A fear of otters can affect everyday situations involving otters in water, river otter, zoo otter and otter. 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

Visiting an otter enclosure, watching otter footage or walking near a place known for otters.

Name origin

From Latin lutra (otter) and -phobia.

A fear of pain can affect everyday situations involving painful procedure, chronic pain, injury pain and hurting. It may lead to avoiding movement, treatment or everyday activities because of what might hurt, as well as closely monitoring the body for signs of pain.

Possible triggers

Anticipating a painful procedure, recalling a painful experience or facing an activity you associate with pain.

Name origin

From Greek algos (pain) and -phobia.

A fear of paper can affect everyday situations involving handling paper, documents, paper cut and paperwork. 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

Handling a stack of documents, opening paper packaging or being asked to write on paper.

Name origin

From Greek papyros (paper) and -phobia.

Parasites as a group are the concern, rather than only worms or mites.

Possible triggers

Seeing a parasite illustration, reading about infestation or worrying about contact with a parasite.

Name origin

The name combines parasite with phobia, from Greek phobos (fear).

A fear of parasitic worms can affect everyday situations involving intestinal worm, worm infection, parasites and parasitic worms. 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

Encountering information about parasitic worms, viewing a diagram or anticipating a parasite-related test.

Name origin

From Greek helmins (worm) and -phobia.

A particular name or word can provoke dread because of the significance attached to it.

Related name: Nomatophobia refers specifically to fear of names.

Possible triggers

Hearing a particular name spoken, seeing a feared word in print or anticipating having to say it.

Name origin

From Greek onoma (name) and phobos (fear).

A fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth can affect snacks, sandwiches and other sticky foods. It may lead to avoiding peanut butter, taking unusually small bites, repeatedly checking swallowing or restricting foods because of the sensation of something sticking in the mouth.

Possible triggers

Taking a mouthful of peanut butter or anticipating its sticky texture against the roof of your mouth.

Name origin

From Greek arachis (peanut) and Latin butyrum (butter) with -phobia.

A fear of people or human contact can affect everyday situations involving human contact, crowded space, human interaction and strangers. It may lead to avoiding interaction, rehearsing what to say, monitoring other people’s reactions, or replaying encounters afterwards.

Possible triggers

Meeting someone face to face, entering a room with other people or anticipating a conversation.

Name origin

From Greek anthrōpos (human) and -phobia.

This descriptive term is used for fear or aversion towards philosophy or philosophers. Simply finding a subject uninteresting or disagreeing with an idea does not amount to a phobia.

Possible triggers

Being invited into a philosophical debate, opening a book of philosophical arguments, or anticipating a discussion about fundamental beliefs.

Possible name origin

Philosophy comes from Greek philosophia, associated with love of wisdom. The ending phobia derives from Greek phobos, fear.

A fear of phone calls can affect everyday situations involving ringing phone, answering calls, calling someone and telephone call. It may lead to avoiding interaction, rehearsing what to say, monitoring other people’s reactions, or replaying encounters afterwards.

Possible triggers

A phone ringing unexpectedly, having to make an appointment by phone or answering an unfamiliar caller.

Name origin

From Greek tēle (far) and phōnē (voice) with -phobia.