A fear of examinations can affect everyday situations involving sitting an exam, exam hall, exams and tests. It may lead to putting things off, over-preparing, repeatedly checking, seeking reassurance, or turning down opportunities that feel too exposing.

Possible triggers

Receiving an exam timetable, entering an examination room or opening a test paper.

Name origin

Combines English test with Greek-derived -phobia (fear). Test originally referred to a vessel used to assess precious metals before developing its sense of an examination.

The fear can centre on God or on the prospect of divine anger.

Possible triggers

Hearing discussion of divine judgement, taking part in worship or thinking about divine anger.

Name origin

A New Latin formation using theo-, from Greek theos (God), and phobia, from Greek phobos (fear).

The worry concerns the condition of the hair, including disease or changes in its colour or growth.

Possible triggers

Noticing a change in your hair, reading about a hair disorder or anticipating a hair-related consultation.

Name origin

From Greek thrix (hair), through tricho-, pathos (suffering), and phobos (fear).

Hot weather and hot objects can be the focus, rather than flames or fire.

Possible triggers

Entering a hot room, stepping outdoors in hot weather or anticipating time near a source of heat.

Name origin

From Greek therme (heat) and phobos (fear).

A fear of loose hair can affect grooming, showers, cleaning, clothing and shared spaces where strands of hair may be seen. It may lead to repeated checking, avoiding touching loose hair, asking other people to clean it away or changing routines to prevent encountering it.

Possible triggers

Finding loose hair in a brush, noticing hair on clothing or clearing hair from a drain.

Name origin

From Greek thrix (hair) and -phobia.

A fear of injections can make vaccinations, blood tests, dental treatment or other healthcare appointments feel difficult to approach. It may involve postponing care, intense anticipatory anxiety, feeling faint, or distress about pain, injury or loss of control.

Possible triggers

Examples include waiting for a blood test, seeing a needle being prepared or anticipating an injection at a medical appointment.

Name origin

From Greek trypanon (borer or drill) and -phobia.

A fear of monsters or deformity can affect everyday situations involving mythical creature, abnormal figure, visible deformity and monster. 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

Encountering a fictional monster in a film, a costume or an illustrated story.

Name origin

From Greek teras (monster or marvel) and -phobia.

A fear of phone calls can affect everyday situations involving ringing phone, answering calls, calling someone and telephone call. It may lead to avoiding interaction, rehearsing what to say, monitoring other people’s reactions, or replaying encounters afterwards.

Possible triggers

A phone ringing unexpectedly, having to make an appointment by phone or answering an unfamiliar caller.

Name origin

From Greek tēle (far) and phōnē (voice) with -phobia.

The feared outcome is bodily injury. The word is also used for fear of war or injury following combat experiences.

Possible triggers

Anticipating an activity associated with injury, seeing an injury depicted or hearing about an accident.

Name origin

From Greek trauma (wound) and phobos (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