggers

Starting a computer, completing an online form or being asked to use unfamiliar software.

Name origin

From Greek kybernetes (steersman) adapted as cyber- and -phobia.

Also known as

Logizomechanophobia

A fear of darkness can affect everyday situations involving dark room, lights off, pitch black and shadow. 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 switching off the bedroom light, entering a dark cinema, noticing dusk approaching or preparing to sleep in a dark room.

Name origin

From Greek nyx (night) and -phobia.

Also known as

Achluphobia, Noctiphobia, Myctophobia, Scotophobia, Lygophobia

A fear of lakes can affect everyday situations involving deep lake, still water, dark lake and lake edge.

Possible triggers

Approaching a lakeside path, visiting a lakeside campsite or being invited onto a lake in a boat.

Name origin

From Greek limnē (lake) and -phobia.

A fear of large objects can affect city centres, ports, museums and places containing huge buildings, statues, ships or machinery. It may lead to avoiding certain routes or destinations, keeping extra distance or becoming overwhelmed by the scale of an object.

Possible triggers

Standing beside a large statue, approaching a huge ship or seeing an oversized structure nearby.

Name origin

From Greek megas (large) and -phobia.

The concern centres on lawsuits, rather than justice in general.

Possible triggers

Receiving a legal letter, hearing that someone might sue or anticipating a civil court case.

Possible name origin

The origin of this name is unclear. The ending -phobia comes from Greek phobos (fear), but the first part and the history of this spelling are uncertain.

Learning itself is the focus, rather than only attending school or taking an examination.

Possible triggers

Beginning a lesson, being asked to learn a new skill or anticipating unfamiliar teaching material.

Name origin

From Greek sophos (wise or learned) and -phobia (fear).

A fear of leaves can affect everyday situations involving fallen leaves, leaf piles, autumn leaves and dry leaves. It may lead to avoidance, checking, reassurance-seeking or changing everyday routines so that contact with the trigger feels less likely.

Possible triggers

Walking through fallen leaves, handling leafy branches or finding a leaf on clothing.

Name origin

From Greek phyllon (leaf) and -phobia.

The concern is becoming infested with lice, rather than insects in general.

Possible triggers

Hearing about a lice outbreak, checking hair for lice or reading information about infestation.

Name origin

From Latin pediculus (louse) and Greek phobos (fear).

Also known as

Phthiriophobia

A fear of lifts can affect everyday situations involving stuck in a lift, crowded lift, lift doors and lift. It may lead to avoiding certain journeys, routes or vehicles, planning extensively, relying on other people for transport, or cancelling trips altogether.

Possible triggers

Waiting for lift doors to open, entering a lift or anticipating the doors closing.

Name origin

From English elevate with -phobia.