The feared outcome is bodily injury. The word is also used for fear of war or injury following combat experiences.

Possible triggers

Anticipating an activity associated with injury, seeing an injury depicted or hearing about an accident.

Name origin

From Greek trauma (wound) and phobos (fear).

A fear of physical suffering can affect everyday situations involving sharp pain, severe pain and aching. 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 experience, hearing someone describe suffering or recalling physical pain.

Name origin

From Greek odyne (pain) and -phobia.

A fear of plants can affect everyday situations involving garden plants, plant leaves, houseplants and greenery. It may lead to avoidance, checking, reassurance-seeking or changing everyday routines so that contact with the trigger feels less likely.

Possible triggers

Entering a greenhouse, visiting a planted garden or sharing a room with houseplants.

Name origin

From Greek botane (plant) and -phobia.

A fear of pleasure can affect everyday situations involving having fun, relaxing, enjoyment and indulgence. It may lead to suppressing feelings, avoiding situations likely to trigger the emotion, monitoring your reactions, or withdrawing from experiences that would otherwise matter to you.

Possible triggers

Accepting an enjoyable invitation, allowing yourself a pleasurable activity or anticipating a rewarding experience.

Name origin

From Greek hēdonē (pleasure) and -phobia.

The fear centres on poetry, rather than words or books in general.

Possible triggers

Being asked to read a poem, attending a poetry reading or encountering verse in a lesson.

Name origin

From Greek metron (measure or poetic metre) and -phobia (fear).

A fear of poison can affect everyday situations involving contaminated food, poisoning, toxins and poison. It may lead to monitoring sensations or bodily changes, avoiding particular situations, seeking reassurance, or organising routines around preventing the feared outcome.

Possible triggers

Seeing a poison warning, reading about poisoning or worrying that a substance might be toxic.

Name origin

From Greek toxikon (poison) and -phobia.

Also known as

Toxicophobia

A fear of politics can affect news, elections, social conversations and situations where political topics may arise. It may lead to avoiding news coverage, leaving discussions, withdrawing from civic activities or becoming highly alert to the possibility of disagreement.

Possible triggers

Hearing a political debate, encountering election coverage or being asked to discuss politics.

Name origin

From Greek politikos (of citizens) and -phobia.

A fear of poverty can affect spending, saving, work decisions, budgeting and planning for the future. It may lead to repeated checking of finances, difficulty spending even when affordable, reassurance-seeking or making major choices primarily to prevent financial hardship.

Possible triggers

Reviewing a tight budget, hearing about loss of income or imagining being unable to afford essentials.

Name origin

From Greek penia (poverty) and -phobia.

A fear of pregnancy or childbirth can affect relationships, family planning, medical appointments and conversations about pregnancy or birth. It may lead to avoiding pregnancy-related information or care, repeated reassurance-seeking, distress around bodily changes or decisions becoming dominated by fear of childbirth.

Possible triggers

Discussing pregnancy, hearing a birth story or anticipating labour and delivery.

Name origin

From Greek tokos (childbirth) and -phobia.

Also known as

Maieusiophobia, Tocophobia, Parturiphobia

The feared object is something launched or fired, such as a projectile.

Possible triggers

Seeing a projectile launched, hearing discussion of missiles or watching footage of objects being fired.

Name origin

The name connects ballista (a catapult) with Greek phobos (fear).