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 movement can affect everyday situations involving physical motion, sudden movement, exercise and movement. It may lead to restricting movement, avoiding activities or positions, monitoring bodily sensations, or changing routines to prevent the feared motion or lack of motion.

Possible triggers

Beginning a physical movement, changing position or anticipating an activity that involves moving your body.

Name origin

From Greek kinesis (movement) and -phobia.

Also known as

Kinetophobia

A fear of moving backwards can affect everyday situations involving reversing car, walking backwards and moving backwards. It may lead to restricting movement, avoiding activities or positions, monitoring bodily sensations, or changing routines to prevent the feared motion or lack of motion.

Possible triggers

Taking a step backwards, reversing direction during an activity or anticipating backward movement.

Name origin

From Latin retro (backwards) and -phobia.

A fear of mushrooms or fungi can affect everyday situations involving wild mushrooms, fungal growth, fungus and mould. It may lead to avoidance, checking, reassurance-seeking or changing everyday routines so that contact with the trigger feels less likely.

Possible triggers

Finding mushrooms in a garden, seeing mould or being offered a mushroom dish.

Name origin

From Greek mykes (fungus) and -phobia.

A fear of music can affect everyday situations involving loud music, background music, concert and music. 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

Music beginning in a shop, being invited to a concert or hearing music played nearby.

Name origin

From Greek melos (song) and -phobia.

Also known as

Musicophobia

A fear of myths or legendary stories can affect everyday situations involving mythical stories, ancient tales, legends and folklore. 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

Hearing a frightening legend, reading a myth or watching a story involving legendary beings.

Name origin

From Greek mythos (story) and -phobia.

Narrowness is the focus of this term. It is not limited to being inside an enclosed space.

Possible triggers

Encountering a narrow object, handling a thin item or focusing on something's restricted width.

Name origin

From Greek stenos (narrow) and -phobia (fear).

A fear of neglecting responsibilities can affect everyday situations involving letting people down, forgetting tasks, missing responsibilities and guilt about tasks. It may lead to putting things off, over-preparing, repeatedly checking, seeking reassurance, or turning down opportunities that feel too exposing.

Possible triggers

Leaving home without checking a task, handing over a responsibility or wondering whether an important duty was missed.

Name origin

From Greek paralipō (to neglect) and -phobia.

Newness itself is the concern: the unfamiliar can provoke dread or a strong aversion.

Possible triggers

Trying an unfamiliar activity, receiving an unexpected change of plan or encountering a new object or setting.

Name origin

Neo- comes from Greek neos (new); phobos means fear.

Also known as

Kainophobia, Kainotophobia, Cainotophobia

A fear of northern or southern lights can affect everyday situations involving coloured sky at night, northern lights, aurora borealis and sky lights.

Possible triggers

Seeing an aurora in the sky, watching footage of the northern lights or planning a trip to view them.

Name origin

From Latin aurora (dawn) and -phobia.