This name describes fear of becoming fatigued or exhausted, rather than tiredness itself.

Possible triggers

Noticing tiredness, anticipating a demanding day or worrying that an activity will leave you exhausted.

Name origin

From Greek kopos (fatigue) and phobos (fear).

A fear of fear itself can make normal anxiety sensations, panic symptoms or moments of uncertainty feel threatening. It may lead to monitoring the body, avoiding situations where anxiety might occur, seeking reassurance or becoming preoccupied with preventing another episode of fear.

Possible triggers

Noticing familiar signs of fear or anticipating a situation in which you worry that fear itself will take over.

Name origin

From Greek phobos (fear) and -phobia.

The concern can involve feathers themselves, pictures or feathered objects, or the thought of being touched by a feather.

Possible triggers

Finding a loose feather, touching a feather-filled item or encountering feathers in a display.

Name origin

From Greek pteron (feather or wing) and -phobia (fear).

The fear can involve your own feet or someone else's, whether bare or covered. Seeing or thinking about feet can feel difficult, and some people avoid places where others are barefoot.

Possible triggers

Seeing bare feet, entering a shared changing area or anticipating touching a foot.

Name origin

The podo- part comes from Greek podos, referring to the foot.

The focus is female genital anatomy, rather than sexual intimacy in general.

Possible triggers

Encountering genital imagery, discussing intimate anatomy or anticipating an intimate situation.

Possible name origin

One suggested derivation links the name to Greek Eurotas, used figuratively for the vulva, together with -phobia (fear). The exact formation of this name is uncertain.

Also known as

Kolpophobia

The concern centres on developing a fever or becoming feverish.

Possible triggers

Checking your temperature, feeling unusually warm or hearing that someone has a fever.

Name origin

From Greek pyrexis (feverishness) and phobos (fear).

Also known as

Febriphobia

A fear of fingernails or toenails can affect everyday situations involving cutting nails, nail clipping, broken nail and fingernails. It may lead to self-monitoring, avoiding mirrors, photographs, grooming or close contact, seeking reassurance, or changing social plans because of appearance-related fear.

Possible triggers

Seeing nails close up, preparing to trim them or watching someone handle their nails.

Name origin

From Greek onyx (nail) and -phobia.

A fear of fire can affect cooking, candles, fireplaces, bonfires and even the smell or sight of smoke. It may lead to repeated checking of appliances, avoiding open flames, leaving situations early or organising routines around preventing any contact with fire-related cues.

Possible triggers

Seeing a lit candle, noticing an open flame or being near a fireplace.

Name origin

From Greek pyr (fire) and -phobia.

The focus is guns and other firearms. Sensible precautions around weapons are not, by themselves, a phobia.

Possible triggers

Seeing a firearm on display, encountering one in a film or entering a setting where firearms may be present.

Name origin

From Greek hoplon (weapon or implement) and -phobia (fear).

A fear of fish can affect everyday situations involving live fish, dead fish, fish market and aquarium. 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

Standing near an aquarium, seeing fish in a pond or encountering a fish display at a market.

Name origin

From Greek ichthys (fish) and -phobia.