Phobias: - a phobia is an irrational,
persistent fear of things or situations. The source of the fear can create a
strong panic reaction symptoms, which can include: sweating, increased heartbeat,
breathing difficulties, dry mouth, extreme fear, racing dead end thoughts,
nausea, increased urination bowel movements.
If you have arachnophobia, you will probably go out of your way to ensure that you do not come into contact with a spider. You may wanna burn down your house after you encounter a spider and then lose the sight of it.
Snakes are definitely not the friendliest of creatures for human beings, but many of us can handle ourselves with the general fear of snakes. However, those who are ophidiophobic have intense and persistent fear of snakes, unlike the normal dread against these creepy reptiles. Even a mere thought or seeing a picture of snakes can trigger a panic attack in a person having Ophidiophobia.
It is present among 15% of the world's population. Many people love to go outside and watch the rain fall down along with the rumbling thunder and lightning bolts. While the nature’s demeanor might be a matter of pleasure for them, some might secretly hold an unexplainable fear of this thunder weather.
In time just thinking about the fear can provoke
these symptoms.
Until its something not experienced by everyone, things are considered more scary than other on the basis of number of people affected by it.
Below are the top 10 phobias of the world, based on an article published in the Knowledge magazine by BBC.
The order is based on the number of people scared worldwide.
1.
Arachnophobia: Arachnophobia horrifies 33% of the world's population. Sufferers from arachnophobia experience undue anxiety, even though they realize that the risk of encountering a spider and being harmed by it is small or non-existent. They may avoid going barefoot and may be especially alert when taking showers or getting into and out of bed. Some people scream, cry, experience trouble breathing, sweating or even heart palpitations when they come in contact with an area near spiders or their webs. In some extreme cases, even a picture or a realistic drawing of a spider can also trigger intense fear.
If you have arachnophobia, you will probably go out of your way to ensure that you do not come into contact with a spider. You may wanna burn down your house after you encounter a spider and then lose the sight of it.
2.
Ophidiophobia: Snakes have one third of the earth's population scared. that makes 33% of us, making it the most common phobia on par with Arachnophobia.
Snakes are definitely not the friendliest of creatures for human beings, but many of us can handle ourselves with the general fear of snakes. However, those who are ophidiophobic have intense and persistent fear of snakes, unlike the normal dread against these creepy reptiles. Even a mere thought or seeing a picture of snakes can trigger a panic attack in a person having Ophidiophobia.
3.
Astraphobia: Also known as astrapophobia, brontophobia, keraunophobia, or tonitrophobia, or nicaduranaphobia, is an abnormal fear of thunder and lightning, a type of specific phobia. It is a treatable phobia that both humans and animals can develop. Astraphobia has been derived from Greek word “Astrape” which means lightening.
It is present among 15% of the world's population. Many people love to go outside and watch the rain fall down along with the rumbling thunder and lightning bolts. While the nature’s demeanor might be a matter of pleasure for them, some might secretly hold an unexplainable fear of this thunder weather.
4. Trypanophobia: Trypanophobia is a very real phobia affecting nearly 10% of the world’s population. It consists of an irrational or excessive fear of needles, pins or injections. While most people, children especially, fear getting their vaccination shots or blood samples taken, in case of people with extreme fear of needles, the idea of getting one triggers an immediate anxiety response.
In very severe cases of Trypanophobia, the avoidance, anxiety or distress associated with the condition may interfere with one’s daily routine, occupational functioning or social and personal relationships.
5. Claustrophobia: Probably the most famous among the list of phobias in the world, and most used term in pop culture, its present in every 10th person walking on this rock. It's normal to fear being trapped when there's a genuine threat, but people with claustrophobia become fearful in situations where there's no obvious or realistic danger.
They'll go out of their way to avoid confined spaces, such as lifts, tunnels, tube trains and public toilets (see below for a full list). However, avoiding these places often reinforces the fear.
Some people with claustrophobia experience mild anxiety when in a confined space, while others have severe anxiety or a panic attack. The most common experience is a feeling or fear of losing control.
Some people with claustrophobia experience mild anxiety when in a confined space, while others have severe anxiety or a panic attack. The most common experience is a feeling or fear of losing control.
6.
Odontophobia:
With 9 out of 100 people being irrationally scared of the dentists, Odontophobia stands at number 6 in the list of top 10 phobias in the world.
With 9 out of 100 people being irrationally scared of the dentists, Odontophobia stands at number 6 in the list of top 10 phobias in the world.
Many adults are terrified of visiting the dentist. Dental anxiety ranges from mild uneasiness (experienced by many of us), to acute anxiety/panic attacks. When a person will not go at all to the dentist despite needing treatment, they can be said to be suffering from dental phobia.
7.
Aviophobia: With a whopping 7% of the world's population having Aviophobia, making it around 5 Million people suffering from the same.
It can be considered it’s own phobia itself but is sometimes associated with other phobias such as claustrophobia and acrophobia. Claustrophobia is a fear of tight spaces while acrophobia is a fear of heights. Being on an aircraft such as an airplane or helicopter provide the perfect setting for these phobias take place.
It can be considered it’s own phobia itself but is sometimes associated with other phobias such as claustrophobia and acrophobia. Claustrophobia is a fear of tight spaces while acrophobia is a fear of heights. Being on an aircraft such as an airplane or helicopter provide the perfect setting for these phobias take place.
8.
Acrophobia: While many people tend to enjoy adventurous sports of bungee and paragliding, from huge heights these days, many others may even have a hard time looking down from the fifth floor of a building. Acrophobia is a word derived from Greek word “acron” which means height.
Any person who has persistent and intense fear and nervousness with heights may have acrophobia. It is signified by an overwhelming amount of fear that onsets upon encountering a great height. In fact, the fear may occur even when the person is merely climbing simple stairs.
It occurs in 5% of the world's population.
Any person who has persistent and intense fear and nervousness with heights may have acrophobia. It is signified by an overwhelming amount of fear that onsets upon encountering a great height. In fact, the fear may occur even when the person is merely climbing simple stairs.
It occurs in 5% of the world's population.
9.
Cynophobia: 3% people in the world suffer from cynophobia.
Phobia may not always be associated with the harmful venomous creatures, but also with friendly beasts like dogs. Cynophobia is one of the most commonly found phobias in people, signified by irrelevant and extreme fear of dogs.
In almost all cases, the subject is not visibly dangerous or possesses no risk in reality. A normal person would always be alert around a stray dog. But if your fear is over the extreme and you start avoiding a friend’s place or your own home to avoid a pet dog, you might be cynophobic.
Phobia may not always be associated with the harmful venomous creatures, but also with friendly beasts like dogs. Cynophobia is one of the most commonly found phobias in people, signified by irrelevant and extreme fear of dogs.
In almost all cases, the subject is not visibly dangerous or possesses no risk in reality. A normal person would always be alert around a stray dog. But if your fear is over the extreme and you start avoiding a friend’s place or your own home to avoid a pet dog, you might be cynophobic.
10.
Agarophobia: Occurs in 2% people all over the world
Agoraphobia usually develops as a complication of panic disorder, an anxiety disorder involving panic attacks and moments of intense fear. It can arise by associating panic attacks with the places or situations where they occurred and then avoiding them.
A minority of people with agoraphobia have no history of panic attacks. In these cases, their fear may be related to issues like a fear of crime, terrorism, illness, or being in an accident.
Traumatic events, such as bereavement, may contribute towards agoraphobia, as well as certain genes inherited from your parents
Agoraphobia usually develops as a complication of panic disorder, an anxiety disorder involving panic attacks and moments of intense fear. It can arise by associating panic attacks with the places or situations where they occurred and then avoiding them.
A minority of people with agoraphobia have no history of panic attacks. In these cases, their fear may be related to issues like a fear of crime, terrorism, illness, or being in an accident.
Traumatic events, such as bereavement, may contribute towards agoraphobia, as well as certain genes inherited from your parents
