Most people share common ground when it comes to fears, such as the fear of heights, death, or the dark. However, there are countless more unusual phobias out there, some that sound too absurd to believe. Regardless, they’re real, just like these 20 weirdest phobias people genuinely have.
Arachibutyrophobia
Believe it or not, some people have a fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of their mouth, confusingly named arachibutyrophobia. People with this phobia might avoid peanut butter altogether; just thinking about peanut butter clinging to their palate can cause significant anxiety and discomfort. While it might sound like nonsense, Verywell Mind points out that the phobia is likely linked to the fear of choking.
Nomophobia
Somewhat more understandable than arachibutyrophobia is nomophobia, a modern fear that involves anxiety related to being without a mobile phone or losing signal. Nomophobia is becoming increasingly common; individuals suffering from this phobia feel panic at the thought of being unable to communicate or access information because they’ve simply become too reliant on it.
Xanthophobia
Strangely, some people have xanthophobia, the fear of the color yellow. Anything yellow, including flowers, paint, lego, or literally anything else, can trigger overwhelming anxiety. Even a glimpse of a yellow object can provoke a strong desire to flee and avoid the color.
Turophobia
Cheese lovers might find it hard to believe, but turophobia is the intense fear of cheese. It doesn’t matter if it’s the smell, texture, or appearance; encountering cheese in any way can cause immense distress to these people. There are even Brits with turophobia despite cheese being everywhere in the UK.
Somniphobia
Most people love getting to their bed, so as you can imagine, the fear of falling asleep, known as somniphobia, can be incredibly disruptive. Individuals with this phobia associate sleep with loss of control or nightmares. Consequently, they often experience severe insomnia, impacting their overall health.
Trypophobia
Although not officially recognized, trypophobia is the fear of clusters of small holes or bumps. Images of honeycombs, sponges, or lotus seed heads evoke intense discomfort and physical symptoms like itching or nausea. This reaction is believed to stem from a primitive instinct to back away from rotting flesh, which often involves clusters of holes.
Ombrophobia
Ombrophobia is the irrational fear of rain. Shockingly, people with this phobia avoid going outside during rainy weather altogether. The sound or sight of rain triggers anxiety and panic attacks, severely limiting daily activities and interactions during wet seasons. It gives a whole new meaning to the criticism, “You’re not made from sugar.”
Coulrophobia
The fear of clowns, or coulrophobia, is a surprisingly common and undeniably peculiar phobia. Clowns’ exaggerated features and unpredictable behavior are terrifying for those affected. Usually, negative childhood experiences with clowns or media portrayals often cause this fear, leading to the avoidance of circuses and events involving clowns.
Globophobia
The fear of balloons, otherwise known as globophobia, is often linked to the fear of them popping. The sudden loud noise causes significant distress, so naturally, people with this phobia avoid parties or events where balloons are present, which has unfortunate impacts on their social lives.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia
As if it’s some kind of sick joke, hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia is the fear of long words. Encountering lengthy words in conversation or text causes anxiety for people with this phobia, and sadly, it affects communication and academic performance as sufferers avoid reading or speaking.
Pogonophobia
Pogonophobia is the fear of beards, where even being around people with facial hair makes those with this phobia uncomfortable or anxious. The texture, appearance, or association with bearded individuals triggers strong reactions, leading to avoidance of certain social situations.
Chorophobia
The fear of dancing, known as chorophobia, prevents individuals from participating in social gatherings and celebrations. People with this phobia feel self-conscious or fear ridicule. The thought of dancing causes significant anxiety, something many of us can relate to, but not quite to the extent of fear.
Ablutophobia
Another weird phobia people actually have is ablutophobia, which is the fear of bathing, washing, or cleaning. As you can imagine, this phobia leads to severe hygiene issues and social stigma. The thought of water or the act of cleaning causes intense anxiety, making it challenging to maintain personal cleanliness and health.
Phagophobia
One of the most dangerous phobias on this list is the fear of swallowing, or phagophobia, which severely impacts eating habits and overall health. Individuals with this phobia fear choking or experiencing pain while swallowing. This anxiety leads to the avoidance of solid foods entirely and a preference for liquids or pureed meals, which just aren’t healthy.
Geniophobia
You might laugh about it, but the fear of chins, known as geniophobia, is actually very real. People with this phobia feel intense discomfort or anxiety when looking at chins, making it difficult to engage in face-to-face communication because everyone has one.
Ephebiphobia
Strangely, ephebiphobia is the fear of teenagers. Negative experiences or stereotypes about adolescent behavior cause this phobia, with sufferers avoiding places where teenagers gather, impacting their ability to enter many public settings.
Allodoxaphobia
The fear of opinions, known as allodoxaphobia, makes social interactions challenging for victims. People with this phobia fear judgment or disagreement, paralyzing them from speaking their minds. They’ll completely avoid discussions, debates, or any situation where opinions are exchanged, choosing to maintain perfect neutrality in their lives.
Koumpounophobia
One of the most common, albeit unusual, phobias on this list is the fear of buttons or koumpounophobia. The texture, appearance, or even the sound of buttons causes significant distress to these people, limiting their clothing choices in a seriously debilitating way.
Selenophobia
Selenophobia is the fear of the moon; people with this phobia feel anxious or fearful when seeing the moon or even thinking about it. This fear affects nighttime activities and outdoor events, as the presence of the moon triggers intense anxiety, yet it continues to follow them wherever they go.
Optophobia
Finally, the fear of opening one’s eyes, known as optophobia, is understandably terrible to experience. Individuals with this phobia avoid any situation where they must open their eyes, completely limiting their daily activities and isolating them from the world. Understandably, even the simplest tasks become overwhelming when you have optophobia.