microphobia
Fear of tiny
Microphobia is an irrational fear of small things—tiny objects, microorganisms, or miniature creatures.
The term appears in clinical contexts but is uncommon in everyday speech: Her microphobia made examining specimens under the microscope unbearable.
Microscopic disease agents
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- microbesMicroscopic living organisms
- virusesSubmicroscopic infectious particles
- insectsSix-legged arthropods
spores · mold · parasites · ants · fleas · ticks · contamination
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- tremblingInvoluntary shaking motion
sweating · hyperventilation · nausea · avoidance · distress · helplessness · overwhelm · fight-or-flight
Persistent, intrusive preoccupation
- compulsionIrresistible urge to act
- fixationPersistent mental attachment
- overreactionDisproportionate emotional response
- disproportionateNot properly scaled
unreasonable · illogical · unfounded · exaggerated · hypersensitivity
Curative mental treatment
- CBTPsychological treatment abbreviation
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- desensitizationReduced response over time
- medicationTherapeutic substance for illness
Troubled mental state
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- tensionStretched or strained state
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
stress · jitters · restlessness · edginess · agitation · hypervigilance · insecurity · rumination
germs
Microscopic disease agents
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- microbesMicroscopic living organisms
- virusesSubmicroscopic infectious particles
insects · spores · mold · parasites · ants · fleas · ticks · contamination
panic
Uncontrollable sudden fear
trembling · sweating · hyperventilation · nausea · avoidance · distress · helplessness · overwhelm · fight-or-flight · startle
obsession
Persistent, intrusive preoccupation
- compulsionIrresistible urge to act
- fixationPersistent mental attachment
- overreactionDisproportionate emotional response
disproportionate · unreasonable · illogical · unfounded · exaggerated · hypersensitivity
therapy
Curative mental treatment
- CBTPsychological treatment abbreviation
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- desensitizationReduced response over time
germophobia
Irrational fear of contamination
- entomophobiaDread of bugs
worry
Troubled mental state
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- tensionStretched or strained state
apprehension · stress · jitters · restlessness · edginess · agitation · hypervigilance · insecurity · rumination · catastrophizing
micro, phobia, phobic, phobias, microbe, microbial, microbiology, microbiologist, microorganism