Medical and body-related phobias
Fears associated with blood, injections, illness, injury, or bodily experiences.
Ablutophobia
Ablutophobia is an intense fear of bathing, showering, or washing. Learn how it differs from a child who hates bath time, what may cause it, and what helps.
A type of specific phobiaDentophobia
Scared to book a dental appointment? Understand dental anxiety and dentophobia, what to tell the dentist, and how to ask for support.
A type of specific phobiaEmetophobia
Understand fear of vomiting, the worry-and-checking cycle, eating concerns, and what assessment and treatment research can tell you about emetophobia.
A type of specific phobiaHemophobia
Scared of blood or worried about fainting? Understand hemophobia, how it differs from needle fear, and what to tell the care team before a visit.
A type of specific phobiaIatrophobia
Scared of seeing a doctor? Understand iatrophobia, explain what makes appointments difficult, and ask for support without putting off needed care.
Common informal termMysophobia
When germ worries take over, ordinary tasks can feel complicated. Understand mysophobia, contamination fears, OCD overlap, and where to find help.
A type of specific phobiaNosocomephobia
Hospital visits can feel overwhelming. Learn about nosocomephobia, how it differs from other medical fears, and what to ask before a planned visit.
Common informal termOmphalophobia
Omphalophobia is a fear of belly buttons — your own or others'. Learn why navels unsettle some people and when it becomes a phobia.
A type of specific phobiaTrypanophobia
Dreading a blood test or injection? Understand needle fear, why fainting matters, and how to ask for support before your appointment.
Common informal termTrypophobia
Why do clusters of holes bother some people so much? Explore trypophobia, the research behind it, and whether it counts as a phobia.
When getting care feels difficult
You may know an appointment matters and still dread what it involves. This section explores fears connected to medical procedures and bodily experiences, without graphic images.
Start with trypanophobia, the fear of needles. The guide explains why it helps to mention previous fainting and offers questions to discuss with the care team before an appointment.
Support starts with explaining the concern
You don't need the right phobia name to ask for help. Read fear versus phobia for the broader distinction, or our specific-phobia guide for an introduction to the condition. These pages don't replace advice about your own medical care.