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 poison can affect everyday situations involving contaminated food, poisoning, toxins and poison. It may lead to monitoring sensations or bodily changes, avoiding particular situations, seeking reassurance, or organising routines around preventing the feared outcome.

Possible triggers

Seeing a poison warning, reading about poisoning or worrying that a substance might be toxic.

Name origin

From Greek toxikon (poison) and -phobia.

Also known as

Toxicophobia

A fear of politics can affect news, elections, social conversations and situations where political topics may arise. It may lead to avoiding news coverage, leaving discussions, withdrawing from civic activities or becoming highly alert to the possibility of disagreement.

Possible triggers

Hearing a political debate, encountering election coverage or being asked to discuss politics.

Name origin

From Greek politikos (of citizens) and -phobia.

A fear of poverty can affect spending, saving, work decisions, budgeting and planning for the future. It may lead to repeated checking of finances, difficulty spending even when affordable, reassurance-seeking or making major choices primarily to prevent financial hardship.

Possible triggers

Reviewing a tight budget, hearing about loss of income or imagining being unable to afford essentials.

Name origin

From Greek penia (poverty) and -phobia.

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

The feared object is something launched or fired, such as a projectile.

Possible triggers

Seeing a projectile launched, hearing discussion of missiles or watching footage of objects being fired.

Name origin

The name connects ballista (a catapult) with Greek phobos (fear).

A fear of public speaking can affect everyday situations involving speaking on stage, work presentation, class presentation and public speaking. It may lead to avoiding interaction, rehearsing what to say, monitoring other people’s reactions, or replaying encounters afterwards.

Possible triggers

Giving a presentation, introducing yourself to a group or being asked to speak at a celebration.

Name origin

From Greek glōssa (tongue) and -phobia.

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 purple can affect everyday situations involving purple clothing, violet, lavender and purple. 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

Seeing purple fabric, encountering purple decorations or handling a purple object.

Name origin

From Greek porphyra (purple dye) and -phobia.

A fear of rivers can affect everyday situations involving crossing a river, flowing water, river current and river bank.

Possible triggers

Walking beside a river, approaching a riverbank or planning an activity near flowing river water.

Name origin

From Greek potamos (river) and -phobia.