A phobia is an irrational or over hyped fear of something or a situation.
Phobias may either be caused by numerous reasons including evolutionary traits
and experiences from witnessing first hand or from being a victim of one and
the common symptoms are dizziness, breathlessness and even panic attacks.
Phobias are many!
There seems to be a phobia name for every type of irrational fear you hear
right? Well, like everything else, phobias must also have the ones that are
exceptionally common and well known too. I mean who doesn’t know Michael Jordan?
Though debatable,
its a countdown here are the 10 most common phobias in the world;
This compared to other types of common phobias is a recent
type of phobia that has gotten the whole world wincing and squirming at their
computer screens. Trypophobia is a phobia caused by seeing clustered holes or
irregular patterns on flowers, animals or on human skin and this causes the
person to feel irritation and goosebumps all over. I was a once a victim, thank
God for self therapy.
9. Aerophobia – The fear of flying
Also known as pteromerphanophobia, Gosh! Who comes up with these
names? This is one of the most common phobias for a reason. It is said that
about 6.5% of the world population are said to have this aerophobia. Here,
being in the air can cause panic attacks usually accompanied with
claustrophobia – the fear of small spaces and inability to escape. No wonder it
is one of the most common phobias around.
8. Glossaphobia – The fear of speaking in public
This is a very common phobia all around. Everybody has or
has had their own share of the fear of speaking to a crowd. Shaking and
stuttering is the clearest symptom and in some severe cases, tears roll down
the cheeks. Best way to cure it is consistency.
7. Claustrophobia – The fear of small spaces
Claustrophobia has been seen to be
one of the most common phobias because a shocking 5 - 7% of total world
population is said to be having it. It is often associated with the feeling
that the room is closing in or shrinking. Common symptoms of glossaphobia
include anxiety, dizziness, increased heart rate, among others.
6. Agoraphobia – The fear of open
spaces
Simple as it sounds, these people
have great fear for public places and things all around it. The causes of agoraphobia
are not definite but it may be caused by bad past experiences, have you
narrowly escaped an accident, random bullet or were you ever mocked or
threatened on the streets? These can kick-start the phobia. Claustrophobia may
occur with or without a panic attack but fear and uneasiness are common.
Thunder and lightning can be very
scary especially in cities where thunderstorms. Astraphobia is a very common
phobia even among pets and other animals. It seems to be an evolutionary trait
to protect one from being struck by lightning. It however can also be a phobia
caused by consistent updates on how lightning killed and destroyed properties,
over time it sinks in and you find yourself traumatized at the sound of
thunder. Symptoms include shaking, uneasiness and even uncontrollable
screaming.
4. Cynophobia – The fear of dogs
Without doubt the fear of dogs
should be amoung the top most common phobias in the world. It is also known to
be the fear of cats. This phobia is seen more commonly in women than in men.
Dogs bite and injure people a lot and if you hear it too often, it just might
get to you. Symptoms include shaking at the sight of a dog and also evasion of dogs
even if it means passing the longest route possible.
3. Acrophobia – The fear of heights
This is tagged the third amoung the
most common phobias in the world. It may be fueled by survival instincts, one
similar to cats’ fear of water, you don’t want to fall off that skyscraper
right? Common symptoms include dizziness, blurred vision, shakiness, loss of
balance, increased heart rate, among others.
Ophidiophobia is the second most
common phobia in the world. A snake is a merciless creature that will protect
itself with its deadly venom or swallow victims whole for lunch. You can’t
really blame people for having this phobia.
1. Arachnophobia – The fear of spiders
Arachnophobia is the most common
phobia in the world. Seen to affect every 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men. Of
course spiders are not the only arachnids but they are most feared. This fear
is usually generated by the fear of being bitten and turning to spiderman, just
kidding who doesn’t want to be spiderman? Well, the deadly venom from arachnids
makes them well feared is possibly t he reason they are revered so well.
10. Trypophobia – The fear of holes 
8. Glossaphobia – The fear of speaking in public
3. Acrophobia – The fear of heights
