Top 10 List of Strange Phobias and Fears you Probably Didn't Know About

Top 10 List of Strange Phobias and Fears you Probably Didn't Know About


A phobia, by definition is an intense and often unreasonable fear of something. Let’s face it, we all know of one or the other thing that sends chills down our spines. Some of us jump out of our skins at the sight of a lizard, while for the rest of us, all hell breaks loose at the mention of ghosts. Though these are phobias that are common, there are a host of other weird phobias that may seem irrational to you, but have people struggling to get through each day normally. Here is a list of top 10 strange phobias and fears you probably never thought existed:


1. Somniphobia - The Fear of Falling Asleep

What is the most awaited part of the day for a lot of people is perhaps the most dreadful experience for somniphobes, who fear sleeping. The fear of falling asleep mostly manifests from their association of bed with death. The feeling of powerlessness while experiencing nightmares can also trigger this phobia. You never know; they probably fear that Freddy Krueger is still on the prowl.


2. Bibliophobia - The Fear of Books

The Fear of Books


Books are considered a powerhouse of knowledge, but they don’t enthuse bibliophobics one bit. Bibliophobia is often found in people who can’t read or those who have had traumatic memories associated with books. Heredity and genetics can also play their part in triggering this fear.


3. Turophobia- The Fear of Cheese

The thought of fearing a gourmet delicacy may make a lot of food lovers uneasy but turns out, such crazy phobias do exist. Turophobia is one such phobia that has people fearing cheese as it reminds them of a disturbing memory.


4. Nomophobia - The Fear of Being without Mobile Phone Coverage

Of all the fears on this list, this fear is probably the most common one in this day and age. Nomophobia or the fear of being without mobile coverage is a recently discovered phenomenon and was coined a couple of years ago. The fear extends to running out of battery or not having access to a cell phone.

The Fear of Being without Mobile Phone Coverage



5. Ablutophobia - The Fear of Bathing

God bless those people who are associated with ablutophobics in any way - they have to bear the brunt of some serious body odor. Ablutophobia, or fear of bathing is commonly found in women and children as they express a fear of showering or bathing altogether. This fear can also be linked to a disturbing past incident.


6. Pogonophobia - The Fear of Beards

The term pogonophobia, a word used to describe the irrational and extreme fear of beards has been in use since the 1850s. Pogonophobics experience such an extreme anxiety when they come across an individual with a beard that it can hinder their health and mental wellbeing. Christmas time surely isn't merry for them.


7. Chrometophobia - The Fear of Money

The Fear of Money


As bizarre as it might seem, there are people in the world who fear money. These people are often homeless and live on the streets. Having this unusual phobia is also found in individuals who have less money, and their worry about their inability to manage a livelihood with the few bucks they have makes them turn away from it altogether.


8. Haphephobia - The Fear of Being Touched

Haphephobia is the fear of being touched by another person, often that of the opposite gender. It can arise as a result of sexual assault or a devastating experience, and sometimes, even get triggered without a cause.


9. Anthophobia - The Fear of Flowers

Yet another uncommon phobia, anthophobia is a fear of flowers that are usually considered an epitome of beauty. Anthophobics experience symptoms like panic attacks, trembling and increased heart rate when they see flowers. Like other phobias, even anthophobia can get triggered by a negative experience associated with flowers.

The Fear of Flowers



10. Trypophobia - The Fear of Holes

A relatively common phobia from the list of fears mentioned above, trypophobia, or the fear of objects with small holes is found in people who associate holes with danger. These people are often scared of honeycomb, pomegranates, sponges, lotus seeds, etc. The symptoms of trypophobia include anxiety, nausea, panic attacks and itchiness all over the skin.


Does the thought of this whole list of phobias make you uneasy? Well, you could have what is known as phobophobia - the fear of phobias. If you have some kind of phobia and need assistance with easing its symptoms, you can reach out to some of the top Psychiatrists in Patna for help.

Reviewed By:

Dr. Kaushal M. Bhavsar (MBBS, MD)

Assistant Professor in Pulmonary Medicine, GMERS Medical College, Ahmedabad