Panphobia: The Fear of Everything—Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Panphobia (Omniphobia): Pervasive, Non-Specific Fear

Panphobia is an informal term for a condition where anxiety attaches to a constantly shifting array of objects, situations, and internal sensations—essentially "fear of fear itself." It is not a distinct DSM-5 diagnosis but may manifest as:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) with extreme generalization.
• Panic Disorder with agoraphobic avoidance.
• Specific phobias that proliferate.
• Somatic symptom disorder with health anxiety.

Symptoms

• Persistent, free-floating anxiety.
• Panic attacks triggered by minor stimuli.
• Avoidance of multiple situations → severe functional impairment.
• Hypervigilance, catastrophic misinterpretation of bodily sensations.

Etiology

• Genetic predisposition + early trauma/stress.
• Conditioned fear generalization.
• Cognitive biases (intolerance of uncertainty, threat overestimation).

Treatment

1. CBT with Exposure: Hierarchical exposure to avoided stimuli; cognitive restructuring.
2. ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): Psychological flexibility.
3. Medication: SSRIs/SNRIs first-line; short-term benzodiazepines only if severe.
4. Mindfulness, exercise, sleep hygiene.