Fears can be the most powerful things in the world. Almost every single human being suffers from at least one, in not a multitude. There are the occasional fearless souls out there, but they're in a different realm of reality, where books are written about all their adventures. But for the rest of us hovering in the ether of normality, fears are quite commonplace, and can really affect your day-to-day life.
As anyone with claustrophobia will know, the elevator is never an option, no matter how many floors up you're going. Agoraphobics tend to choose not to leave their homes for weeks, even months on end. It turns out they're not alone. Here are 40 random and in some cases, amusing phobias out there, some of which you may actually encounter!
1. Arithmophobia - Fear of numbers
I think I had this particular problem through the entirety of my childhood.
2. Ephebiphobia - Fear of youths
Now, this is a fear that grows stronger every year! They’re increasing in numbers. I can't hold back a shudder.
3. Selenophobia - Fear of moons
Every werewolf ever has suffered from this ailment.
4. Anuptaphobia - Fear of being single
Well, to be fair, I think most people have this fear for a while. Ages 16 to 30 especially.
5. Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia - Fear of the number 666
Is there a word that means “fear of the word that means fear of the number 666”? Because I think I have that now.
6. Venustraphobia - Fear of beautiful women
There is a good percentage of the male and female population that have this one. It’s also known as “Caligynephobia” and “Gynephobia”.
7. Spectrophobia - Fear of one’s own reflection
Somehow, I feel like everyone can relate to this one. So many mirrors are just so unkind! Not to mention every horror movie ever has that one mirror scene that haunts you forever.
8. Genuphobia - Fear of knees
Here’s another fear I’m pretty sure I have, which may also be the reason why I refuse to own any shorts.
9. Ablutophobia - Fear of bathing
This seems like a perfectly valid fear, but also a major contributor to mass BO (body odor) problems.
10. Allodoxaphobia - Fear of opinions
If you’re an opinionated person, you probably have a lot of friends with this problem!
11. Sesquipedalophobia - Fear of long words
Oh. The cruel irony.
12. Arachibutyrophobia - Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth
I fully understand and appreciate this fear. Why would they create something so delicious yet so sticky!
13. Koumpounophobia – Fear of buttons
Clothes with buttons are strictly to be avoided. It’s time to move on to the age of velcro!
14. Globophobia - Fear of balloons
To be fair, this is everyone’s worst nightmare at birthday parties with small children.
15. Athazagoraphobia - Fear of being forgotten or ignored, and fear of forgetting
The latter is genuine fear, yet a blessing sometimes, I feel. As for the former, I heard a phrase recently that sums it up pretty well: FOMO - Fear Of Missing Out. Missing out on what, you ask? Everything!
16. Taphophobia - Fear of being buried alive
The horror story “The Premature Burial”, by Edgar Allen Poe was about a person with this fear, because it was an extremely common fear in the mid 1800’s.
17. Nomophobia - Fear of not having access to cellphones
This is a fear common to basically every millennial ever.
18. Phagophobia - Fear of swallowing
This is not to be confused with “Dysphagia” which is a fear of swallowing pills!
19. Hylophobia - Fear of trees
This fear actually directly translates to a fear of Forests or woods (both “Hylo” and “Phobia” are derived from Greek words”, and is based on a fear of being attacked in a forest.
20. Trypophobia - Fear of holes
To be more specific, this is actually a fear of cluster of holes forming irregular patterns. It’s an oddly specific phobia.
21. Domatophobia - Fear of houses
This word means both fear of houses and fear of being in houses. I had this for a while after watching the movie Monster House (2006). It is also known as Oikophobia.
22. Megalophobia - Fear of large things
Someone with this fear would never be able to go to Texas. Or enjoy a Jules Verne novel.
23. Euphobia - Fear of hearing or breaking good news
I think this fear may also be accompanied by a heavy fear of bad news.
24. Mythophobia - Fear of Myths or stories or false statements
Anyone suffering from this would be drastically missing out on some incredibly fun stories from Greek Mythology.
25. Uranophobia - Fear of heaven
I can see how going to the land of giant winged and haloed people can be scary. But to be honest, I’m more afraid of not getting in!
26. Dextrophobia - Fear of having objects to your right
Though this word applies to having anything on your right and even the right side of the body, I can appreciate this sentiment most when I’m driving.
27. Geliophobia - Fear of laughter
This fear scares me. Imagine being afraid of laughter. You could never switch on the television again.
28. Chaetophobia - Fear of hair
This seems perfectly rational. It gets everywhere. It clogs up the drain pipes. And it just refuses to stay neat.
29. Octophobia - Fear of the number 8
I don’t even… I mean… What?
30. Kathisophobia - Fear of sitting down
My god. Would you just be standing all day? Or lying down? The second one doesn’t sound half bad.
31. Neophobia - Fear of new things and experiences
I am 100% sure I have this along with 85% of the rest of the world. New things are absolutely terrifying.
32. Aulophobia - Fear of flutes
Why flutes specifically? Do all other woodwind instruments get a pass?
33. Peladophobia - Fear of bald people
This fear is probably a justified reaction to a bad Bruce Willis movie.
34. Somniphobia - Fear of falling asleep
Imagine if your waking nightmare was falling asleep. What would your actual nightmares be?
35. Turophobia - Fear of cheese
I could never live with this fear. How can you be afraid of something so delicious?
36. Gephyrophobia - Fear of Bridges
This is an absolutely legitimate fear. Especially if you combine it with the fear of being pushed off a bridge.
37. Ebulliophobia - Fear of bubbles
Who could be scared of bubbles? I mean. The soap could get in your eyes and burn. But that's the worst case scenario and bubbles are so fun!
38. Balenephobia - Fear of pins and needles
I suppose a strong dislike wouldn’t amount to a fear, but I can still understand and appreciate this one.
39. Barophobia - Fear of gravity
I like to believe that this fear stems from a burning desire to fly or at least float. Or maybe the 2013 Sandra Bullock movie "Gravity" didn’t sit well with someone.
40. Heliophobia - Fear of sunlight
Fun fact for all fantasy-fiction fans out there: All vampires are heliophobics.
