We recommend our users to update the browser. Some people also experience this fear when peeing around others (commonly known as “stage fright”), which some experts consider a specific subcategory of social anxiety. Nomophobia is the fear of being without a smartphone. According to one recent study on disability claims, people with ergophobia feel intense stress and anxiety surrounding their the work environment, impairing their ability to function properly. If you’re not anxious around money, then be sure to learn these money tips from the world’s most successful people. Looking at certain foods or feeling stomach activity can trigger the phobia, according to a Columbia University study. Your fear may rise to the level of a phobia if you can’t even see snakes on TV without losing sleep, or you have to quit your job because getting to your office requires that you ride in a cramped elevator. Most people with logophobia don’t know how to read, and they may refuse to try to learn. Therefore, when children enter the picture again, it can upset the dynamic. Believe it or not, Oprah Winfrey has this phobia, and she really didn't enjoy one of her birthdays because of it. Phobias are disturbing and occur when you least expect to. “The basic idea is to disconfirm a person’s belief about what will happen.”. A perfect circle is not the friend of someone who’s afraid of symmetry. Omphalophobia is the fear of belly buttons. Yet, these weird phobias still have a significant influence on the individual’s quality of life. 10 Strange Phobias That Really Exist. People with siderophobia have a fear of stars, and might keep their curtains closed to avoid getting overwhelmed by how vast and uncontrollable the universe is. Anyone with this unusual phobia will want to steer clear of certain bands. Panophobia is the fear of everything, and is a term sometimes used to describe patients with generalized anxiety disorders. While most people would prefer to succeed at something rather than fail, people with kakorrhaphiophobia have a sometimes incapacitating fear of failure. People with sanguivoriphobia actually believe in the existence of vampires and will go to any extent to prove that they actually exist. Numerophobia is the fear of numbers, though not in the sense that a person believes giant 1’s or 0’s are hiding under the bed. 5. #10. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Researchers sometimes categorize this fear as a “social phobia,” because patients may fear vomiting because it would be embarrassing if it happened in front of other people. Some common fears, like fear of heights or fear of spiders, may seem so normal now because of the number of people who share the phobia. So if you suffer from it you definitely can't visit the Vatican City! Zelophobia – Fear of jealousy If you hate going to bed or have fear of bathing then you might suffer from some sort of phobias. March 20, 2015, 9:03 p.m. Did you know once can be scared of belly buttons? One 45-year-old frigophobia sufferer described even mildly cold air “piercing” her skin and causing her headaches, body aches, and other symptoms, a case study found. Some other sufferers have issues with tight-fitting clothing—or with any clothing at all. Scroll through to find out more such shocking phobias. An individual plagued with this crippling phobia is frightened that the pull of gravity will eventually crush them, or alternatively, that gravity will cease to exist and they will simply float off the face of the Earth. This list of phobias proves that practically anything can be terrifying to someone. They might be scared of the increased responsibilities that come with more freedom. The people suffering from a phobia tend to avoid certain things or feeling or anything causing fear or known to associate with fear. Some people experience sleep paralysis as they drift off—basically, not being able to move even through they’re still partly awake—and this can lead to somniphobia, according to a 2016 study from the University of Minnesota. They either create social stress or destroy a person’s well-being. Keep reading to learn about the weirdest phobias out there. Ablutophobia – Fear Of Washing Ablutophobia is the bizarre fear of washing. Getty Images. Frigophobia is the fear of being cold. They could have panic attacks with nausea, sweating, or an irregular heartbeat when they see someone else wearing the metal. With twisted irony, sesquipedalophobia is the morbid fear of long words. A phobia is an excessive and irrational fear reaction. Phonophobia is an “abnormal” and “unwarranted” fear of sound, according to research from Malaysia. Research suggests it arose (and probably peaked) during the 1700s at a time when plague was rampant, and people feared doctors or medical professionals would mistakenly pronounce them dead. 100 Weird Phobias That Really Exist Posted January 7th, 2010 by Site Administrator in Health (No Comments ») As a nurse, you come into contact with all kinds of bizarre and weird … Some people can handle eating small amounts, but others avoid peanut-based products like peanut butter sauces and ice creams. Looking into a mirror can cause people with eisoptrophobia shame or distress, and can lead to depression, according to a 2014 case study detailing one 55-year-old woman’s 30-year struggle with this phobia. Sanguivoriphobia is the dreaded fear of vampires. Chaetophobia – The fear of hair. Euphobia. It’s usually used in the context of patients with dyslexia, who may struggle with unusually long words. Specifically, they note that “…stringed-instruments, drums, and flutes are very effective at relaxing the mind even when played moderately loud.”. Urophobia is the fear of urinating. While listing all of the phobias that may exist is not possible, it can be helpful to look through a list of some of the more commonly described phobias. Even worse, a lack of adequate sleep on a long-term basis is associated with a greater risk of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. SELF. 14 Strange and Bizarre Phobias That Really Exist Featured 02/23/2015 in Pop Culture No telling why people are afraid of some of these innocuous things. Home might be where the heart is for some, but others have the fear of returning home. (Although with all the recent hand-wringing about technology, maybe they should.) While some phobias look normal, some phobias are so weird that we can’t even that they exist. It’s much more than just a dislike of the potent vegetable’s taste—people with alliumphobia might start to shake or feel unable to breathe when around garlic or other pungent plants like onions and chives. “The deep sea offers us an oppressive and foreboding context—a space unexplored, unknowable and overwhelming,” he writes. Eisoptrophobia is the fear of mirrors or, more specifically, of seeing your own reflection in a mirror. Phobophobia is literally the fear of fear itself, and the anxious and uneasy physiological feelings associated with it. Wolitzky-Taylor says many people have genes that raise their risk for anxiety-related disorders—an umbrella term that includes phobias. Researchers say these are often normal, everyday sounds that cannot possibly harm a person’s hearing or cause pain—stuff like doors closing or loud conversation. So that negative experience actually helps shrink your fears down to size. People with the fear of laughter—not to be confused with gelotophobia, the fear of being laughed at—might hate chuckling or the sound of others’ giggles if they have one of these phobias. Amathophobia is a fear of dust. In fact, it seems like human beings can get scared of almost anything in this world. For those of you who aren’t afraid of shellfish, here’s the perfect diet for your personality type. Aerophobia is the fear of fresh air or the movement of air—such as drafts or breezes. For example, a departure from their cereal-eating breakfast routine may be bothersome. People with arithmophobia have an irrational fear of numbers in general. Or, they may fear that others will view their return as a failure. A recent study from Italy defines its characteristics as feeling “anxious or nervous” at the thought of losing your smartphone, or worrying about losing network coverage or battery power. 5 years ago. A school bus could be deeply uncomfortable for someone with xanthophobia, the fear of the color yellow or the word itself. Those with extreme distrust or fear of reason or ideas have ideophobia. One University of Virginia study found that some children who claim to recall their previous lives suffer “unusual” phobias that they say are related to those past lives—and specifically the way they died. This, of course, makes it very difficult to live comfortably in a city. On the other hand, there are some phobias out there that are pretty strange. In a lot of cases, this fear focuses on a specific type of garment. They might hate running their fingers through their locks, or even be immobilized by a clump of hair on the floor. A study published in a 2018 issue of the journal Social Science & Medicine states that children who return home may alter a parent’s quality of life. For example, the Mayo Clinic notes that lack of sleep increases your risk of developing colds. Ablutophobia is one of those phobias that can stem from a traumatic past event, and can lead to social isolation. While thoughts of sea creatures lurking below the waves plays into this phobia, it’s often rooted in a fear of the unknown, writes Seán Harrington in the book Beasts of the Deep. Another fearful feeling may involve meeting friends at a different coffee shop instead of the usual corner cafe. 6. Blowing or fanning air on a person with rabies can trigger muscle spasms and an “intense startling reaction,” shows one 2008 study. “Sometimes negative things happen, and it can actually make therapy more effective,” Wolitzky-Taylor says. The phobia typically results in a rapid onset of fear and is present for more than six months. Taphophobia is the fear of being buried alive. People with the fear of belly buttons try to avoid touching their own, even in the bath, and might cover their belly buttons with a bandage or avoid going to places full of exposed navels, like the beach. Quite literally, we can be afraid of just about anything. A phobia (disease or medical condition) is an irrational, persistent fear of … Unfortunately, people with this phobia are fighting a losing battle: the fear of acquiring a phobia. “A phobia consists of a persistent fear or avoidance of a specific stimulus,” says Kate Wolitzky-Taylor, PhD, an associate faculty member with the Anxiety and Depression Research Center at UCLA. A phobia is defined as “an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something.” Some phobias, like arachnophobia, are pretty rational because let’s face it: spiders are terrifying. Although the list of weird phobias may sound hilarious to us, people affected by these strange phobias experience elevated level of stress and will have a strange-seeming fear of the object, place, situation, or experience. 29 Weird Phobias That Really Do Exist. Having some experience with amnesia, or knowing someone who has endured amnesia, can trigger this fear, according to one 2012 study from Germany. 1. Science is of the belief that this weird phobia emanates from movies. The brain remembers this incident and reacts with panic and fear when the person sees hair or someone who has too much of it. On the flip side, levophobia is defined by fear of things to the left side of the body. Why trust us? (Speaking of groups, find out if Covid-19 is giving you agoraphobia, or the fear of large crowds.). Prevention participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. So maybe you get creeped out by snakes or tight spaces—both of which are common, she says. Cibophobia is the fear of food. 1. However, while the fear of flutes may affect some people, for others, it’s calming. (If you think a fear of peanut butter sounds unusual, check out these 7 strange body facts that most people don’t know.). But, there are many interesting phobias that a lot of people don't know of. Yes, this is probably the weirdest of the lot, but some people actually fear the pope! Somniphobia is the fear of “initiating sleep,” or falling asleep. For example, the University of Nevada, Reno, highlights previous research about music’s feel-good power. Here is the list of 21 weird phobias. Cultural and demographic researchers have long understood that nearly every generation of adults harbors mild forms of this phobia—meaning they look at teens as “out of control” or backwards in some way. While you look forward to sinking into a comfy chair after a long day, some people experience the fear of sitting down. Thalassophobia is a fear of the ocean or deep, open water. Doctors come face all kinds of bizarre and weird conditions on a daily basis, but here are 98 phobias that really do exist according to the Nursing Degree … The therapist would point out that these fears aren’t coming to fruition, which would help recondition you to feel less fear. Ranidaphobia is a fear of frogs (not to be confused with bufonophobia, which is a fear of toads). Harvard Medical School experts warn about the dangers of prolonged sitting, stating that “habitual inactivity raises risks for obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, deep-vein thrombosis, and metabolic syndrome.”. This is one of those phobias that can manifest as dread around money itself, the chance of getting rich, or wealthy people. But, more broadly, people with panaphobia have fear stemming from no identifiable cause. “In addition, the fear causes significant distress or somehow impairs the person’s life,” Wolitzky-Taylor says. This is probably because parents became used to independence after their children left. Below are 10 food phobias that can wreak havoc in the lives of their victims. Omphalophobia – The fear of navels. One recent study found that many panophobics are often frightened by darkness or harmless noises. Many people enjoy stargazing on a clear night, but that’s not true for everyone. Your DNA may play a role. Experts think the fear of the number eight it could be rooted in superstition, with octophobics afraid of the inescapable—flip the number on its side and it looks like an infinity sign. While extremely rare, there are at least a few cases of people who are very uneasy around the famous red condiment. While phobias can sometimes severely disrupt daily life, there’s something to be said for not sitting for long periods of time. Some of the phobias people suffer from are brought on by modern life. “Avoidance strengthens anxiety and keeps it going, and that’s a recipe for phobia,” Wolitzky-Taylor says. “Usually the stimulus is a thing or a situation—like bees or heights.” But there’s a second component to phobias. Instead, numerophobia usually pops up as a fear of doing math or dealing with numbers. The term is usually applied to species of plants that recoil or don’t respond well in the presence of these insects. Unlike hypochondriasis, which is a fear of developing a disease, Phobophobia is a self-fulfilling prophecy; the fear of phobias can lead to actually developing a phobia. These people might have experienced abuse there. For example, it’s an uncomfortable feeling for everyone, but some people have phobias, like the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth. Avoiding the thing that scares you can also increase its power over you. It’s likely they probably wouldn’t want to learn more about phobias, but if  you do, check out what your fears say about your personality. This phobia could translate to fear of the symbol for eight, or objects in groups of eight. Certain phobias are more common than others, including ones related to airplanes, elevators, or spiders; other phobias are less so. Those who suffer from weird phobias live with fear that may seem rather strange in the eyes of others. Divisions turn Belgium into Europe's worst virus hot spot. Ombrophobia is the fear of rain. This anxiety can become severe and cause full-blown panic attacks. Meet Braco — The "Healer" Who Makes People Feel Better By Staring At Them. People who have phobia, tend to panic when they are faced with the source of their fear. What are some most bizarre phobias that exist in the world? Phobia is getting terribly scared of particular objects, people or situation without any sensible explanation. Whether their own or other people’s tresses, those with chaetophobia have the fear of hair. Any form of phobia is no fun. But there are several phobias that are so strange that you likely never considered them to be real. close; 01 /11 Strange food-related phobias. Here are the top ten weird phobias you probably didn’t even know existed: 1. For those with bladder-control issues, the fear can stem from concern over having an “accident” in public. When it happens, we usually experience excitement and joy. Symptoms also include “excessive sweating, trouble controlling muscles, dizziness, fainting, elevated heart rate, rapid, and shallow breathing,” when encountering an animal, according to a recent study. Weird Modern-Day Phobias That Really Exist. From the well known symptomatic impacts of agoraphobia and acrophobia, it is well documented how crippling such fears can be. Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. 5 bizarre phobias you might wonder if they really exist We have already discussed 9 strange phobias that you might have not heard of on a different day. Hippopotomonstro - sesquippedaliophobia (which we had to hyphenate to have it fully appear on the screen) is, no joke, a fear of long words—whoever coined the name for this phobia has a sick sense of humor. For people with nomophobia, going without their phone causes extreme anxiety. Taphophobia was such a phenomenon that escapable “safety coffins” were a thing, and corpses were often stored for long periods before burial to ensure they wouldn’t wake up. One 2016 case study tells the story of an 18-year-old woman who had a frightening encounter with a hen when she was a child. Food phobias, on the other hand, are on a different kind of level. These individuals are phobic of developing a phobia, making it a fascinating phobia many people do not know exists. The fear of hair is typically developed due to a bad experience with hair or a hairy person. Almost all people feel afraid at some point, depending on their exposure to certain things or threatening situations. Genuphobia: Fear of Knees Don't look down! Alektorophobia is the fear of chickens or hens. They might think of symmetry as perfection or extreme beauty that they aren’t worthy of being around. Can Only Overweight People Have High Cholesterol? Shocked? Ten Completely Bizarre And Completely Weird Phobias. Exposure therapy is by far the most effective way to deal with a phobia. Zoophobia is the fear of all animals. 4 of 22. Phobias, or the extreme fear of a certain idea, practice, or object, can be paralyzing. Erythrophobia is the fear of blushing. “After being sensitized in childhood by exploding balloons, patients tend to avoid proximity to balloons,” writes the author of one recent BMJ report. A fancy necklace doesn’t usually impress everyone—especially those with the fear of gold. Associated Press. In some cases, this fear can cause people to stay housebound for fear of encountering an animal. They can have an impairment in their ability to function in daily life, including socially or at work. It can be rooted in a broader phobia, like the fear of sticky textures or choking, or it can occur independently. That researcher says these patients often run into trouble when they have kids and encounter balloons at other children’s birthday parties. Those with a phobia might feel chest pain, get numbness in the extremities, or faint when around a woman they consider attractive. For example, a child might have an intense fear of water that she attributes to drowning in her past life. This list of phobias proves that practically anything can be terrifying to someone. (The same term also applies to a category of more specific animal fears, such as a fear of dogs or snakes.) 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