Do you suffer from one of the most common types of phobias?
People really can be scared of their own shadows.
Having a phobia of something can be devastating and can interfere with ordinary existence. Phobias limit a person’s ability to participate in personal and professional activities that others think are no big deal. But it is a big deal to the one suffering with a fear.
Phobias are described as irrational fears. They don’t seem irrational to the person dealing with the fear, however. The fear can present itself as severe anxiety and dread when having to encounter this creature, object, person, or place.
Over ten million people in America report having a phobia of some kind. It is noted that phobias are connected to post-traumatic stress disorder and panic disorders. Researchers are now spending great energy on figuring out why fear happens in humans. Many believe phobias are caused by both genetic dispositions and environmental traumas.
There are many phobias that can be categorized.
Animal Phobias
Some people with a fear of animals can lead a normal existence.
Others, however, have such a fear of animals that by just mentioning the animal they fear can send them into a panic.
Zoophobia is the actual fear of animals. It’s a general term that covers all animals. But certain phobias can be narrowed down even further. For instance, arachnophobia is the fear of spiders and ophidiophobia is the fear of snakes.
Equinophobia is the fear of horses, or what the horse may do to you. Maybe you had a bad experience with a horse in your past that would lead to this fear.
Cynophobia is the fear of dogs. I know what you are thinking, how could anyone fear dogs? Have you ever seen the movie Cujo? Believe it or not, the fear of dogs is one of the most common among all people who have a fear of animals.
Other phobias related to animals include the following:
- Alektorophobia is the fear of chickens
- Ailurophobia is associated with the fear of cats
- Ranidaphobia is the fear of frogs
Phobias Involving People
Anthropophobia is the actual fear of people.