10 Unusual Fears You Might Not Know About

After watching Stephen King's "It," you might develop coulrophobia, an intense fear of clowns, and you're not the only one. Though exact numbers for uncommon phobias like this are unavailable, around 19.2 million U.S. adults struggle with specific phobias [source: National Institute of Mental Health], affecting roughly 9% of those aged 18 and older.

Phobias are extreme, irrational fears classified as anxiety disorders. They fall into three groups: agoraphobia, social phobia, and specific phobias. Agoraphobia involves the fear of being trapped in situations or places with no easy escape, often leading sufferers to avoid open or crowded areas. Social phobias trigger irrational fears of social interactions and being around others.

Specific phobias involve irrational fears of particular objects, places, or situations, such as flying (aviophobia) or public speaking (glossophobia). These are further divided into five distinct categories:

These fears typically emerge during childhood and are believed to stem from traumatic experiences, brain chemistry, and behaviors learned from parents.

Specific phobias can vary widely, from common fears like heights (acrophobia) to unusual ones such as an intense dread of the color purple (porphyrophobia) or beards (pogonophobia). With countless phobias existing—nearly any object or situation can trigger an intense fear—we’ve compiled a list of 10 of the most peculiar ones. First, let’s delve into the irrational fear of paper.

10: Papyrophobia -- Fear of Paper

Did you know you might share something with actress Megan Fox? If you have an irrational fear of paper, you’re not alone—Fox has admitted to fearing dry paper. However, papyrophobia manifests differently for everyone. Some fear touching paper, while others dread torn, wet, or even blank sheets.

Living with a fear of something as ubiquitous as paper can be crippling. Treatment often involves a mix of cognitive behavioral therapy to develop coping mechanisms, gradual desensitization, and, when needed, anti-anxiety medications. An e-reader might also help.

9: Ephebiphobia -- Fear of Youth

While it’s easy to laugh at the grumpy neighbor who shouts at kids to stay off his lawn, ephebiphobia—the fear of teenagers—is a real condition. Originally defined as a fear or dislike of adolescents, this phobia can lead to avoidance, paranoia, exclusion, and even discrimination. Treatment may involve talk therapy to uncover the root cause and develop strategies to manage the fear.

8: Metrophobia -- Fear of Poetry

Do sonnets make you nervous? Do haikus send you running? If even a playful limerick triggers panic and a desire to flee, you might have metrophobia, the fear of poetry.

While the origins of some phobias are unclear, the fear of poetry often ties back to how we’re first introduced to it. Poetry carries a reputation of being academic, elite, and intimidating. The fear of misinterpreting it and appearing foolish can be paralyzing. In reality, poetry is simply a unique form of expression we don’t encounter daily, and its unfamiliarity can make us uneasy. Embracing poetry doesn’t have to be daunting—it doesn’t need to be highbrow. Take, for instance, the tale of the man from Nantucket....

7: Emetophobia -- Fear of Vomiting

Emetophobia is more common than you might think, though it’s rarely discussed. Why? Because most people are reluctant to talk about their fear of vomiting.

Those with emetophobia often dread the thought of being sick, steering clear of situations that might upset their stomach. They might avoid foods made by others or certain types of food and drinks altogether due to fears of food poisoning, which can lead to eating disorders. A heightened focus on cleanliness is common, driven by fears of contamination or bacteria. Women may even avoid pregnancy to escape the nausea linked to morning sickness. Additionally, they might avoid being around or caring for others who are ill.

Since this phobia often stems from a traumatic childhood event, such as feeling out of control or burdensome when sick, addressing emetophobia involves tackling the underlying anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy can teach coping strategies, and medications may be prescribed if panic attacks occur.

6: Somniphobia -- Fear of Sleep

Consistent, quality sleep is vital for both mental and physical well-being. However, many Americans struggle to get enough rest. While adults typically need seven to nine hours of sleep nightly, about 29% report sleeping fewer than seven hours. If you’re feeling exhausted, imagine the fatigue experienced by those with somniphobia, the fear of sleep.

Treating somniphobia follows a similar approach to other phobias: identifying the root cause is essential. Instead of relying on sleeping pills, cognitive behavior therapy—commonly used for anxiety disorders—can help individuals regain control over their sleep patterns and eliminate negative associations with sleep.

5: Geniophobia -- Fear of Chins

While you might have preferences about physical features—like favoring a button nose over a Roman one or disliking sagging skin—there’s a stark difference between preferences and an extreme fear of certain body parts. Geniophobia, the fear of chins, isn’t about dreading a double chin but rather an irrational fear of seeing or touching chins, whether your own or someone else’s. Though it may seem odd, those with phobias understand their fears are irrational. Fortunately, treatments like talk therapy, exposure therapy, and medications can help manage these fears.

4: Chromophobia -- Fear of Color

Phobias can trigger intense dread, shortness of breath, and sweating when encountering specific objects or situations. While some fears, like a fear of thunder or spiders, may not severely disrupt daily life, others, such as chromophobia, can be debilitating. Chromophobia, the fear of color, forces sufferers to make drastic lifestyle changes to avoid their triggers. Imagine navigating a world devoid of color—this is the reality for those with this phobia.

Those with chromophobia may fear all colors or only specific ones. Additionally, there are phobias tied to particular colors, such as xanthophobia (fear of yellow), leukophobia (fear of white), erythrophobia (fear of red and blushing), melanophobia (fear of black), and porphyrophobia (fear of purple).

3: Eisoptrophobia -- Fear of Mirrors

Mirror, mirror on the wall... if you have eisoptrophobia, you likely avoid mirrors altogether. This phobia involves an intense fear of mirrors and reflective surfaces. It might stem from a fear of seeing one’s reflection or from superstitions, like the belief that breaking a mirror brings bad luck. One thing’s certain—narcissists probably don’t struggle with this condition.

2: Ergophobia -- Fear of Work

Many of us have likely fantasized about having this unusual phobia: ergophobia, an irrational and persistent fear of work.

Those with ergophobia experience heightened anxiety about work, whether they’re in the workplace, asked to perform tasks, or confronted with anything related to a typical workday. This phobia can also encompass multiple fears, such as the fear of public speaking (glossophobia), the fear of social interactions (social phobia), and the fear of failure (atychiphobia). Treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy, gradual workplace exposure, and medications can help manage this condition.

1: Phobophobia -- Fear of Fear

If you have phobophobia, you probably didn’t make it this far in our list of strange phobias due to your overwhelming fear of, well, phobias. Phobophobia is the fear of developing a phobia or the fear of fear itself.

Fear is essential for survival—it triggers our fight-or-flight response when we perceive a threat. This is an automatic physiological reaction. However, phobias are anxiety disorders characterized by persistent and exaggerated fear responses. Symptoms can range from sweaty palms and a racing heart to panic attacks and social withdrawal.