A–Z list of phobias, fears and their meanings

A fear of demons or evil entities can affect everyday situations involving evil spirit, dark entity, possession and haunted. 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

Watching a film involving demons, encountering demonic imagery or hearing a supernatural story.

Name origin

From Greek daimon (spirit) and -phobia.

Also known as

Daemonophobia

The concern centres on needing to rely on other people.

Possible triggers

Having to ask for help, accepting assistance or anticipating relying on another person.

Possible name origin

The origin of this name is unclear. Although -phobia comes from Greek phobos (fear), the origin of the first part in this particular name is uncertain.

A fear of depths can affect everyday situations involving looking into depth, deep hole, cliff edge and deep pit.

Possible triggers

Looking into a deep well, standing above a quarry or seeing a steep drop below a viewing point.

Name origin

From Greek bathos (depth) and -phobia.

A fear of developing a serious illness can affect everyday situations involving getting sick, serious illness, medical results and diagnosis. It may lead to monitoring symptoms, checking the body, searching for reassurance, repeatedly seeking medical certainty, or avoiding reminders of illness.

Possible triggers

Reading about a serious illness, hearing someone discuss a diagnosis or anticipating a health investigation.

Name origin

From Greek nosos (disease) and -phobia.

Also known as

Pathophobia

The concern is developing wrinkles, rather than every aspect of growing older.

Possible triggers

Noticing a facial line, looking closely in a mirror or discussing skin ageing.

Name origin

From Greek rhytis (wrinkle) and -phobia (fear).

A fear of diabetes can affect everyday situations involving high blood sugar, blood sugar, glucose levels and insulin. It may lead to monitoring symptoms, checking the body, searching for reassurance, repeatedly seeking medical certainty, or avoiding reminders of illness.

Possible triggers

Reading about diabetes, discussing a diabetes test or hearing about someone else's diagnosis.

Name origin

From Greek diabetes (siphon) and -phobia.

A fear of dining with others can affect everyday situations involving meal with people, dinner party, eating with others and formal dinner. It may lead to avoiding interaction, rehearsing what to say, monitoring other people’s reactions, or replaying encounters afterwards.

Possible triggers

Joining a shared meal, accepting a dinner invitation or eating where other people can watch.

Name origin

From Greek deipnon (dinner) and -phobia.

Messy surroundings can cause intense distress, and even anticipating an untidy setting can provoke anxiety. This is more than a preference for neatness.

Possible triggers

Entering an untidy room, seeing objects out of place or facing a disorganised workspace.

Name origin

From Greek ataxia (disorder), formed from a- (without) and taxis (order), with -phobia (fear).

Also known as

Ataxiophobia

A fear of dizziness or vertigo can affect everyday situations involving losing balance, feeling faint, spinning and lightheaded. It may lead to monitoring sensations or bodily changes, avoiding particular situations, seeking reassurance, or organising routines around preventing the feared outcome.

Possible triggers

Anticipating a situation associated with dizziness or noticing a sensation you interpret as becoming unsteady.

Name origin

From Greek dinos (whirling) and -phobia.

A fear of doctors or medical appointments can affect everyday situations involving hospital visit, clinic, medical examination and doctor. It may lead to postponing appointments or treatment, worrying for days beforehand, seeking repeated reassurance, or avoiding healthcare that would otherwise be straightforward.

Possible triggers

Booking a medical appointment, entering a consultation room or waiting to speak with a doctor.

Name origin

From Greek iatros (physician) and -phobia.