Iatrophobia is fear of doctors.

Anxiety Disorder: Understanding Phobias

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

Most specific phobias belong to one of four major categories, including fears of the natural environment, fears related to animals, fears related to medical treatments or issues, and fears related to specific situations.

Phobia of the Day: Iatrophobia

Iatrophobia is an extreme fear of doctors or medical tests.

Individuals who have a fear of doctors are aware that their phobia is illogical. However, they are unable to control their physical reactions when they see their doctor or think about getting a medical test. Symptoms experienced by such individuals include dizziness, dry mouth, extreme feeling of dread, nausea, profuse sweating, rapid breathing and heart palpitations, shaking or trembling.

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.

Recent Phobia Word Posts

Cyberphobia

Koinoniphobia

Ephebiphobia

Claustrophobia

Cibophobia

Cynophobia

Cacophobia

If you suffer from a phobia that you’d like to share, send us an email at info@thesouthafrican.com or a WhatsApp message at 060 011 0211. We’ll publish the ones that we find most interesting. You can also follow @TheSAnews on Twitter and The South African on Facebook for all the latest phobias.