Most of us have a phobia or two, whether we want to admit it or not. For me, I am somewhat claustrophobic. I have always been and even though I try to fight it, the feeling is still there.

I do not like to be in small, confined places. I do not like elevators or even a small doctor’s exam room when they shut the door and leave me there for a while. And I really dislike parking garages.

I looked up the definition of phobia and this is one that I found: “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.”

One article I read stated that women are more likely to experience phobias than men. “Typical symptoms of phobias can include nausea, trembling, rapid heartbeat, feelings of unreality, and being preoccupied with the fear object.”

There are many common phobias.

Social phobia, now known as social anxiety disorder, is marked by a fear of social situations in which a person might be judged or embarrassed.

A lot of people have some form of panic or anxiety disorder. This is an irrational fear of impending doom that usually comes completely out of the blue. It can simulate a heart attack and many folks end up in the emergency room thinking there is something wrong with their hearts when it is really a panic attack. Sometimes these panic attacks can be so debilitating that they induce another phobia called agoraphobia. This phobia involves an irrational and extreme fear of being in places where escape is difficult. It may involve a fear of crowded places or even of leaving one’s home.

Although I have really fought it off because of jobs I have had, another phobia I have always had was the fear of public speaking. I always heard this was one of the most common fears. Until I researched for this column, I did not even know what it was called. It is called glossophobia—the fear of speaking in public.

My wife Vicki has one of the most common phobias—arachnophobia, a fear of spiders and other arachnids. When we were first together, she screamed every time she saw a spider. She has gotten a little better now, but she still does not like them or other bugs.

Other common phobias are:

Ophidiophobia is a fear of snakes. I have this one, too, but I think it is ingrained in me from growing up in this area, climbing the hills, and fishing on the riverbank as a youngster. My parents were constantly warning me to watch out for snakes.

Acrophobia is the fear of heights. A lot of people suffer from this one. Some people cannot climb a ladder or get on a roof without really feeling fear and anxiety.

Aerophobia is the fear of flying. Some people will not take an airplane or even think about flight.

Cynophobia is the fear of dogs. I do not understand this one, but maybe it has to do with some who were attacked by a vicious dog when they were young.

Astraphobia is an intense fear of thunder and lightning. Some people are really scared of thunderstorms. Even our dog Petey and many other pets share this phobia.

Trypanophobia is an extreme fear of injections. Some people hate to get shots at the doctor’s office. Luckily this never bothered me. As a kid I would rather get a shot to get my medicine than take pills for a week.

Mysophobia is a consuming fear of germs, dirt and other contaminants. With the COVID pandemic this had to be difficult for those who had this phobia. I have become what I call a “germ-a-phobe” and try to wash my hands a lot or use hand sanitizer. Shaking hands, touching door handles and pumping gas are just a few ways you can spread germs.

Aquaphobia is a fear of water. People with this specific phobia feel anxious when they think about or see water. They may even avoid baths, showers, pools and bodies of water. Many people with aquaphobia have had traumatic experiences with water. They likely cannot swim and may have a bad memory of growing up around a pool or body of water.

There is one phobia that may seem weird to others: Coulrophobia, which is the fear of clowns.

Pyrophobia is the fear of fire. This may have started because someone was burned or had a house that was destroyed by a blaze.

Phobias are when your brain takes fear and anxiety to extreme degrees. Under ordinary circumstances, these emotions can be protective and helpful. They are your brain’s way of warning you that something is wrong and you might be in danger.

However, the article I read said experts do not fully understand why these emotions can turn into phobias. However, several factors and processes may contribute to having a phobia. These include:

• Traumatic experiences.

• Genetics.

• Informational transmission.

 •Learned fears.

Some people have phobias that are so bad they may need therapy or even medications.

Phobias can majorly impact mental health and well-being, especially if they involve something you encounter often. About 75% of people with specific phobias also have more than one type of phobia, which can make this condition very disruptive.

Over time, untreated phobias can cause some people to limit their lives severely.

One online article I read from the Cleveland Clinic stated: “You might feel that having a phobia is a major flaw or a sign of weakness, but it isn’t. Phobias are widespread and can affect everyone, regardless of age or background. Just as there’s nothing wrong with seeking treatment for a broken bone or an ear infection, there’s nothing wrong with seeing a mental health professional for help with a phobia.”

So if you have a phobia or even a couple of these types of fears, do not feel ashamed. Most of us have something we deal with.

(Kyle Lovern is a longtime journalist in the Tug Valley. He is now a retired freelance writer and columnist for the Mountain Citizen.)