A–Z list of phobias, fears and their meanings

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.

Flooding is the focus, rather than water in every setting.

Possible triggers

Receiving a flood warning, seeing water levels rise or watching flood footage.

Name origin

Combines antlo- (flood) with -phobia (fear).

A fear of flour can affect everyday situations involving baking flour, handling flour, white powder and flour dust. It may lead to restricting foods, checking ingredients or preparation, avoiding meals, shops or restaurants, or relying heavily on familiar choices.

Possible triggers

Opening a bag of flour, seeing flour on a worktop or taking part in baking.

Name origin

From Greek aleuron (flour) and -phobia.

A fear of flowers can affect everyday situations involving garden flowers, floral smell, bouquet and pollen. It may lead to avoidance, checking, reassurance-seeking or changing everyday routines so that contact with the trigger feels less likely.

Possible triggers

Receiving a bouquet, entering a florist's shop or sitting beside a flowering plant.

Name origin

From Greek anthos (flower) and -phobia.

A fear of flutes can affect everyday situations involving high pitched instrument, flute sound, wind instrument and flute. 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

Hearing flute music, seeing someone prepare to play a flute or encountering a flute performance.

Name origin

From Greek aulos (flute) and -phobia.

A fear of fog can affect everyday situations involving driving in fog, foggy road, thick fog and low visibility.

Possible triggers

Waking to fog outside, entering a misty stretch of road or seeing visibility disappear into fog.

Name origin

From Greek homichlē (mist) and -phobia.

A fear of food can affect everyday situations involving restaurant food, spoiled food, mouldy food and undercooked food. It may lead to restricting foods, eating very cautiously, checking sensations while swallowing, avoiding meals or relying on a narrow set of familiar choices.

Possible triggers

Being offered an unfamiliar meal, facing a plate of food or anticipating eating away from home.

Name origin

From Latin cibus (food) and -phobia.

A fear of food shopping can affect everyday situations involving choosing food, supermarket, grocery store and food aisle. It may lead to restricting foods, checking ingredients or preparation, avoiding meals, shops or restaurants, or relying heavily on familiar choices.

Possible triggers

Entering a food shop, choosing groceries or preparing to make a food-shopping trip.

Name origin

From Greek opson (food) and -phobia.