Travelling is the concern, rather than one particular form of transport.

Possible triggers

Packing for a trip, planning an unfamiliar route or anticipating leaving familiar surroundings.

Name origin

From Greek hodos (road, path or way) and -phobia (fear).

Seeing or thinking about trees can provoke fear. The concern may involve falling branches, rustling leaves or walking beneath a tree.

Possible triggers

Examples include walking along a tree-lined street, visiting a wooded park, passing trees during a journey or seeing woodland scenes on television.

Name origin

From Greek dendron (tree) and phobos (fear).

The concern centres on trembling itself. The term describes a fear, not the cause of a tremor.

Possible triggers

Noticing your hands shake, anticipating others seeing a tremor or remembering an episode of trembling.

Name origin

From Latin tremor (trembling) and Greek phobos (fear).

The feared illness is trichinosis.

Possible triggers

Reading about trichinosis, discussing food preparation or worrying about a possible infection.

Name origin

Combines trichina with -phobia (fear). Trichina comes from Greek trichinos (made of hair), referring to the slender worm.

The concern centres on developing tuberculosis.

Possible triggers

Hearing about tuberculosis, discussing a possible exposure or anticipating a relevant screening appointment.

Name origin

Combines tuberculosis with -phobia (fear). The illness name comes from Latin tuberculum (small swelling).

Also known as

Phthisiophobia

A fear of tunnels can affect everyday situations involving underground tunnel, road tunnel, rail tunnel and tunnel. It may lead to avoiding certain journeys, routes or vehicles, planning extensively, relying on other people for transport, or cancelling trips altogether.

Possible triggers

Approaching a road tunnel, entering an underground passage or anticipating a journey through a tunnel.

Name origin

From Latin spelunca (cave) and -phobia.

A fear centred on perceived ugliness can affect social situations, mirrors, images and encounters with appearance differences. It may lead to avoidance, self-monitoring or distress around features judged as unattractive, making everyday interactions feel shaped by appearance rather than the situation itself.

Possible triggers

Encountering an appearance you perceive negatively or anticipating being confronted with something you regard as ugly.

Name origin

From Greek kakos (bad) and -phobia.

A fear of urination can affect everyday situations involving public toilet, using a loo, bathroom anxiety and peeing. It may lead to monitoring sensations or bodily changes, avoiding particular situations, seeking reassurance, or organising routines around preventing the feared outcome.

Possible triggers

Feeling the need to urinate, approaching a toilet or anticipating using an unfamiliar bathroom.

Name origin

From Greek ouron (urine) and -phobia.

A fear of vaccinations can make arranging or attending an appointment feel difficult. 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

Receiving a vaccination invitation, discussing the appointment or entering the treatment room.

Name origin

From Latin vacca (cow, via vaccination history) and -phobia.

A fear of vampires or blood-drinking creatures can affect everyday situations involving blood drinking creature, night monster, vampire story and vampire imagery. 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

Watching a vampire film, seeing a vampire costume or reading a story about blood-drinking creatures.

Name origin

From Latin sanguis (blood) and vorare (to devour) with -phobia.