Uncommon Phobias

[deecee 2]

Many people have a phobia about something. There are some common phobias, such as a fear of snakes or heights. Others are troubled by uncommon fears.

I am acquainted with someone who is deathly aftraid of pickles. I have my suspicions about why this person has this fear, but I don't know them well enough to explore it with them.

Have you heard of any other uncommon phobias?

[Quirky Jessi 2]

There's actually a whole site for weird phobias:

http://www.unusualphobias.com/Phobias.html

I can't think of anything offhand that I know of personally that I would call strange. People seem to be scared of just about anything, for one reason or another.

[panicstricken 4]

I know a girl who was scared of ketchup. She had a fear of condiments mustard, mayonnaise, and relish. I mean you name it she was scared to touch it, or let it come near her. I thought this was a little strange, but I didn't want to tell her to her face. I don't know if this fear has a name because I tried to Google it, but I couldn't come up with an official name for this phobia. That had to be the strangest phobia I've come in contact with, but the funny thing is her favorite food is pizza. I didn't want to tell her, but the pizza sauce is similar to ketchup.

[magickitty 0]

I don't know if these are "weird" so much as less common than claustrophobia, arachnophobia, and so on, but I personally have tokophobia (fear of pregnancy and childbirth) and I have a phobia about getting blood drawn. I'm not phobic about blood itself... I'm fine if I cut myself, and I'm not phobic about needles either, because regular shots don't bother me. However, I have to lay down when I get my blood drawn, or else I'm out cold as soon as the needle goes in.

[kjscrafts 1]

While I have mostly gotten over it now, as a kid I was totally afraid of ceiling fans. When my parents let me choose the lighting fixtures for my room in our new house when I was 7, I refused to let them put in a ceiling fan despite it being upstairs and probably would make the room more comfortable in the hot summers. It may seem like a weird fear, but I have total rationalization for it. My earliest memory is when I was about 2 and my mom picked me up and moved me out of the way right before the ceiling fan above where I had been playing came crashing down. I do not so much mind being in the same room or even under them nowadays, but I still cannot sleep under one if it is on.

[shaun 6]

My cousin has a strange fear, a fear of clowns - coulrophobia. He thinks the fear stems from when he was a little boy watching Poltergeist. The clown scene struck fear through him and ever since then he has had an irrational aversion to clowns. When he sees a clown he freezes and clams up.

[panicstricken 4]

When I was younger I had a fear of clowns also. It started because I watched Stephen Kings "It." That movie scared me so much, and I didn't trust another clown, after watching that movie. I think most of these mental illiness and phobias stems from tragic past events. The brain tries to protect you by increasing anxiety, and panic to warn you that somethings not right. If you can reverse this phobia and tell the brain that's it's okay, then you won't have as many problems. It's easier said than done.

[Ghost 0]

When I was in elementary, I had a vomit phobia that was my first experience with anxiety. Because I was so young, it completely overwhelmed me. I was always uneasy. I became even more shy, awkward, and withdrawn which made my classmates tease me even more(I was and still am an awkward, gothic nerd no matter how I had tried not to be). I refused to eat anything other than fruit because I was afraid heavy foods would make me vomit. If someone did vomit, I went into a straight up panic attack that would take an hour to calm down from and having lingering high anxiety for the rest of the day. Luckily, I got over it in middle school, but I still don't like vomit and still get uneasy at sight/thought of it. It's just not crippling anymore.

Now, I have a storm phobia that's officially called severe weather phobia. I've gotten better with it like not going into a full out panic, but I still get uneasy and if there's a tornado/hurricane watch/warning, I can't function. I hate that I have this phobia because it's not one I can avoid especially since I live in an area where storms are commo and unlike my vomit phobia, I don't know if I'll get over this one.

[Gilly 1086]

I'm glad your emetophobia (fear of vomitting) has improved Ghost, I have it too, its horrible. Mine had gotten better, times of high anxiety it can come back but I'm struggling a bit with it right now cos I am taking antibiotics and they have upset my stomach a little.

I read you went through Katrina, I can totally understand how that had traumatised you and left you with that fear, perfectly reasonable, I do think it can get better though, don't lose hope.

[pinancassdan 0]

.

[Gilly 1086]

Hi pina, welcome to AC

 

I used to be terrified of the dentist, didn't go for years and years, even though I knew I needed to. What pushed me into going was a very painful abscess, awful pain can be a good motivator. Even still I was absolutely petrified but the dentist was very understanding when I explained my anxiety and fears to her. We talked about what they could do to ease my fears and anxiety, I went to my doctor and explained and she gave me diazepam to take. I had the work done, with my husband by my side to make me feel more comfortable, and knowing I just had to touch the dentists arm and she would stop so I could take a break. I also had a small mask over my nose with laughing gas, which relaxed me so much I didn't need the diazepam, or a break, it felt like it was over so quick. I could have had conscious sedation too, that was the next option if the gas hadn't have calmed me enough to proceed. Now I'm fine going, knowing they understand and are helpful and don't judge me.

 

So many people are scared of the dentist, but I didn't think they would be so helpful and understanding to my fears, I worried for years and for nothing really. You have options to help you get through a visit to the dentist, talk to yours and explain, and don't worry it won't be as horrible as you imagine, they will be more understanding than you think. If you need something to calm you to go, talk to your doctor, they can help and prescribe you something like diazepam, a mild sedative which will make you feel relaxed.

 

I know I am not the only one here with a huge fear of the dentist, a few or our other members do too, and have had work done recently and done fantastic!

[Holz 64]

My best mate is petrified of frogs and wont eat anything orange, and i think i got problems!!??!!

i have a fear of picking up a box of hair dye i will go for the one at the back and shuffle em about on sgelf as i fear they would have been opened or contaminated by someone hahaha. Clowns, wasps and death

[anxiousnellie 12]

On 5/5/2012 at 7:17 PM, magickitty said:

I don't know if these are "weird" so much as less common than claustrophobia, arachnophobia, and so on, but I personally have tokophobia (fear of pregnancy and childbirth) and I have a phobia about getting blood drawn. I'm not phobic about blood itself... I'm fine if I cut myself, and I'm not phobic about needles either, because regular shots don't bother me. However, I have to lay down when I get my blood drawn, or else I'm out cold as soon as the needle goes in.

this is me.....fear of having kids/childbirth

[Shaysummey 0]

You sound alot like me my friend...always searching for the answer ?... I would spend hours googling trying to find answers... Since i was 10 i started having panic attacks...im 29 now going thru a separation.... So i decided. To find myself soul searching.  

always asking myself what is wrong with me why am i broken and all i want to be is normal..lime everone else...i grow up with...what if???  What if this or that could happen... im observate and detailed to the extreme My mind always extreme oveovedrive i have instant flashes of what could happen all the possible scenarios or out come of a situation...i notice every small detail in people and expression a look...etc..all these things u are feeling..about certain things will minic phobia...look for the mask...  U feel this way and think u fear these things but thats not it... because ive been in your shoes finally im understanding now that im asking myself the right questions....

Read ur statement u can hear it...?

Your biggest fear isnt snakes or anything like that...its thr fear of (emotions and wonder of the unknown) 

You are a empath...sweetie thats all.

We are extremely sensitive and worry to stop that emotions we search for answers that caused it..i am a empath and a scorpio...so im darkened find yourself is the key

[kj103 22]

Fear of death and vomiting as a child. 

Fear of death, flying, and public spaces as an adult.  Public spaces has gotten better, but there is still a hint left. 

[Deweyishere 3]

I have a phobia of planes falling from the sky and can't stay out at night for some weirdest reason. It makes me feel paranoid and I also feel my anxiety flares up. I have trouble falling asleep if I am out and hear a plane sound coming from a distance. I always had it. I remember I was 5-6 years old when I felt I had this huge fear and used to have dreams too. I have had therapies to work on my phobias. But I guess they stay with you, only get little bit better. This helped my anxiety a lot:  https://mmjdoctor.com/benefits-of-medical-marijuana-according-to-top-20-experts-in-the-industry/ 

I don't really know what exactly cause us to have weird phobias but I do feel it is related to some weird thoughts, or memories. We recall them and feel scared again. I hope we all overcome them soon because anything that doesn't kill us, makes us stronger! 🙂 

[MARC 429]

I have been on an airplane twice in my lifetime when there was engine trouble. Once we were coming home from Montreal to Baltimore  and the pilot said the plane was having engine trouble so we had to land in Boston and leave the plane. Another time we were going from Baltimore to Los Angeles on a direct non stop flight when the pilot said the plane was overdue for maintenance so we had to land in Chicago and get another flight. 

[Ironman 190]

I have one LOL

When I was in my car and driving, I would make sure that if I saw a 666 on the odometer, that I wouldn't look at it three times.  No joke.

We're talking Maury show pickle-phobia like behavior.  I thought I would go to hell for the 666, 66.6, or 666.6. 

I knew that I had overcome this when I was at work buying lunch and my total was $6.66.  The lunchlady panicked and gave me the meal free.  I said it was only a number lol.

[WarrenWilson 0]

I have one

Fear of height. Don't know how to get rid of it. Any suggestion?

[Doug97 19]

Fear of heights is common. Exposure therapy is the most effective way of curing any phobia. 

I knew a woman who was terrified of balloons. As you can imagine, she did not enjoy birthday parties! 🤣

[itsmeelysemarie 0]

I’m not sure if this counts as an uncommon phobia or not but I’m terrified of public restrooms, especially the auto-flush kind. Part of it is that they go off when you don’t want them to (and quite loudly at times, too).

The other thing is that some of them have flashing lights and, well, how do I know for sure there’s no hidden camera inside? Yikes.

[Ironman 190]

19 hours ago, itsmeelysemarie said:

I’m not sure if this counts as an uncommon phobia or not but I’m terrified of public restrooms, especially the auto-flush kind. Part of it is that they go off when you don’t want them to (and quite loudly at times, too).

The other thing is that some of them have flashing lights and, well, how do I know for sure there’s no hidden camera inside? Yikes.

I have to have potty protection papers or toilet tissue to cover the seat - to prevent "tropical" diseases.  That and the autoflush....creepy!

[itsmeelysemarie 0]

2 hours ago, Ironman said:

I have to have potty protection papers or toilet tissue to cover the seat - to prevent "tropical" diseases.  That and the autoflush....creepy!

That won’t help me cause I’m not a germophobe. I’m just afraid I’m being watched with a spycam more than anything…though the sudden flush doesn’t help either.

[Ironman 190]

3 hours ago, itsmeelysemarie said:

That won’t help me cause I’m not a germophobe. I’m just afraid I’m being watched with a spycam more than anything…though the sudden flush doesn’t help either.

I don't remember seeing a light in the autoflusher.  I would get annoyed if it flushed at the wrong time.