The 15 strangest phobias in existence

A review of some of the strangest known phobias.

There are many rare phobias that some people suffer from. A phobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by an irrational fear of a stimulus (a situation, an object (a situation, an object, a place, an insect, etc.).

The person suffering from a phobia does everything possible to avoid the stimulus that causes discomfort, and this avoidance behavior can interfere with the normal functioning of daily life. From fear of clowns to fear of the number 13, there are many strange and inexplicable phobias.

Get to know the strangest phobias in existence

Here is a list of the 15 strangest phobias that exist. 15 rarest phobias that existAlthough it is possible that there are other phobias that have not yet been typified and that may have a smaller incidence in the population.

1. Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia: fear of the number 666

Those who suffer from hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia have an irrational fear of the number 666. irrational fear of the number 666 and avoid things related to this number, such as a building in which the number is clearly displayed, a license plate of a vehicle or a public transport with that numbering. The origin of this phobia is linked to Satan or the Antichrist, therefore it is more frequently suffered by people who have been raised in Christian families.

2. Xanthophobia: fear of the color yellow

Among the rarest phobias, xanthophobia is an irrational fear of the color yellow. irrational fear of the color yellow. Anything containing yellow produces great anxiety in people suffering from this type of phobia. The sun, yellow paint or even the word 'yellow', generate anxiety symptoms in the xanthophobic.

3. Turophobia: fear of cheese

People suffering from turophobia cannot see or smell a simple piece of cheese.. Whether it is mozzarella, cheddar or Roquefort, cheese gives them a feeling of intense discomfort. This is due to a traumatic experience suffered previously, usually in childhood. Undoubtedly, it is one of the rarest phobias known.

4. Crematophobia or Chrometophobia: fear of money

This is one of the most striking rare phobias. Crematophobia or Chrometophobia is the irrational fear of money. For these people it is very difficult to go to the supermarket or to buy a bus ticket. Some crematophobics are afraid of the corrupting power of money and others may have suffered a trauma caused by money. Do not confuse the fear that some people feel for touching bills or coins that other people have touched, since in this case it would be a fear of germs (misophobia or germiphobia).

5. Somniphobia: fear of sleeping

This phobia provokes a irrational and excessive fear of the act of sleeping.. People who suffer it feel panic because they think that while they are sleeping something terrible is going to happen to them, for example, that they will stop breathing and die. The cause may also be the fear of having nightmares due to having suffered them repeatedly in the past. Obviously, this phobia is linked to insomnia.

6. Coulrophobia: fear of clowns

The image of a clown produces panic, fear and anguish to the person suffering from coulrophobia. to the person suffering from coulrophobia. Although it is common that this phobia is perceived as something funny by people who do not have this fear, the subject who experiences clown phobia or coulrophobia can trigger significant anxiety attacks.

To read more about coulrophobia you can visit our article:

• Article to deepen: "Coulrophobia (fear of clowns): causes, symptoms and treatment".

7. Ombrophobia: fear of rain

Like most of the rarer phobias we have described, this phobia is very little known. People suffering from ombrophobia have an uncontrollable fear of getting wet with rainwater.. These people can become extremely obsessive about not getting wet, which leads them to idolize objects used to protect themselves from water, such as umbrellas, raincoats or awnings.

8. Hypopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia: fear of long words.

It refers to the irrational fear to the pronunciation of long and complicated words.Therefore, the person who suffers from this phobia will avoid mentioning this type of terms. Many times, this phobia is accompanied by social shyness and fear of being ridiculed. Due to the complexity of the word that is used to denominate this phobia, at the moment the words sesquipedaliophobia or largsofobia are used.

9. Omphalophobia: fear of navels.

This phobia refers to the fear of fear of seeing or touching one's own navel or the navel of others.. These people have serious conflicts when bathing because they cannot look at their navel or touch it. The physiological symptoms that are presented range from irritability, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, feeling of fury together with anger, as well as a feeling of total helplessness. Undoubtedly, one of the rarest phobias.

10. Hilophobia: fear of trees

It refers to the fear of bushes, trees and forests.. It usually develops in young children, as it is linked to the fear presented in movies about enchanted forests, where witches or evil monsters can be found.

11. Triscaidecaphobia: fear of the number 13

Triscaidecaphobia is the irrational fear of the number 13. irrational fear of the number 13. Sufferers of this anxiety disorder avoid any object or thing containing the number 13. On the other hand, Friday the 13th phobia is called parascevedecatriaphobia.

12. Papaphobia: fear of the Pope

Papaphobia is the fear or fear of the Pope (the Holy Father of the Vatican, head of the Catholic Church) or everything related to him. Some experts think that it is part of the phobia of the sacred or of saints. In any case, it is enough to stay away from the Holy See in order not to reach worrying levels of anxiety.

13. Uranophobia: fear of the sky

People suffering from uranophobia feel fear of heaven and the life after death.. It can develop in believers who think that they will be judged at death. This is one of the rarest and most complex phobias to treat, since it is not possible to do a habituation therapy.

14. Pogonophobia: fear of beards

This phobia was discovered in 1851, and refers to the irrational fear that many people irrational fear that many people feel towards beards.especially the longest and most bushy ones. Although beards do not pose a health hazard to people, pogonophobes feel fear and Nausea when they see someone with facial hair.

15. Trypophobia: fear of holes

Sufferers of this phobia manifest genuine panic, nausea and cold sweats when they see small holes close together or things containing holes.. For example, a honeycomb or holes in a brick.

Bibliographical references:

• André, C. (2006). Psychology of fear. Fears, anxieties and phobias. Barcelona. Editorial Kairós.
• Bourne, E. J. (2005). The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook, 4th ed. New Harbinger Publications.