A–Z list of phobias, fears and their meanings

A tall building or mountain can feel frightening from nearby, even without climbing it.

Possible triggers

Standing beside a tower, walking beneath a tall building or approaching a very high structure.

Name origin

Uses the Greek walking or stepping root found in bainein, together with -phobia (fear). The name refers to fear when passing near tall structures.

A fear of being photographed or filmed can affect everyday situations involving being photographed, being filmed, video recording and on camera. It may lead to avoiding interaction, rehearsing what to say, monitoring other people’s reactions, or replaying encounters afterwards.

Possible triggers

Someone raising a camera, joining a group photograph or being asked to appear in a video.

Name origin

From Latin camera (chamber) and -phobia.

The feared event is receiving a scratch or having the skin scratched.

Possible triggers

Being near an animal's claws, handling something rough or anticipating an activity you associate with scratches.

Name origin

From Greek amyche (a scratch) and phobos (fear).

A fear of being touched can affect handshakes, hugs, crowded places, healthcare and other situations involving physical contact. It may lead to keeping extra distance, avoiding busy settings, pulling away from unexpected touch or limiting social and relationship choices.

Possible triggers

An offered handshake, an approaching hug or anticipating physical contact in a crowded place.

Name origin

From Greek haptein (to touch) and -phobia.

Also known as

Aphephobia, Haphephobia, Haptephobia, Chiraptophobia, Thixophobia

A fear of being trapped can affect lifts, locked rooms, crowded transport, tunnels and situations where leaving is not immediate. It may lead to checking exits, keeping doors open, avoiding enclosed settings or needing reassurance that you can get out.

Possible triggers

A door becoming stuck, finding an exit blocked or being unable to leave a room when you want to.

Name origin

From Greek kleithron (bar or bolt) and -phobia.

Also known as

Clithrophobia

A fear of being watched can affect public places, work, social situations and moments where you feel visible to other people. It may lead to avoiding attention, monitoring where others are looking, changing how you behave or leaving situations because you feel observed.

Possible triggers

Becoming the focus of a group's attention, noticing someone staring or completing a task while others watch.

Name origin

From Greek skopein (to look at) and -phobia.

Also known as

Scoptophobia, Ophthalmophobia

The focus is the navel, commonly called the belly button.

Possible triggers

Seeing an exposed belly button, touching your own navel or encountering a close-up image.

Name origin

From Greek omphalos (navel) and -phobia (fear).

Bicycles are the focus of this term. It can describe fear around a bicycle without meaning that every form of transport feels threatening.

Possible triggers

A bicycle passing close by, being asked to get on a bike, or approaching a shared path used by cyclists.

Possible name origin

Cycle refers to a bicycle and ultimately comes from Greek kyklos, meaning wheel or circle. Phobia comes from Greek phobos, fear.

A fear of bitterness can affect everyday situations involving bitter taste, bitter flavour, bitter food and strong bitterness. 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

Tasting a bitter food, noticing bitterness in a drink or being offered something described as bitter.

Name origin

From Greek amara (bitter) and -phobia.

A fear of black can affect everyday situations involving black room, black clothing, black colour and dark objects. 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 black clothing, encountering black furnishings or handling a black object.

Name origin

From Greek melas (black) and -phobia.