Antlophobia

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Antlophobia is a specific phobia—an irrational fear of floods. The term comes from the Greek word antlia, meaning “pump”, and phobos, meaning “fear”. Antlophobic people usually fear the power of floods that can cause property damage or loss of life.^[1]

Antlophobia develops from past traumatic experiences with floods; either personal experiences or through knowing survivors of a flood.^[1]

People who are severely antlophobic may feel anxious, be filled with dread, or have panic attacks. Mild sufferers may have shakiness, breathlessness, irregular heartbeat, discomfort, etc.^[1]

As with other specific phobias, antlophobia is treated through psychotherapy, talk therapy, support groups, cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and for severe sufferers anti-anxiety medication.^[1]