A fear of balloons can affect everyday situations involving balloon popping, inflated balloon, burst balloon and balloon. 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

Entering a room decorated with balloons, watching one being inflated or anticipating a balloon bursting.

Name origin

From Latin globus (sphere) and -phobia.

A fear of bathing or washing can affect everyday situations involving bathroom routine, showering, bathing and washing. It may lead to delaying or avoiding ordinary routines, relying on other people to complete them, or arranging the day around not having to face the trigger.

Possible triggers

Preparing to shower, running a bath or beginning a washing routine.

Name origin

From Latin ablutio (washing) and -phobia.

A fear of bats can affect everyday situations involving night flying animal, bat in house, bat flying and bat noise. 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

Seeing bats at dusk, visiting a bat display or noticing a bat near a building.

Name origin

From Greek cheir (hand) and pteron (wing) referring to bats, with -phobia.

A fear of beards can affect work, social events, public places and interactions with people who have facial hair. It may lead to keeping your distance, avoiding particular people or places, or becoming preoccupied with whether someone with a beard will be present.

Possible triggers

Meeting someone with a beard, seeing close-up beard images or sitting near a bearded person.

Name origin

From Greek pogon (beard) and -phobia.

Fear of bees can make encounters with bees, buzzing sounds or hives distressing. Concern about being stung may be part of the fear. A known sting allergy also involves a genuine medical risk, which should not be dismissed as a phobia.

Possible triggers

Hearing buzzing nearby, seeing bees around flowers or sitting where bees are visiting plants.

Name origin

From Greek melissa (bee) and -phobia.

Also known as

Apiphobia

A fear of being a passenger can affect everyday situations involving bus ride, train journey, packed bus and car journey. It may lead to avoiding certain journeys, routes or vehicles, planning extensively, relying on other people for transport, or cancelling trips altogether.

Possible triggers

Getting into the passenger seat, letting someone else drive or anticipating a journey without control of the vehicle.

Name origin

Derived from Greek roots relating to vehicles and -phobia.

Being tied up or physically restrained is the focus of this term. It is different from a general dislike of small spaces, and genuine threats to safety or consent should not be dismissed.

Possible triggers

Seeing a restraint being fastened, watching a scene in which someone is tied up, or anticipating being unable to move freely.

Name origin

The Greek component merinth refers to a cord, line or string. Phobia comes from Greek phobos, fear.

A fear of being buried alive can affect everyday situations involving buried alive, being unable to get out of a coffin, coffin and burial. It may lead to repeated rumination, reassurance-seeking, avoiding reminders or conversations, or finding it difficult to stay present because attention is pulled towards the feared idea.

Possible triggers

Seeing a coffin, discussing burial or encountering a story about someone being buried alive.

Name origin

From Greek taphos (grave) and -phobia.

Also known as

Taphephobia

A fear of being forgotten or ignored can affect relationships, messages, social plans and periods when other people are unavailable. It may lead to repeated checking, reassurance-seeking, difficulty being alone or interpreting ordinary gaps in contact as a sign that you have been forgotten.

Possible triggers

Not receiving a reply, being left out of an invitation or worrying that someone important has forgotten you.

Name origin

Derived from Greek athazō (to forget) with -phobia.

A fear of being laughed at can affect conversations, groups, social events and situations where humour or teasing might arise. It may lead to staying quiet, avoiding attention, replaying interactions or withdrawing because laughter feels as though it could be directed at you.

Possible triggers

Hearing laughter during a conversation, being teased or worrying that a group is laughing at you.

Name origin

From Greek gelos (laughter) and -phobia.