The Most Common Phobias People Suffer From

Phobias are a seemingly irrational fear of something real or imaginary causing emotional distress to a person. Some phobias are common enough that they are officially recognised in the medical field, and we’ve listed them below:

Heights – Acrophobia

This is a very common fear that can manifest itself by simply standing on a chair or being atop a skyscraper. Acrophobia causes sufferers to experience extreme agitation when climbing up or down from a height.People with high levels of acrophobia have been known to have panic attacks.

Snakes – Ophidiophobia

Around 21% of people worldwide suffer from a fear of snakes. Psychologists believe this stems from our ancestral survival habits, as people were taught to avoid dangerous snakes over the course of many centuries. Ophidiophobia often stops people from enjoying outdoor activities.

Public Speaking – Glossophobia

Glossophobia is the third most common phobia found in people. It can be a slight case of the nerves when speaking in front of people or can leave someone unable to speak amongst large crowds.

Spiders – Arachnophobia

This is one of the most common animal phobias in the world. Like fear of snakes, it is assumed that the cause of arachnophobia is an evolutionary response to surviving. Often this fear makes people suffer extreme panic attacks at the sight of spiders, and can lead people to constantly check their surroundings before they can relax.

Fear of Small Spaces – Claustrophobia

Claustrophobia is understood to affect nearly 5-7% percent of people worldwide and is linked to the fear of suffocation. Research suggests that claustrophobia has a more direct effect on people who project their personal space far from their bodies.

Flying – Aerophobia

It’s believed that 6% of the world’s population is affected by a fear of flying and it is usually associated with claustrophobia and agoraphobia. A sufferer feels intense amounts of distress when thinking about or experiencing air travel, which can lead to severe nausea and other unpleasant effects.

Crowds – Agoraphobia

Fear of crowds can take on many forms, but the most common is Agoraphobia. This fear specifically relates to being in a crowded area where the perception is that escape is difficult, or embarrassment will be experienced. Agoraphobia, depending on intensity, can restrict a person from leaving their home or going out with friends and family.

As we look at the most common phobias, it becomes obvious that these fears can rob an individual of living a quality life and restrict their social behaviours.

For people who suffer the extremes of their phobia, there are treatments available to assist and possibly overcome these fears, so you can lead a life free from your fear.

If you feel that your phobia is controlling your life, contact us for more information about the treatments available.

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