A fear of punishment can affect everyday situations involving being told off, getting in trouble, discipline and punishment. 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

Being summoned after a mistake, hearing about disciplinary action or anticipating a penalty.

Name origin

From Greek mastix (whip) and -phobia.

A fear of purple can affect everyday situations involving purple clothing, violet, lavender and purple. 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

Seeing purple fabric, encountering purple decorations or handling a purple object.

Name origin

From Greek porphyra (purple dye) and -phobia.

A fear of radiation can affect everyday situations involving x-ray, CT scan, nuclear and radioactive. 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 an examination involving radiation, seeing a radiation warning sign or reading radiation-related news.

Name origin

From Latin radius (ray) and -phobia.

A fear of rain can affect everyday situations involving heavy rain, rain noise, downpour and rainstorm.

Possible triggers

Examples include stepping outside into drizzle, seeing heavy rain through a window or checking a forecast that predicts rain during planned activities.

Name origin

From Greek ombros (rain) and -phobia.

A fear of rectal area or examination can affect everyday situations involving rectal exam, anal area and medical examination. 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 a rectal examination, seeing an anatomical diagram or anticipating an examination of that area.

Name origin

From Latin rectum and -phobia.

A fear of relocation or change of place can affect everyday situations involving moving house, packing up, new environment and relocation. It may lead to avoiding change, delaying plans, seeking reassurance, or keeping life unusually restricted so that the feared situation is less likely to arise.

Possible triggers

Preparing to move house, changing your usual location or anticipating relocation to an unfamiliar place.

Name origin

From Greek tropos (turn or change) and -phobia.

The concern centres on remaining without a partner, rather than simply spending time alone.

Possible triggers

A relationship ending, being asked about your relationship status or imagining remaining without a partner.

Name origin

Combines a- (without), the marriage-related root in nuptial, and -phobia (fear). Nuptial comes from Latin nuptiae (a wedding).

A fear of remaining still can affect everyday situations involving staying still, not moving, standing still and inactivity. 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

Being asked to stand still, waiting without moving or anticipating a task that requires stillness.

Name origin

From Greek oknos (hesitation) and -phobia.

A fear of reptiles can affect everyday situations involving scaly animal, reptile skin, lizards and gecko. 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

Entering a reptile exhibit, seeing a lizard nearby or watching reptile footage.

Name origin

From Greek herpeton (creeping animal) and -phobia.

The concern is taking on responsibility, rather than only worrying about neglecting a duty.

Possible triggers

Being put in charge of a task, accepting responsibility for someone or making a decision others will depend on.

Name origin

From Greek hypengyos (responsible) and phobos (fear).

Also known as

Hypegiaphobia