Phobias
Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder usually defined as a persistent fear of an object or situation typically disproportional to the actual danger posed. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of phobias (see – www.phobialist.com).
Some of the more common ones are:
- dogs Cynophobia
- Friday 13 Paraskavedekatriaphobia
- thunderstorms Brontophobia
- loud noises Ligyrophobia
- nighttime Nyctophobia
- snakes Ophidiophobia
- spiders Arachnephobia
- writing tests Testophobia
- dentists Dentophobia
- hospitals Nosocomephobia
Some that seem particularly odd: (at least to me !)
- becoming bald Phalacrophobia
- bathing Ablutophobia
- beds Clinophobia
- clocks Chronophobia
- colour purple Porphyrophobia
- mother-in-law Pentheraphobia
- peanut butter Arachibutyrophobia
- politicians Politicophobia
- sitting down Kathisophobia
- teenagers Ephabiphobia
Phobias can interfere greatly in a persons enjoyment of life. Thankfully there are a number of treatments available including:
- cognitive behaviour therapy
- counter conditioning
- hypnosis
- systematic desensitization
- antianxiety medications