How Bad Is Your Phobia? Test Your Fear Level

Arachnophobia, Ophidiophobia, Anthophobia, Bacteriophobia and the list goes on and on. So what is this minimum 5 syllables word that ends with phobia? Well friends.. These are what we call types of phobia.

Phobia is a noun that means an irrational fear of something that’s unlikely to cause harm. The word itself is derived from the Greek word Phobos, which means fear or horror.

We’re pretty sure something came up in your mind as you read the word phobia? What is it? Creepy crawlies? Snakes? The dark? Whatever it may be, let’s put your phobia level to the test :

Disclaimer: This quiz is provided for information only. It is not intended to replace a consultation with an appropriately qualified practitioner.

According to the DSM-5 (the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition), Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder that is defined as fear or anxiety that is persistent (even when the phobic object isn’t there), and overwhelmingly excessive to the actual danger posed by the object or creature of the phobia.

Phobias generally occur as a result from a dysfunction in the brain circuits responsible for the response to fear. They recognize non-dangerous objects or situations as threats and experience excessive fear and anxiety even when to others it is the least intimidating object, creature or situation as it could get. Believe it or not, there is even a phobia with beards. I mean.. how on earth do you navigate through that??

Thank god for exposure therapy! During the therapy session, those with severe phobia will be exposed to the phobic object, creature or situation in gradually increasing amounts until their phobia no longer induces the response to fear. On top of that, they are also taught techniques to calm themselves as well as methods to deal with anxiety.

Although there are medications that may help reduce these episodes, evidence shows that exposure therapy is the best way to escape the wrath of these phobias. We agree, there’s nothing quite like overcoming your fear but facing them head on. You will definitely feel invincible right after. Just like Batman overcoming the fear of bats. Think of it as your journey to become your own superhero!

Last thing to take note, fear and phobia is not the same. Fear is a natural emotion that protects people from harm’s way while phobia is an excessive and irrational fear or anxiety related to specific objects, creatures or situations that are not proportional to the actual danger they pose and will cause significant dysfunction and discomfort.

So if you’re screaming because a snake is biting you, then that’s a normal response to fear. But if you scream because you see a snake a mile away that’s just chilling and minding their own business then, you might just have Ophidiophobia.

Whatever you fear and phobia is, we hope that you will be strong enough to overcome it. And as for your youngsters.. We think we know what’s your fear.. STUDENT LOANS *heart palpitations increase*. Don’t worry, in this episode of Hello I Have Issues: Student Loans Zher and Keanu will guide you through PTPTN loans and others with the founder of Hijrah Wealth Management, Puan Hajah Rohani Mohd Shahir.