The fear centres on poetry, rather than words or books in general.

Possible triggers

Being asked to read a poem, attending a poetry reading or encountering verse in a lesson.

Name origin

From Greek metron (measure or poetic metre) and -phobia (fear).

A fear of pregnancy or childbirth can affect relationships, family planning, medical appointments and conversations about pregnancy or birth. It may lead to avoiding pregnancy-related information or care, repeated reassurance-seeking, distress around bodily changes or decisions becoming dominated by fear of childbirth.

Possible triggers

Discussing pregnancy, hearing a birth story or anticipating labour and delivery.

Name origin

From Greek tokos (childbirth) and -phobia.

Also known as

Maieusiophobia, Tocophobia, Parturiphobia

A fear of punishment can affect everyday situations involving being told off, getting in trouble, discipline and punishment. It may lead to suppressing feelings, avoiding situations likely to trigger the emotion, monitoring your reactions, or withdrawing from experiences that would otherwise matter to you.

Possible triggers

Being summoned after a mistake, hearing about disciplinary action or anticipating a penalty.

Name origin

From Greek mastix (whip) and -phobia.

A fear of slime or slimy textures can affect everyday situations involving sticky goo, slimy texture, mucus and slime. It may lead to scanning for the sensation or visual cue, avoiding particular environments or objects, leaving situations early, or arranging surroundings to prevent encountering it.

Possible triggers

Touching a slimy surface, encountering slime during cleaning or being offered food with a slippery texture.

Name origin

From Greek blenna (mucus) and -phobia.

Also known as

Myxophobia

A fear of the moon can affect everyday situations involving moon in the sky, full moon, lunar phase and moonlight.

Possible triggers

Noticing the moon through a window, being outdoors under moonlight or viewing photographs of the moon.

Name origin

From Greek selēnē (moon) and -phobia.

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

A fear of very small objects can affect crafts, collections, household items and situations involving tiny objects or fine details. It may lead to avoiding touching or looking closely at small items, asking others to handle them or changing routines to prevent encountering them.

Possible triggers

Handling tiny components, examining a miniature object or looking closely at very small items.

Name origin

From Greek mikros (small) and -phobia.

This term describes having several phobias, rather than one fear tied to a single thing.

Possible triggers

Examples depend on the fears involved. Several different situations or objects may be relevant, rather than one shared trigger for this label.

Name origin

Poly- means many or several; phobia comes from Greek phobos (fear).