Ablutophobia – Fear Of Washing Ablutophobia is the bizarre fear of washing. “Blushing can become a stubborn and incapacitating symptom that often severely restricts the patient’s social life,” say the authors of a study in Psychosomatic Medicine. 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. The brain remembers this incident and reacts with panic and fear when the person sees hair or someone who has too much of it. For some people, a fear of numbers goes beyond frustrations over solving equations and understanding geometry. These people might have experienced abuse there. Getty Images. Another fearful feeling may involve meeting friends at a different coffee shop instead of the usual corner cafe. Chaetophobia – The fear of hair. But fear isn’t the same thing as a true phobia. 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. Some common phobias that exist are arachnophobia, claustrophobia, etc. 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. 10 weird phobias that actually exist! What are some most bizarre phobias that exist in the world? (Although with all the recent hand-wringing about technology, maybe they should.) Believe it or not, Oprah Winfrey has this phobia, and she really didn't enjoy one of her birthdays because of it. There’s a good amount of research on people who believe in reincarnation, and who claim they remember details from their past lives. So let’s say you’re afraid of dogs. Neophobiacs feel anxious about new life experiences. In fact, it seems like human beings can get scared of almost anything in this world. Almost all people feel afraid at some point, depending on their exposure to certain things or threatening situations. 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. Shocked? Below are 10 food phobias that can wreak havoc in the lives of their victims. 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. 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. It’s also sometimes called “sesquipedalophobia.”. People who have phobia, tend to panic when they are faced with the source of their fear. We thought of adding some more phobias to it and finally ended up with the following 5 bizarre phobias. When it happens, we usually experience excitement and joy. ", We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth, 7 strange body facts that most people don’t know. Some experts are also looking at swarm-based fears in order to predict how people may react negatively in the future if they’re surrounded by large numbers of robots. 4 of 22. Like have you ever heard of anatidaephobia- the fear of ducks? A fancy necklace doesn’t usually impress everyone—especially those with the fear of gold. 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. So lets kick of our list of 10 weird phobias that actually exist. Myrmecophobia is a fear of ants. For example, the Mayo Clinic notes that lack of sleep increases your risk of developing colds. Alektorophobia is the fear of chickens or hens. March 20, 2015, 9:03 p.m. Did you know once can be scared of belly buttons? “In addition, the fear causes significant distress or somehow impairs the person’s life,” Wolitzky-Taylor says. For such people, focusing on its health benefits probably won’t help; a compound in garlic may have powerful anti-inflammatory effects, according to a study in a 2015 issue of the Journal of Immunology Research. 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. It’s usually used in the context of patients with dyslexia, who may struggle with unusually long words. Combining two not uncommon anxieties—the fear of death and the taboo on cannibalism—kinemortohobiacs have a phobia of the fictional creatures that are generally found only in horror movies (or nightmares). While most people would prefer to succeed at something rather than fail, people with kakorrhaphiophobia have a sometimes incapacitating fear of failure. And while that sounds a little ridiculous at first, one case study found this fear developed when a patient experienced painful muscle spasms after eating or swallowing. Omphalophobia – The fear of navels. One case study detailed a military veteran who experience extreme anxiety whenever he needed to wear part of his uniform. Taphophobia is the fear of being buried alive. People with the fear of freedom generally can’t do anything without taking an order from someone else, making them much more inclined to be followers than leaders. By Markham Heid. Euphobia. It can be rooted in a broader phobia, like the fear of sticky textures or choking, or it can occur independently. 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. Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. “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. This phobia could translate to fear of the symbol for eight, or objects in groups of eight. They might hate running their fingers through their locks, or even be immobilized by a clump of hair on the floor. While some phobias look normal, some phobias are so weird that we can’t even that they exist. There’s some evidence that numerophobic doctors may ignore new evidence-based best practices because of their aversion to numbers and statistics. 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. Those who suffer from weird phobias live with fear that may seem rather strange in the eyes of others. Here’s What Sugar Really Does to Your Brain, 30 Celebrities Talk About Mental Health Struggles, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. #10. This anxiety can become severe and cause full-blown panic attacks. Even worse, a lack of adequate sleep on a long-term basis is associated with a greater risk of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. While you look forward to sinking into a comfy chair after a long day, some people experience the fear of sitting down. (The same term also applies to a category of more specific animal fears, such as a fear of dogs or snakes.) 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. A school bus could be deeply uncomfortable for someone with xanthophobia, the fear of the color yellow or the word itself. Avoiding the thing that scares you can also increase its power over you. 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. This list of phobias proves that practically anything can be terrifying to someone. Coulrophobia is a relatively common phobia, and usually present in children according to various surveys. Specifically, they note that “…stringed-instruments, drums, and flutes are very effective at relaxing the mind even when played moderately loud.”. For example, the University of Nevada, Reno, highlights previous research about music’s feel-good power. Vestiphobia is the fear of clothing. With a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder, some people can’t stand to have objects at the right side of their body, which could make it hard to drive in the fast lane with vehicles to the right. People with phobias, on the other hand, have a marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation that can lead to clinically significant distress. 5 years ago. 1. So that negative experience actually helps shrink your fears down to size. For example, a departure from their cereal-eating breakfast routine may be bothersome. For people with nomophobia, going without their phone causes extreme anxiety. 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. (If you think a fear of peanut butter sounds unusual, check out these 7 strange body facts that most people don’t know.). In some cases, this fear can cause people to stay housebound for fear of encountering an animal. Food phobias, on the other hand, are on a different kind of level. Therefore, when children enter the picture again, it can upset the dynamic. Blowing or fanning air on a person with rabies can trigger muscle spasms and an “intense startling reaction,” shows one 2008 study. 1. Why trust us? The 3 Supplements You Don't Know About (But Probably Need). Zoophobia is the fear of all animals. what your fears say about your personality. Phobia is getting terribly scared of particular objects, people or situation without any sensible explanation. “The deep sea offers us an oppressive and foreboding context—a space unexplored, unknowable and overwhelming,” he writes. 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. 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. 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. With twisted irony, sesquipedalophobia is the morbid fear of long words. Any form of phobia is no fun. Keep reading to learn about the weirdest phobias out there. There are so many types of phobias — many of which are common such as fear of heights, fear of dirt, fear of public speaking and so on. But, there are many interesting phobias that a lot of people don't know of. Certain phobias are more common than others, including ones related to airplanes, elevators, or spiders; other phobias are less so. Frigophobia is the fear of being cold. The people suffering from a phobia tend to avoid certain things or feeling or anything causing fear or known to associate with fear. But, more broadly, people with panaphobia have fear stemming from no identifiable cause. They’d do anything to avoid that which they fear. In the end, every one of us is afraid of something. In a lot of cases, this fear focuses on a specific type of garment. Returns Home by Children and Changes in Parents’ Well-being in Europe. The fear of hair is typically developed due to a bad experience with hair or a hairy person. We recommend our users to update the browser. Divisions turn Belgium into Europe's worst virus hot spot. Erythrophobia is the fear of blushing. So maybe you get creeped out by snakes or tight spaces—both of which are common, she says. It may be especially common within Chinese culture because the Eastern philosophical principles of yin and yang hold that cold exposure is associated with heart ache, stomachache and illness, as well as a loss of vitality. 1 of 26. 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. Some just feel slightly uncomfortable, but others could start to hyperventilate. 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. Meet Braco — The "Healer" Who Makes People Feel Better By Staring At Them. 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! Ephebiphobia is a fear of teenagers or adolescents. Thalassophobia is a fear of the ocean or deep, open water. “After being sensitized in childhood by exploding balloons, patients tend to avoid proximity to balloons,” writes the author of one recent BMJ report. 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. It’s not at all clear how this phobia develops—but it is listed in the Oxford Dictionary of Psychology, so some people have experienced it. Amathophobia is a fear of dust. Ombrophobia is the fear of rain. This phobia is a strange one: it is literally a fear of fear and the internal sensations that come along with it. That researcher says these patients often run into trouble when they have kids and encounter balloons at other children’s birthday parties. This is one phobia that can be particularly disruptive: Somniphobia is the fear of sleep. Sadly, returning home may truly up negativity and family discord. 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. 6. “Usually the stimulus is a thing or a situation—like bees or heights.” But there’s a second component to phobias. Everyone’s afraid of something—or a lot of somethings. Some of the phobias people suffer from are brought on by modern life. For adults with more severe forms, spending time with teens can help dispel these fears. 21 Weird Phobias You Won't Believe Exist. Phobias are much more than just being afraid of something. Unfortunately for people with this phobia—and for anyone who feels a little embarrassed about blushing—trying to suppress a blush usually makes it worse, the study authors say. “The basic idea is to disconfirm a person’s belief about what will happen.”. People with arithmophobia have an irrational fear of numbers in general. 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. Aerophobia is the fear of fresh air or the movement of air—such as drafts or breezes. Ergophobia is the fear of work. A phobia (disease or medical condition) is an irrational, persistent fear of … Ten Completely Bizarre And Completely Weird Phobias. Weird Modern-Day Phobias That Really Exist. They can have an impairment in their ability to function in daily life, including socially or at work. While phobias can sometimes severely disrupt daily life, there’s something to be said for not sitting for long periods of time. Eisoptrophobia is the fear of mirrors or, more specifically, of seeing your own reflection in a mirror. If you’re not anxious around money, then be sure to learn these money tips from the world’s most successful people. The phobia may be related to the fear of saints or holy men. Your DNA may play a role. Wikipedia defines phobia as a type of anxiety disorder, supported by a persistent fear of an object or situation. Unsurprisingly, a fear of frogs can cause people to avoid hiking in nature or visiting natural history museums. While extremely rare, there are at least a few cases of people who are very uneasy around the famous red condiment. Zelophobia – Fear of jealousy If you hate going to bed or have fear of bathing then you might suffer from some sort of phobias. Instead, numerophobia usually pops up as a fear of doing math or dealing with numbers. Barophobia, or the fear of gravity, can manifest itself in a few different ways. Here are some other interesting phobias! Quite literally, we can be afraid of just about anything. Where do these phobias come from? People with these phobias may be more likely to have some kind of formal weather-related education, which saddles them with “a greater understanding of the potential dangers associated with severe weather,” according to the authors of one recent study. Garlic bread could cause a panic attack for someone with an extraordinary fear of garlic. Cibophobia is the fear of food. It falls into a category researchers term “natural environment phobias,” which also includes hurricanes (lilapsophobia), snow (chionophobia), cold (cryophobia), and wind (ancraophobia). 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. 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. Globophobia is the fear of balloons. Science is of the belief that this weird phobia emanates from movies. From the well known symptomatic impacts of agoraphobia and acrophobia, it is well documented how crippling such fears can be. Can Only Overweight People Have High Cholesterol? Yes, this is probably the weirdest of the lot, but some people actually fear the pope! Sleep is associated with many health benefits. Ablutophobia is one of those phobias that can stem from a traumatic past event, and can lead to social isolation. 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 … Deipnophobia – The Fear Of Dining Or Dinner Conversations Aside from gold jewelry, here are some other unusual causes of feeling anxious. 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.”. On the flip side, levophobia is defined by fear of things to the left side of the body. 13 ways your cell phone affects your body and mind. They could have panic attacks with nausea, sweating, or an irregular heartbeat when they see someone else wearing the metal. 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