Common phobias Nigerians have- see what you fear

Phobias are the most common psychiatric illness among women and the second most common among men.

There are a number of explanations for why phobias develop, including evolutionary and behavioral theories. Whatever the cause, phobias are treatable conditions that can be minimized and even eliminated with cognitive and behavioral therapy  techniques and medication.

Some phobias are common than others, 

1. Arachnophobia -the fear of spiders  affects women four times more (48% women and 12% men).
2. Ophidiophobia- the fear of snakes  Phobics avoid certain cities because they have more snakes.
3. Acrophobia -the fear of heights . Five percent of the general population suffer from this phobia.
4. Agoraphobia-the fear of open or crowded places . People with this fear often wont leave home.
5. Cynophobia- the fear of dogs . This includes everything from small Poodles to large Great Danes.
6. Astraphobia-the fear of thunder /lightening, AKA Brontophobia, Tonitrophobia, Ceraunophobia.
7. Claustrophobia-the fear of small spaces  like elevators, small rooms and other enclosed spaces
8. Mysophobia-the fear of germs . It is also rightly termed as Germophobia or Bacterophobia
9. Trypophobia- the fear of holes is an unusual but pretty common phobia.
10. Carcinophobia-the fear of cancer. People with this develop extreme diets.
11. Thanatophobia-the fear of death . Even talking about death can be hard.
12. Glossophobia-the fear of public speaking . Not being able to do speeches.
13. Monophobia-the fear of being alone . Even while eating and/or sleeping.
14. Atichyphobia-the fear of failure . It is the single greatest barrier to success.