A fear of being watched can affect public places, work, social situations and moments where you feel visible to other people. It may lead to avoiding attention, monitoring where others are looking, changing how you behave or leaving situations because you feel observed.

Possible triggers

Becoming the focus of a group's attention, noticing someone staring or completing a task while others watch.

Name origin

From Greek skopein (to look at) and -phobia.

Also known as

Scoptophobia, Ophthalmophobia

The focus is the navel, commonly called the belly button.

Possible triggers

Seeing an exposed belly button, touching your own navel or encountering a close-up image.

Name origin

From Greek omphalos (navel) and -phobia (fear).

A fear of birds can affect parks, town centres, beaches and outdoor eating areas. It may lead to scanning for pigeons or seagulls, avoiding places where birds gather, moving away from flapping wings or leaving when a bird comes unexpectedly close.

Possible triggers

Examples include hearing wings flutter nearby, encountering birds in a park, finding a feather or seeing birds in a film or museum display.

Name origin

From Greek ornis (bird) and -phobia.

A gathering of people is the focus of the fear, described in dictionaries as fear of crowds or mobs.

Possible triggers

Entering a packed shop, joining a dense queue or travelling through a crowded station.

Name origin

From Greek ochlos (a crowd) and phobos (fear).

Also known as

Demophobia

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

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.

Amaxophobia can involve fear of driving or of travelling as a passenger.

A fear of driving can affect work, family life and independence. Some people avoid motorways, bridges, tunnels, busy traffic or unfamiliar routes, while others drive only after extensive planning, reassurance or mental preparation.

Possible triggers

Examples include getting into a car for a journey, travelling with an unfamiliar driver or taking a bus on a route that differs from the usual one.

Name origin

From Greek amaxa (wagon or carriage) and -phobia.

Also known as

Hamaxophobia, Motorphobia, Ochophobia

A fear of eyes can affect everyday situations involving seeing eyeballs, touching eye, close up eyes and eye contact. It may lead to self-monitoring, avoiding mirrors, photographs, grooming or close contact, seeking reassurance, or changing social plans because of appearance-related fear.

Possible triggers

Seeing a close-up image of an eye, anticipating an eye examination or noticing someone touch their eye.

Name origin

From Greek omma (eye) and -phobia.

Also known as

Ommatophobia

A fear of fingernails or toenails can affect everyday situations involving cutting nails, nail clipping, broken nail and fingernails. It may lead to self-monitoring, avoiding mirrors, photographs, grooming or close contact, seeking reassurance, or changing social plans because of appearance-related fear.

Possible triggers

Seeing nails close up, preparing to trim them or watching someone handle their nails.

Name origin

From Greek onyx (nail) and -phobia.

A fear of food shopping can affect everyday situations involving choosing food, supermarket, grocery store and food aisle. It may lead to restricting foods, checking ingredients or preparation, avoiding meals, shops or restaurants, or relying heavily on familiar choices.

Possible triggers

Entering a food shop, choosing groceries or preparing to make a food-shopping trip.

Name origin

From Greek opson (food) and -phobia.