Phobophobia is an intense fear of being afraid. Some people might be terrified of the physical symptoms that come with fear, such as rapid breathing or dizziness. Others are scared of developing another phobic disorder. You may need psychotherapy or medication as treatment.
Phobophobia is an extreme fear of being afraid. While this condition may sound redundant, it’s a very real and complex disorder that can take a few forms.
A person with phobophobia may be scared of the physical sensations that come with fear, such as shortness of breath, sweaty palms or heart palpitations. They might feel that these symptoms threaten their life or have the potential to cause permanent damage.
Or they may have a fear of developing a specific phobia, such as claustrophobia (fear of crowded, confined spaces) or trypanophobia (fear of needles). The anxiety of anticipating a potential phobia actually becomes a phobia itself. Many experts refer to this as a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Phobophobia, like other phobias, can affect every aspect of a person’s life. Intense feelings of dread, anxiety and panic can make it difficult to function at work, school or in social situations.
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A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder that causes overwhelming fear of an object, event or situation. To others, the fear may seem irrational or silly, but the person with the phobia feels genuinely threatened and afraid. There are hundreds of specific phobic disorders.
It’s hard knowing exactly how many people have a specific phobia, like phobophobia, but it’s rare. We do know that about 1 in 10 American adults and 1 in 5 teenagers will deal with a specific phobia disorder at some point in their lives, though. These disorders are about twice as common in women as they are in men.
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Phobophobia may have several causes, including:
People with phobophobia tend to avoid any situation where they think they might become fearful. This might mean avoiding normal “scary situations” such as horror movies, roller coasters or skydiving. But it can also mean staying away from anxiety in any form, such as refusing to go to a job interview.
Avoidance strategies can also stem from other phobias. For instance, if a person has aerophobia (fear of flying), they may be so scared to experience the symptoms associated with this phobia that they start avoiding other forms of travel such as cars, trains and buses.
A person with phobophobia may have symptoms of a panic attack if they see, think or talk about fear, like:
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Your healthcare provider may diagnose you with phobophobia if you:
Many people with phobophobia have other phobias, so this can make it a difficult condition to diagnose. Your healthcare provider will try to identify each phobia separately to build the most effective treatment plan. People with phobophobia may also have other mental health disorders, such as:
Treatment for phobophobia may include:
It’s difficult to prevent phobias, but you can take steps to reduce stress and anxiety in your life:
CBT and exposure therapy help most people manage specific phobic disorders. Medications may be helpful while you work on other therapies.
Contact your healthcare provider if you experience:
You may want to ask your healthcare provider:
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Phobophobia is a fear of being afraid. You might be scared of the physical symptoms that come with fear, or feel worried that you could develop a phobia. Many people with phobophobia already have other phobias or mental health disorders. If you think you may have a specific phobia, talk to your healthcare provider. They can guide you to the right treatment, which may include psychotherapy or medication.
Last reviewed on 03/15/2022.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy