Buzz
Ever thought about the most peculiar phobias people have? We’ve covered this before, but this time we explore even more bizarre fears for you to think about—unless you happen to have phobophobia, the fear of fearing things (or of acquiring a fear).
There’s a wide range of phobias people experience, and some of them are quite strange. What might seem trivial to others can trigger severe anxiety or even panic attacks for those who suffer. Below is a list of the top 10 most peculiar phobias you may have never encountered!
10. Plutophobia
It’s not about fearing the Disney character or the planet (or dwarf planet, depending on who you ask). Plutophobia is the fear of wealth or wealthy individuals. Named after Pluto, the Roman god of wealth, this phobia typically stems from low self-worth or the feeling of not deserving success or money. It can also come from the belief that there will never be enough wealth, leading one to avoid desiring more than what’s already been provided by family or loved ones.
Individuals with this fear often feel inadequate or undeserving when around successful people who earn more money than they do. They tend to believe that wealthier individuals look down on them because of their financial situation. This can create significant discomfort, not only in social interactions with strangers but also when spending time with friends or coworkers.
If left unaddressed, plutophobia can spiral into depression. It makes daily interactions challenging, often leading individuals to withdraw from others, including family and friends. In severe cases, those suffering from plutophobia may develop a strong aversion to wealthy people, believing they are inherently evil or even associating them with sinister figures like the anti-Christ.
9. Globophobia
Have you ever experienced an overwhelming fear of balloons?
Globophobia is the fear of balloons, often triggered by the loud sound they make when popped. Surprisingly common, this phobia can be extremely debilitating. For those affected, simply seeing a balloon being popped or hearing about it can cause panic attacks and other symptoms similar to those of arachnophobia (fear of spiders). Even the sight or smell of a balloon can act as a trigger.
The fear extends beyond balloons to other spherical objects such as balls and bubbles. This phobia affects many individuals, with its intensity varying depending on the severity of the traumatic experiences with balloons during childhood or adulthood. Fortunately, most children outgrow this fear as they reach adulthood.
Globophobia isn’t just a concern for children; adults can also develop these fears, especially when encountering balloons after years of avoiding them. Even the brief appearance of a balloon on TV can trigger a reaction. Now, combine globophobia with coulrophobia—the fear of clowns—and you’ve got the makings of a real horror story. Oh wait, that’s already been done. Thanks, Mr. King, for the jump scares!
8. Linonophobia
A person with linonophobia experiences an intense reaction just from thinking about string, let alone actually seeing it. Those who develop this phobia after traumatic experiences often avoid anything related to string, including activities like knitting or even tying their shoes. Their fear may extend to shopping, as they might avoid stores where they could see drawstrings on clothing displayed in the windows.
This phobia can be triggered by various factors, such as the sight or sound of string. Some individuals may even experience anxiety when they see items that resemble string, such as yarn, thread, or rope. Others only react when they come into direct contact with string itself.
Linonophobia can sometimes arise from negative childhood experiences, such as being restrained as a form of punishment—think of a harsh babysitter or even during summer camp games like the three-legged race or capture the flag. However, some cases have been linked to genetics or family history, so the cause isn’t always clear. I guess Silly String might be off-limits for the party then?
7. Pogonophobia
Individuals with pogonophobia fear beards and may experience anxiety when looking at pictures or interacting with someone who has one. The term pogonophobia comes from the Greek word 'pogon,' which means beard. Those affected may avoid befriending people with beards, associating them with distressing experiences from their past involving bearded individuals.
Some people with pogonophobia may also develop the fear due to an inability to grow a beard themselves. Additionally, they may dislike how beards hide a person's facial features or associate bearded individuals with poor hygiene, dirt, filth, or even homelessness. This fear causes them to avoid people with beards altogether. So, is there also a fear of man-buns?
6. Chaetophobia
Closely related to #7, chaetophobia is the fear of hair. This can extend to one's own hair, the hair of others, or even animal fur. People with chaetophobia may feel terrified of brushing their hair or even touching their own body hair. Forget owning a cat—its fur, along with the threat of hairballs, is enough to send them into a panic. They often avoid situations where other people touch their hair, and getting a haircut can be a challenging ordeal.
This phobia may originate from a traumatic experience involving hair, such as a bad haircut or noticeable hair loss, like going bald. It may also develop from the belief that hair is unhygienic, leading the person to avoid any direct contact with it.
Related phobias include trichophobia and trichopathophobia. Trichophobia is the fear of loose hair, such as strands that have fallen onto clothing or are left in the shower. Trichopathophobia, on the other hand, is the fear of hair-related health issues, like hair turning gray, changing color, or falling out altogether.
5. Vestiphobia
Vestiphobia is an irrational fear of clothing. The word comes from the Latin 'vestis,' meaning garment or covering, and can manifest as a fear of a single piece of clothing or all forms of apparel. This fear might be rooted in a specific fabric, such as cotton or wool, especially if the person has experienced an allergic reaction to it. The anxiety from such reactions may later develop into a phobia.
Another potential trigger for vestiphobia is the fear of tight clothing, which links this phobia to claustrophobia, the fear of confined spaces. When a person feels restricted or unable to move comfortably—such as wearing tight jeans or a too-small coat—this can exacerbate the fear. In its most severe form, this phobia may cause someone to avoid wearing clothes altogether, leading to self-imposed isolation at home. That is, until it’s time for a quick trip to the Quick Mart… in the nude!
4. Optophobia
Optophobia is an overwhelming fear of opening one’s eyes. Those who suffer from this condition may find it extremely difficult to function in daily life, often avoiding opening their eyes for even a brief moment. They might prefer staying indoors or in dimly lit spaces to avoid the discomfort of having to open their eyes.
Optophobic individuals often struggle with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which may develop after experiencing a traumatic event, such as losing a loved one in a car accident. This fear can also be situational—like that feeling when watching a horror movie and feeling compelled to cover your eyes to avoid the terrifying scenes on screen. The very thought of opening their eyes can trigger heart palpitations, vomiting, and panic attacks. So, perhaps it’s best to skip the scary flicks this Halloween!
3. Paraskevidekatriaphobia
Just in time for Halloween, we arrive at the final entry on our list: paraskevidekatriaphobia. This refers to the fear of Friday the 13th. Rooted in an ancient fear of the number thirteen, which can be traced back to ancient Sumeria (though unintentionally), this phobia likely stems from a simple clerical error in Hammurabi's Code, which notably omitted the 13th law. The number thirteen also has ominous connotations in Christianity and Norse mythology, often linked to the story of the 13th guest at a dinner. Additionally, Friday itself holds a dark reputation, associated with a series of unfortunate events in both history and folklore.
It's unclear exactly when the combination of the number 13 and Friday became entwined, but it seems to have gained traction after T.W. Lawson's 1907 book, Friday, the Thirteenth. For many, this fear is tied to a traumatic event that occurred on a previous Friday the 13th, whether personally or to someone they know. When that dreaded date approaches, anxiety levels rise, anticipating something catastrophic like a loved one passing or losing their job. Some sufferers opt to stay home entirely to avoid triggering an awful experience. Fortunately, the next Friday the 13th doesn’t come around until May 2022.
2. Agmenophobia
You walk into a bank, the DMV, or even a fast-food joint, and what do you see? A line. The dilemma is: which one do you choose? For someone with agmenophobia, this simple decision can become a major source of anxiety. Agmenophobia is the fear that the line you stand in will move more slowly than the one next to it, leaving you waiting endlessly. Faced with this choice, some individuals can only cross their fingers, hoping they made the right pick.
The mere thought of picking the wrong line (a dilemma we’ve all faced) can trigger sweating, anxiety, and even panic. While the exact cause of this phobia isn’t clear, it may relate to the fear of wasting precious time standing still in a line that doesn’t seem to move. Or it could stem from the anxiety of not making it to the front of the line first (admit it, you’ve compared your position to the next queue over, right?). People with agmenophobia sometimes cope by having a friend stand in a different line on their behalf.
1. Arithmophobia
While many people simply dislike math class, those suffering from arithmophobia experience a true fear that can severely disrupt their daily lives. This anxiety often leads to intense feelings of distress and unease when confronted with numbers. For some, this fear is all-encompassing, while for others it may be linked to a specific number.
A general fear of numbers can significantly hinder both education and career opportunities. Imagine trying to earn a degree without engaging in any math at all, or working in professions such as accounting, banking, or cashiering where numbers are a daily requirement. For someone with arithmophobia, these careers would be overwhelming and anxiety-inducing.
The fear of specific numbers often emerges from superstition or religious beliefs. Numbers are imbued with meaning in various cultures and faiths worldwide, with many placing importance on numerology. In Western culture, numbers like 13 and 666 are often considered unlucky, while in countries like China, Vietnam, and Japan, the number 4 is feared because it sounds like the word for 'death' in those languages. Just as many Western hotels skip the 13th floor, you may find that booking a room on the fourth floor in Japan is equally impossible.
