A fear of advanced technology can affect everyday situations involving new gadgets, digital systems, computers and AI. 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

Being asked to use unfamiliar technology, encountering a new digital system or replacing familiar equipment.

Name origin

From Greek techne (art or skill) and -phobia.

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 being buried alive can affect everyday situations involving buried alive, being unable to get out of a coffin, coffin and burial. It may lead to repeated rumination, reassurance-seeking, avoiding reminders or conversations, or finding it difficult to stay present because attention is pulled towards the feared idea.

Possible triggers

Seeing a coffin, discussing burial or encountering a story about someone being buried alive.

Name origin

From Greek taphos (grave) and -phobia.

Also known as

Taphephobia

A fear of being touched can affect handshakes, hugs, crowded places, healthcare and other situations involving physical contact. It may lead to keeping extra distance, avoiding busy settings, pulling away from unexpected touch or limiting social and relationship choices.

Possible triggers

An offered handshake, an approaching hug or anticipating physical contact in a crowded place.

Name origin

From Greek haptein (to touch) and -phobia.

Also known as

Aphephobia, Haphephobia, Haptephobia, Chiraptophobia, Thixophobia

This descriptive name concerns bulls rather than all cattle. Keeping a safe distance from a bull remains a sensible precaution, whether or not someone experiences a phobia.

Possible triggers

Seeing a bull near a field entrance, hearing one nearby, or anticipating a route beside a field containing a bull.

Possible name origin

Tauro corresponds to the Greek tauros and Latin taurus, both referring to a bull. Phobia comes from Greek phobos, fear.

This name concerns particular fabrics, rather than written text or messages. The material itself is the focus, which may be narrower than fear of clothing in general.

Possible triggers

Being asked to touch a particular fabric, sitting on upholstery made from it, or finding it in bedding or clothing.

Possible name origin

The first part may relate to Latin texere, to weave, also found in the history of textile. Phobia comes from Greek phobos, fear.

Cheese is the specific focus, rather than food in general.

Possible triggers

Seeing cheese on a plate, passing a cheese counter or noticing its smell during food preparation.

Name origin

The turo- part comes from Greek tyros (cheese), combined with -phobia.

A fear of clusters of holes can affect everyday situations involving hole pattern, clustered holes, porous texture and small holes. 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

Examples include noticing the clustered holes in a sponge or honeycomb, looking closely at a lotus seed pod or seeing a close-up photograph of these patterns.

Name origin

From Greek trypa (hole) and -phobia.

A fear of death can affect sleep, health decisions, relationships, future planning and situations that bring mortality to mind. It may lead to repeated rumination, reassurance-seeking, avoiding conversations or reminders, or finding it difficult to stay present because attention is pulled towards death.

Possible triggers

Attending a funeral, discussing mortality or hearing news of someone's death.

Name origin

From Greek Thanatos (personification of death) and -phobia.

A fear of deep or open sea can affect everyday situations involving far from shore, boat in open water, deep sea and open water.

Possible triggers

Looking out over open sea, travelling by boat away from shore or seeing deep underwater footage.

Name origin

From Greek thalassa (sea) and -phobia.