A fear of sleep can affect everyday situations involving going to bed, falling asleep, sleeping alone and bedtime. 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 approaching bedtime, trying to fall asleep or anticipating another nightmare or episode of sleep paralysis.

Name origin

From Latin somnus (sleep) and -phobia.

Also known as

Hypnophobia

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 small animals can affect everyday situations involving domestic animals, pets and small animals. 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

Encountering a small pet, entering a small-animal display or noticing a small animal nearby.

Name origin

From Greek ailouros (cat) broadened in usage.

A fear of snakes can affect everyday situations involving snake bite, slithering, serpent and reptile. 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

Seeing a snake in a reptile enclosure, encountering snake footage or anticipating snakes during an outdoor trip.

Name origin

From Greek ophis (snake) and -phobia.

A fear of snow can affect everyday situations involving icy roads, winter snow, snowfall and snowstorm.

Possible triggers

Examples include hearing that snow is forecast, noticing the first snowfall outside or seeing snowy scenes in photographs or films.

Name origin

From Greek chion (snow) and -phobia.

A fear of social situations can affect conversations, meetings, relationships, events and everyday interactions. Some people avoid attention, rehearse what to say, monitor themselves closely or replay encounters afterwards while worrying about how they appeared.

Possible triggers

Joining a group conversation, attending a social gathering or meeting unfamiliar people.

Name origin

From Latin socius (companion) and -phobia.

The concern is sourness, rather than taste in general.

Possible triggers

Tasting a sharp citrus flavour, being offered sour sweets or anticipating a sour drink.

Name origin

A shorter form of acerbophobia, combining the Latin-derived acerb- (harsh or bitter) with -phobia (fear).

A fear of speaking can affect everyday situations involving conversation anxiety, talking, stuttering and speaking. It may lead to avoiding interaction, rehearsing what to say, monitoring other people’s reactions, or replaying encounters afterwards.

Possible triggers

Being asked a question aloud, beginning a conversation or anticipating having to speak.

Name origin

From Greek lalia (speech) and -phobia.

Also known as

Laliophobia

A fear of speed can affect everyday situations involving going too fast, high speed, rollercoaster speed and fast motorway. It may lead to avoiding certain journeys, routes or vehicles, planning extensively, relying on other people for transport, or cancelling trips altogether.

Possible triggers

Feeling a vehicle accelerate, watching fast-moving traffic or anticipating a high-speed journey.

Name origin

From Greek tachys (fast) and -phobia.

A fear of spiders can lead to avoiding rooms, sheds, gardens or certain times of year. It may also involve checking walls, bedding or clothing, asking other people for reassurance, or feeling unable to settle after seeing a spider or even an image of one.

Possible triggers

Examples include encountering a spider at home, noticing a web, seeing a spider in a photograph or anticipating spiders during an outdoor activity.

Name origin

From Greek arakhnē (spider) and -phobia.

Also known as

Arachnephobia