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Ochlophobia
An abnormal and intense fear of crowds. Ochlophobia is a type of specific phobia. A phobia is an abnormal and intense fear of something. The main feature of a specific phobia is that it is a significant and persistent fear of a clearly known, specific situation (such as making an error) or specific object (such as crowds). In specific phobias, the feared situation or object is avoided or endured with intense anxiety and distress. Exposure to the feared object or situation almost always causes anxiety. People with specific phobias realize their fear is excessive or unreasonable.

To be diagnosed with a specific phobia, the person's avoidance, anxiety, or distress needs to significantly interfere with his/her normal routine, job functioning, school functioning, or social functioning. Alternatively, to be diagnosed with a specific phobia, the person needs to have significant distress about having the phobia.

It is estimated that between 4 and 8.8% of people have specific phobias. Ochlophobia comes from the Greek word "ochlos" meaning "glass," and the Greek word "phobos" meaning "fear. Put the two words together and you have "fear (of) crowds."

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