A fear of snakes can affect everyday situations involving snake bite, slithering, serpent and reptile. 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

Seeing a snake in a reptile enclosure, encountering snake footage or anticipating snakes during an outdoor trip.

Name origin

From Greek ophis (snake) and -phobia.

A fear of spiders can lead to avoiding rooms, sheds, gardens or certain times of year. It may also involve checking walls, bedding or clothing, asking other people for reassurance, or feeling unable to settle after seeing a spider or even an image of one.

Possible triggers

Examples include encountering a spider at home, noticing a web, seeing a spider in a photograph or anticipating spiders during an outdoor activity.

Name origin

From Greek arakhnē (spider) and -phobia.

Also known as

Arachnephobia

A fear of vomiting can influence eating, travel, social plans, work and contact with illness. It may involve monitoring food, avoiding certain places or people, seeking reassurance, or becoming highly alert to nausea and other normal body sensations.

Possible triggers

Examples include feeling nauseous, seeing someone being sick, hearing talk about vomiting or visiting somewhere unfamiliar without knowing where the toilets are.

Name origin

From Greek emetos (vomit) and -phobia.

Dysmorphophobia is another name for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). It involves a distressing preoccupation with perceived flaws in appearance that other people may barely notice or not see at all. It is not simply a specific phobia of physical flaws.

Possible triggers

Looking in a mirror, being photographed or anticipating others noticing a feature you are concerned about.

Name origin

The historical name combines Greek dysmorphia (ugliness) with -phobia (fear). It describes a concern about appearance, not a judgement about how someone looks.

Counterphobic behaviour means seeking out a feared situation in an attempt to overcome the fear. It describes a response to fear, rather than a separate phobia of confronting things.

Possible triggers

This describes a way of responding to fear, rather than a separate feared object. Situations depend on the underlying fear the person feels driven to confront.

Name origin

Formed from counter- and phobia.

The worry centres on causing or being involved in an accident. It can concern situations at home, at work or while travelling, even when an accident is unlikely.

Possible triggers

Planning a journey, hearing about an accident or anticipating an activity associated with accidental harm.

Name origin

Combines Greek roots dys- (bad) and tych- (chance or fortune) with -phobia (fear), referring to an accident or misfortune.

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.

A fear of ageing can affect everyday situations involving growing old, getting older, grey hair and old age. 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

An approaching birthday, noticing an age-related change or discussing later life.

Name origin

From Greek gerasko (to grow old) and -phobia.

Alcohol is the focus of this fear. Choosing not to drink is not, by itself, a phobia.

Possible triggers

Being offered an alcoholic drink, entering a bar or seeing alcohol served at a gathering.

Name origin

From Greek methy (wine) and -phobia (fear).

A fear of anaesthesia can make preparing for an operation feel difficult, particularly when it involves uncertainty about the procedure or recovery. 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

Discussing anaesthesia before an operation or preparing for the day of a procedure.

Name origin

From Greek anaisthēsia (without sensation) and -phobia.