The fear is tied to a particular location or setting that matters to the individual.

Possible triggers

Approaching the particular place associated with the fear, seeing a photograph of it or anticipating a return visit.

Name origin

From Greek topos (place) and phobos (fear).

A fear of a particular specific illness can affect everyday situations involving specific disease, single diagnosis, one illness and particular condition. It may lead to monitoring symptoms, checking the body, searching for reassurance, repeatedly seeking medical certainty, or avoiding reminders of illness.

Possible triggers

Hearing about the particular illness you fear, reading information about it or anticipating a relevant test.

Name origin

From Greek monos (single) and pathos (disease) with -phobia.

A fear of baldness can affect everyday situations involving bald head, hair loss, shaved head and bald person. It may lead to self-monitoring, avoiding mirrors, photographs, grooming or close contact, seeking reassurance, or changing social plans because of appearance-related fear.

Related name: Phalacrophobia refers specifically to fear of becoming bald.

Possible triggers

Noticing hair shedding, seeing a thinning area or discussing future hair loss.

Name origin

From Greek pelas (near bald) and -phobia.

A fear of beards can affect work, social events, public places and interactions with people who have facial hair. It may lead to keeping your distance, avoiding particular people or places, or becoming preoccupied with whether someone with a beard will be present.

Possible triggers

Meeting someone with a beard, seeing close-up beard images or sitting near a bearded person.

Name origin

From Greek pogon (beard) and -phobia.

A fear of bright daylight can affect everyday situations involving open daylight, sun glare, bright sky and bright daylight.

Possible triggers

Opening curtains onto bright daylight, stepping outdoors at midday or entering a brightly sunlit room.

Name origin

From Greek phengos (light) and -phobia.

A fear of children can affect everyday situations involving crying baby, kids running, babies and toddlers. It may lead to avoiding interaction, rehearsing what to say, monitoring other people’s reactions, or replaying encounters afterwards.

Possible triggers

Attending a gathering with children, entering a busy play area or anticipating interaction with a child.

Name origin

From Greek pais (child) and -phobia.

A fear of choking or suffocation can affect everyday situations involving food stuck in throat, suffocating, feeling unable to breathe and gagging. It may lead to restricting foods, eating very cautiously, checking sensations while swallowing, avoiding meals or relying on a narrow set of familiar choices.

Possible triggers

Eating something you associate with choking or imagining being unable to breathe in a confined situation.

Name origin

From Greek anchone (strangling) and -phobia.

Also known as

Pnigophobia, Pnigerophobia

A fear of cold temperatures can affect everyday situations involving cold weather, icy air, winter cold and low temperature.

Possible triggers

Stepping outside on a cold morning, entering a chilled room or anticipating a winter journey.

Name origin

From Greek kryos (icy cold) and -phobia.

Also known as

Cheimaphobia, Psychropophobia

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

A fear of dolls can affect toy shops, homes, museums and displays containing dolls, mannequins or lifelike figures. It may lead to avoiding certain rooms or places, turning objects away, checking where dolls are positioned or asking other people to remove them.

Possible triggers

Entering a room with displayed dolls, opening a box containing a doll or seeing one in a shop window.

Name origin

From Greek pais (child) and -phobia.