Phobia - the mere mention of it can make some people's hair stand on end. Yes, there is such a thing as fear of phobias. Called phobophobia, it happens to a person who dreads being frightened by everything. This type of phobia is different from the fear of everything, which is termed panophobia. Phobophobia, unlike other types of phobia, is more anxiety-related than being based on fear of a single object or situation. People with phobophobia think they most likely have a phobia, but they cannot figure out just what it is. They worry too much about not understanding what causes their fear of being afraid. Simply put, phonophobia is the worry of fear itself.

Fear of phobias can develop from other types of phobias. The intense fear that a person feels toward the other phobia may cause him or her to believe that the condition can lead to something worse. Fearing one's phobia may aggravate the impact of that phobia. When anxiety disorders are left untreated, phobophobia may also develop. This type of phobia may also be a result of a traumatic experience from the past such as a car accident, death of a loved one, and sexual abuse. In some cases, the fear has no basis at all.

People with higher risk of phobophobia than others include those who are always high strung, those who tend to be anxious most of the time, and those who suffer from adrenal inadequacy.

Severe anxiety is the main symptom of fear of phobias, which is often characterized by an adrenaline rush. This, in turn, results in symptoms associated with stress and the belief that more phobias are there to fear. And since they are bothered too much with any experience that may be caused by phobia, people with phobophobia often get the goosebumps. Other symptoms of phobophobia include fainting, excessive sweating, muscle tension, shortness of breath, avoidance behavior, palpitations, trembling, dry mouth, and dizziness.

If you believe you have fear of phobias, it is best to consult a mental health specialist for diagnosis. Once you have been diagnosed with phobophobia, a therapist may treat you by exposing you to the particular thing that triggers your fear. Usually, this is done in a controlled environment so that the therapist can prove that you have nothing to fear. Another treatment method for phobophobia is the adrenaline infusion that can help induce fear. The therapist will then guide you through the most challenging part of your fear.

Like most types of phobia, phobophobia may need mind conditioning to change your perception about your fears. That way, you can view your fears based on logic instead of emotions. Mind conditioning or retraining is essential since the mind tends to be instantly preoccupied with an emotional reaction, which stems from your inherent need to escape from the dreadful situation. If you constantly remind yourself that something dangerous can happen anytime and everywhere, then your body responds immediately. This is called the flight and fight response. Therefore, it is important that you condition your mind to look at things logically so that you can overcome your fear of phobias.