Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsDiagnosisCausesTreatmentsCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Causes

Treatments

Coping

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobiais the fear of the number 666. Related totriskaidekaphobia, or fear of the number 13, this phobia has its origins in both religious belief and superstition.

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia is a specific phobia, meaning that someone with this condition would experience intense, irrational anxiety or fear when faced specifically with the number 666. To meet thediagnostic criteria for a specific phobia, your reaction to encountering this number has to be so severe that it’s disruptive to your daily life.

At a GlanceHexakosioihexekontahexaphobia is the fear of the number 666, which stems from the belief that the number is the Biblical beast’s mark. People with this fear experience an intense, unreasonable fear reaction when they encounter this number, which can interfere with a person’s daily life. Treatments that can help are available, including psychotherapy and medication.

At a Glance

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia is the fear of the number 666, which stems from the belief that the number is the Biblical beast’s mark. People with this fear experience an intense, unreasonable fear reaction when they encounter this number, which can interfere with a person’s daily life. Treatments that can help are available, including psychotherapy and medication.

Origins of Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia

The number 666 appears in the Bible, in the Book of Revelation. Revelation 13:17-18 in the King James version states that the “number of the beast” is “six hundred threescore and six,” or 666. This reference appears to be the origin of the fear for some people.

As written, the events depicted in Revelation are extremely frightening. When viewed as a literal transcription of what is to come, it is easy to see how a serious fear or phobia could develop.

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia in Pop Culture

The prevalence of the number 666 in pop culture represents another trigger for this fear. Many horror movies use this number as a premise, as do supernatural thrillers that play on the association between the number and the Antichrist.

Some films usedoomsday scenarios, drawing on the number’s apocalyptic connotations.​

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia and Route 666

Over time, the New Mexico section of Highway 666 proved to be statistically dangerous. In 1986, researchers found that 23% of all crashes involving injury in the Shiprock District were on a 0.9-mile stretch of Highway 666.

Skeptics believe this was due to the road being improperly designed or maintained for increasing traffic loads.However, many believed it was actually the road’s name that caused accidents and fatalities.

Highway 666 eventually became known as the Devil’s Highway. It was officially renamed in 2003 to U.S. 491.

Symptoms of Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia

As a specific phobia, hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia can include symptoms like:

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia can manifest in different ways. Since avoidance of the number 666 is a common symptom of the condition, someone with this phobia may go to great lengths to keep themselves from encountering it. That could mean:

Famously, former President Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy,changed the street number of their housefrom 666 to 668 after moving to their post-presidential home in Bel-Air, Los Angeles. It’s notable that this change was attributed to Mrs. Reagan’ssuperstitionaround the number, not hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia.

As with anyphobia, symptoms of hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia can range from manageable to severe. In serious cases, you may need to seek professional help.

If you or a loved one are struggling with a mental health condition, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area. For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Before you’re diagnosed with hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia, you will likely go through a thorough clinical interview with a mental health professional. Your doctor may ask about symptoms and will try to determine if you have had any other mental health issues in your past.

Many mental health disorders are diagnosed based on criteria from the"Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM–5).

The DSM-5 lists criteria for specific phobias as a category rather than every single possible fear, so while hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia is not explicitly mentioned in the DSM-5, it is diagnosed the same way that other phobias are.

A key aspect of diagnosing a phobia is the level to which it disrupts daily life. While you may feel uncomfortable with the number 666, it doesn’t rise to the level of hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia unless that discomfort leads to fear so intense that it causes noticeable problems in your day-to-day activities.

Related ConditionsYour doctor may also look for other conditions that share similar traits, such as:Arithmophobia, or fear of numbersDaemonophobia, or fear of demonsBipolar disorderParanoiaPsychosis

Your doctor may also look for other conditions that share similar traits, such as:Arithmophobia, or fear of numbersDaemonophobia, or fear of demonsBipolar disorderParanoiaPsychosis

Your doctor may also look for other conditions that share similar traits, such as:

Fear vs. Phobia: What’s the Difference?

Causes of Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia

Thecause of any phobiacan be difficult to determine. In the case of hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia, it may have a cultural component since the number 666 is viewed negatively in many religious settings.

Other factors that can play a role include:

Phobias can also be learned, meaning if a close family member or friend has hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia, you may learn to fear the number as well.

Treatments for Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia

The course of treatment for hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia will largely depend on yourgoals. Are you trying to resolve conflicting religious views?

Do you simply want to stop compulsive phobia-induced behaviors? You may find that medication and/or psychotherapy fit your needs.

Psychotherapy

Therapy is often a very helpfultreatment for phobias. Two common approaches are:

Medication

While psychotherapy is generally the first line of treatment for specific phobias,medicationmay make sense in some cases. Your doctor may recommend that you take medication initially when you begin treatment or in specific circumstances where you’re likely to experience your phobia.

Medication for hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia could include:

Coping With Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia

As you seek professional help for this phobia, you may still find yourself struggling in your day-to-day life.Mindfulnessmay help you learn to identify when your anxiety is beginning to intensify so you can try to reduce your stress levels throughdeep breathing,yoga,meditation, or another intervention.

What This Means For YouWhile hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia is rare, it can cause serious fear and discomfort for people with the condition. It’s important to understand that phobias are treatable, and seeking professional help can alleviate your symptoms. If you or a loved one is experiencing debilitating fear due to hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia, consider seeking professional help.

What This Means For You

While hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia is rare, it can cause serious fear and discomfort for people with the condition. It’s important to understand that phobias are treatable, and seeking professional help can alleviate your symptoms. If you or a loved one is experiencing debilitating fear due to hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia, consider seeking professional help.

Resources and Support for Coping With Phobias

7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Federal Highway Administration.U. S. 666: “Beast of a highway"?Indian Health Service, Staff Office of Planning, Evaluation and Research.An epidemiologic characterization of motor vehicle crashes on, and an evaluation of geometric design criteria for, U.S. Highway 666, Milepost 92.7 to 93.6, Shiprock, New Mexico.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).DSM-IV to DSM-5 specific phobia comparison. In:Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Rockville, MD: SAMHSA; 2016.American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Fox NA, Pine DS.Temperament and the emergence of anxiety disorders.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012;51(2):125-128. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2011.10.006Van Houtem CM, Laine ML, Boomsma DI, Ligthart L, van Wijk AJ, De Jongh A.A review and meta-analysis of the heritability of specific phobia subtypes and corresponding fears.J Anxiety Disord. 2013;27(4):379-88. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.04.007Singh J, Sing J.Treatment options for the specific phobias.Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol.2016;5(3):593-598. doi:10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20161496

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Federal Highway Administration.U. S. 666: “Beast of a highway"?Indian Health Service, Staff Office of Planning, Evaluation and Research.An epidemiologic characterization of motor vehicle crashes on, and an evaluation of geometric design criteria for, U.S. Highway 666, Milepost 92.7 to 93.6, Shiprock, New Mexico.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).DSM-IV to DSM-5 specific phobia comparison. In:Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Rockville, MD: SAMHSA; 2016.American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Fox NA, Pine DS.Temperament and the emergence of anxiety disorders.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012;51(2):125-128. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2011.10.006Van Houtem CM, Laine ML, Boomsma DI, Ligthart L, van Wijk AJ, De Jongh A.A review and meta-analysis of the heritability of specific phobia subtypes and corresponding fears.J Anxiety Disord. 2013;27(4):379-88. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.04.007Singh J, Sing J.Treatment options for the specific phobias.Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol.2016;5(3):593-598. doi:10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20161496

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Federal Highway Administration.U. S. 666: “Beast of a highway"?Indian Health Service, Staff Office of Planning, Evaluation and Research.An epidemiologic characterization of motor vehicle crashes on, and an evaluation of geometric design criteria for, U.S. Highway 666, Milepost 92.7 to 93.6, Shiprock, New Mexico.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).DSM-IV to DSM-5 specific phobia comparison. In:Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Rockville, MD: SAMHSA; 2016.American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Fox NA, Pine DS.Temperament and the emergence of anxiety disorders.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012;51(2):125-128. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2011.10.006Van Houtem CM, Laine ML, Boomsma DI, Ligthart L, van Wijk AJ, De Jongh A.A review and meta-analysis of the heritability of specific phobia subtypes and corresponding fears.J Anxiety Disord. 2013;27(4):379-88. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.04.007Singh J, Sing J.Treatment options for the specific phobias.Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol.2016;5(3):593-598. doi:10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20161496

Federal Highway Administration.U. S. 666: “Beast of a highway"?

Indian Health Service, Staff Office of Planning, Evaluation and Research.An epidemiologic characterization of motor vehicle crashes on, and an evaluation of geometric design criteria for, U.S. Highway 666, Milepost 92.7 to 93.6, Shiprock, New Mexico.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).DSM-IV to DSM-5 specific phobia comparison. In:Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Rockville, MD: SAMHSA; 2016.

American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.

Fox NA, Pine DS.Temperament and the emergence of anxiety disorders.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012;51(2):125-128. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2011.10.006

Van Houtem CM, Laine ML, Boomsma DI, Ligthart L, van Wijk AJ, De Jongh A.A review and meta-analysis of the heritability of specific phobia subtypes and corresponding fears.J Anxiety Disord. 2013;27(4):379-88. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.04.007

Singh J, Sing J.Treatment options for the specific phobias.Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol.2016;5(3):593-598. doi:10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20161496

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