A fear of spirits or ghosts can affect everyday situations involving supernatural presence, haunting, apparition and ghosts. It may lead to avoiding certain places, images, stories or times of day, checking surroundings, seeking reassurance, or staying away from reminders of the feared idea.

Possible triggers

Hearing a ghost story, visiting a place described as haunted or seeing spirit imagery in a film.

Name origin

From Greek pneuma (spirit or breath) and -phobia.

Also known as

Phasmophobia, Pneumatiphobia

Seeing stairs or a steep slope can bring on fear, even before climbing begins. Concerns may involve slipping, falling or gaps between steps.

Possible triggers

Approaching a steep staircase, looking down a flight of steps or planning a route along a slope.

Name origin

From Greek bathmo (steps) and phobos (fear).

Standing upright or walking is the focus of the fear.

Related name: Ambulophobia refers specifically to fear of walking.

Possible triggers

Rising from a chair, taking the first steps across a room or anticipating walking without support.

Name origin

From Greek basis (a step or a standing place), related to bainein (to walk), with -phobia (fear).

Also known as

Stasibasiphobia

A fear of stars can affect everyday situations involving looking at stars, starry sky, constellations and stars.

Possible triggers

Looking at a clear night sky, viewing star photographs or visiting a planetarium.

Name origin

Combines Latin sidus (star), with the stem sider-, and Greek-derived -phobia (fear).

A fear of stars or outer space can affect everyday situations involving night sky, outer space, starry sky and planets.

Possible triggers

Looking at a star-filled sky, visiting a planetarium or watching a documentary about outer space.

Name origin

From Greek astron (star) and -phobia.

The worry centres on stealing or becoming a thief, rather than being robbed.

Possible triggers

Worrying that an item has been stolen, hearing about theft or fearing being accused of taking something.

Name origin

From Greek klepto (to steal) and phobos (fear).

The sting is the focus, rather than the animal itself.

Possible triggers

Seeing a stinging insect nearby, hearing buzzing or anticipating contact with something associated with a sting.

Name origin

From Greek knide (nettle), represented by cnido- in compounds, and -phobia (fear). The nettle root refers to stinging.

A fear of string or thread can affect everyday situations involving rope, cord, shoelace and string. It may lead to avoiding touching, using or being near the object, asking others to deal with it, changing routines, or checking surroundings for the trigger.

Possible triggers

Handling sewing thread, opening a parcel tied with string or seeing loose threads on fabric.

Name origin

From Greek linon (linen or thread) and -phobia.

Also known as

Linophobia

A fear of strong smells can affect everyday situations involving overpowering scent, strong smell, bad smell and odour. 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

Entering a strongly scented shop, noticing a powerful cooking smell or being near a heavily fragranced product.

Name origin

From Greek osme (smell) and -phobia.

A fear of sudden loud sounds can affect everyday situations involving balloon popping, explosion sound, alarm sound and sudden noise. 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

Anticipating fireworks, hearing a sudden bang or being near an object you expect might burst.

Name origin

From Greek ligyros (shrill) and -phobia.