A Phobia presents itself in a number of categories and is a source of fear and anxiety for a person.

A phobia is an anxiety disorder involving fear of a situation or object. Image: Phobia Stock Photos

Phobia of the Day: Koinoniphobia

A phobia is an anxiety disorder involving fear of a situation or object. Exposure to the source of the fear triggers an irrational response.

A Phobia presents itself in a number of categories and is a source of fear and anxiety for a person.

A phobia is an anxiety disorder involving fear of a situation or object. Image: Phobia Stock Photos

A phobia is an anxiety disorder involving excessive and persistent fear of a situation or object. Exposure to the source of the fear triggers an immediate anxiety response.

Most specific phobias fall into one of four major categories:

  • Fears of the natural environment
  • Fears related to animals
  • Fear related to medical treatments or issues
  • Fears related to specific situations

Phobia of the Day: Koinoniphobia is an irrational fear of rooms.

Someone suffering from this condition can expect to experience a very high-amount of anxiety from merely thinking of rooms, let alone actually being inside of one. In fact, their anxiety may be so intense that they may even endure a full-blown panic attack as a result of it. 

Someone experiencing a full-blown panic attack as a result of koinoniphobia can expect:

  • an increased heart rate
  • an increased rate of breathing
  • higher blood pressure
  • muscle tension
  • Trembling
  • and excessive sweating, among several other symptoms.

Self-care tips for phobias that bring on anxiety

  • Talk to someone you trust. 
  • Learn to manage panic and anxiety. 
  • Look into joining a support group. 
  • Use self-help resources. 
  • Take a course for your specific phobia.

THIS WEEK’S LIST:

Monday, 12 December – Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia

RECENT PHOBIA WORD POSTS:

Sunday, 11 December – Chloephobia

Saturday, 10 December – Globophobia

Thursday, 8 December – Chrometophobia

Wednesday, 7 December – Anemophobia

Tuesday, 6 December – Amaxophobia

Monday, 5 December – Zuigerphobia

Do you have a phobia you suffer from that you’d like to share?

If so, send an email to info@thesouthafrican.com or a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211 and we’ll publish the ones that we feel are most interesting!

You can also follow @TheSAnews on Twitter and The South African on Facebook for all the latest phobias.