Glossophobia is a common social phobia categorized under social anxiety. As of this writing, glossophobia affects a significant portion of the American population. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), public speaking anxiety affects “about 73% of the population.” Those affected by glossophobia are often mistaken for simply having a case of nerves … Read more
With fears over a second wave of COVID-19 at an all-time high, there’s been a significant rise in anxiety disorder diagnoses among Americans. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental illness in the United States, affecting over 18% of the population nationwide before … Read more
Sominphobia is the fear of dreams and can also be known as sleep anxiety. Though there are different kinds and levels, it can be said that Sominphobia refers to a generalized dislike or fear of dreaming. This can lead to either an inability to sleep or insomnia when attempting to fall asleep. It has been … Read more
Aichmophobia is a type of anxiety disorder involving an intense fear of sharp objects. It’s not known to be a common phobia – affecting around 2.5 – 5% of the population. However, it can cause some people intense anxiety, panic attacks, and behavioral changes. When we refer to ‘sharp objects,’ this isn’t just knives. People … Read more
A Fear of Crowds: Explaining Agoraphobia Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by an intense fear of crowds or confined spaces or vast and open spaces. An ‘agoraphobe’ fears the possibility of losing control over a situation and not being able to escape easily in case of danger. An agoraphobic individual may be frightened of … Read more
Anthropophobia (or ‘anthrophobia’) is an often temporary social phobia, typically involving fear of crowds, eye contact, and receiving judgment from others. It’s defined as a “fear of people” and is common among 13-18-year-olds, for whom the slightest social contact can quickly seem insurmountable. Similarly to other specific phobias, we characterize anthropophobia as an intense fear … Read more
Nosophobia (or pathophobia) is the fear of disease. This phobia is more common among men than it is among women. In general, nosophobes are afraid of contracting specific diseases – namely sexually transmitted infections (STIs), cancer, cardiovascular diseases, MS (multiple sclerosis). How do you better understand nosophobia? Nosophobia (or pathophobia) is the fear of contracting … Read more
Many of us pick up small, comfortable habits over time that are part of strict routines. They make us feel better or add to a daily plan which makes our lives easier in small ways. For most of us, these quirky habits are comforting, reassuring even. Extreme OCD symptoms look very, very different.