Bizarre Phobias

Tom wrote to ask about the reality of a site called The Phobia Clinic. At first glance, the site definitely looks like it represents a real business that's selling a program to help people overcome their fears. The strangeness comes when you dig into some of the fears that they claim they can cure, and you have to wonder... do such fears or anxieties really exist? For example, they can cure you of Arachibutyrophobia (that's a fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth), Ballistophobia (a fear of bullets... but why would anyone want to overcome their fear of bullets? Isn't that a good thing to be afraid of?), Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (fear of long words... the name of the anxiety alone probably sends sufferers into convulsions), and the list goes on and on. Despite all the weird anxieties, I think that the Phobia Clinic is real enough, in the sense that they'll take your money and offer some kind of 'cure.' But I'm skeptical about whether their cure actually works.

Psychology

Posted on Fri Nov 21, 2003



Comments

There's a woman in my office that has a phobia of cardboard. Why is that and what is the proper term for that?
Posted by Jacqueline  on  Tue Aug 28, 2007  at  09:39 AM
Oh dear... I knew googling my napkin phobia would turn up *something*. I've been terrified of wet/crumpled napkins for as long as I can remember. If you wet a napkin and put it near me, I WILL scream, even in a restaurant. I can't stand to see people crumple up their napkins and throw them in their empty food boxes/drink containers; it makes me physically ill. I also hate when people use wet toilet paper to clean stuff... Like cuts. When I was little the grown-ups always used to clean my cut knees with wet toilet paper and it used to stick in the cut!! Or leave rolled up specks of toilet paper all over me!!!
Posted by Meghan  on  Wed Aug 29, 2007  at  04:31 PM
I have a phobia i think thats what you would call it of my hands drying whehn i get out of the bath or shower or even when i have just washed them, i am unable to touch anything when i get out of the bath until i have plastered my hands in cream the thought of it makes me cringe!!! there is only one other person i know who has this and its my cousin! is this classed as a phobia?? Also we can not stand certain things on our hands susch as powder, chalk, dust dried clay or mud! HELP!!!!
Posted by Serena  on  Thu Aug 30, 2007  at  05:39 AM
Wow, someone feels the same as me. I absolutely HATE napkins. Touching them makes me shiver. And when you rub a nakins against itself. (I literally just got the goosebumps).
Posted by Gil Semple  on  Thu Aug 30, 2007  at  04:19 PM
i have a fear of oompa loompas. now i dont have a fear of midgets or little people but even the song from the movie can put me on edge. i sweat when i hear about them or hear the song. what is this fear called?
Posted by mathias  on  Sun Sep 02, 2007  at  06:42 PM
Hi i can not stand the touch of carpets jeans or wool clothing, i also can not stand touching most things after i have washed my hands, it actually puts me off washing them, i also can not bear to go to sleep with out vaseline on my feet or cream because of the feeling of the bed sheets on my feet, so dry it awfulalso walking on carpets especially cord carpets, urgggh helllp
Posted by leanne  on  Sun Sep 16, 2007  at  12:57 PM
i have the fear of something touching or peircing the middle of my hands. weird, right? i hate it. if someone even holds out their hand and pokes their own palm i freak out. it's really uncomfortable for me.
Posted by lily  on  Thu Sep 27, 2007  at  11:04 PM
I have a fear of touching paper when my hands are wet oreven a little damp... does anyone know what this is called? I really wanna know. I've looked just about everywhere there is to look and found nothing.
Posted by Sano  on  Mon Oct 01, 2007  at  06:57 PM
So I've been searching for this phobia and I can't find it anywhere. I have this fear of losing my fingernails. Even as I'm typing this I keep pressing my fingertips together as if to keep them in place. Nails on a chalkboard, digging into something with my nails or watching someone do it, scary movies with threats and removal of nails...you name it. freaks.me.out!!! Anyone feel the same or know the name?
Posted by Jerrold  on  Fri Oct 05, 2007  at  01:30 AM
MY name is Emily and my whole life I have had a fear of Fingernails and Toenails. Everytime something is wrong with nails I freak out and shivver up and go crazy. All my friends fell so bad for me cause almost everywhere i go somebody is biting their nails, or doing somehting abd to them.
I've looked the internet to see what the name is called but I can't find it.
I would really love it if you could help me.
I want to overcome this fear but I just can't. =[
Posted by Emily Smith  on  Sun Oct 07, 2007  at  04:30 PM
i am afraid of things that are sticky. it is a recent development. i was always a little bothered by it, but i can remember a period of giving in to the fear. hearing about wet paper, styrofoam, dry skin...these things sound creepy too. i can empathize. here is what i think. i think that it is secretly and morbidly fun and fascinating to have these fears. i think that in my case, i gave in to mine. i could give into more as well. i want to understand if other people think the same way. i believe that there are probably some people who are truly helpless to their fears, but some of us....i think i am not the only one who can choose.
Posted by jim  on  Wed Oct 10, 2007  at  08:24 AM
I have the biggest fear of memory foam. Like tempurpedic matresses make me want to cry and throw up. It's something about the way they smell and how its the exact concept of quicksand. Does anyone else feel this way about the stuff?
Posted by Jenny  on  Thu Oct 11, 2007  at  06:44 PM
i get made fun of all the time becasue i have a big phobia of cotton balls people chase me around with them I HATE IT
Posted by kendra  on  Fri Oct 12, 2007  at  11:55 AM
Thank you Emily! So I'm alone on this. I'm not as sensitive about the nailbiting, but it does make me nervous and cautious. I keep looking a definition and I've spoken with a therapist about our fear and she was unfamiliar with it too. She's going to look into it and hopefully we'll have a better understanding of it :/
Posted by Jerrold  on  Sun Oct 14, 2007  at  02:38 AM
Wooden items, the feel of them is AWFUL, makes me cringe espically wood spoons and if they are wet, GROSS!!!! When a doctor tries to put that yukky wood tong in my mouth, watch out it's THROW UP time. I even passed this phobia down to my oldest son even!!!
Posted by Jill  on  Sat Oct 20, 2007  at  10:53 AM
Ok so i have ocd and theres many many things that i have to do and cant touch.
Styrofoam is one of them.I find it very discusting.
Getting my hands wet.
If i wash my hands or get them wet (both of them have to be)i cant touch anything else until i dry them.
If i do one thing to on of my hands i have to do the same with the other or the rest of my bodie.
Say i step on a rock with my left foot, i must do the same with my right.
I freak out when i step in water but mainly when im wearing sox.I immediately take them off my feet.
Most soft material bothers me.Like the roofing on the inside of a car bothers me just like the carpet.
Deep water and dark empty spaces freak me out.
i just cant be near it.
Im very scarred of hospitals,growing old and oddly twins.
Ive have to shower 2-4 times a day or i start scratching my skin because it feels dirty and diseased.
I must keep everything in my room or house in a perfect order and when i go out to the store or something im always fixing stuff and putting them in a straight line.
I cant stand paper and when it rubes up against another piece.
The last thing is open drawers or doors.
I find myself often closing them if i see them open.
Posted by Breanna  on  Sun Oct 21, 2007  at  05:40 PM
i totally have an irrational fear of chalk as well! i have NO idea how it started, but it is ridiculous! (it is possible that "nails on a chalkboard" had something to do with it...) in order to not embarrass myself in front of my whole class, i have to tell my teacher that i'm allergic to it, so i won't be stuck having a panic attack at the front of the class o_o i REALLY wish i knew what this type of phobia is called, however...SOMEONE enlighten me, please!
Posted by Melissa  on  Mon Oct 29, 2007  at  08:53 PM
I have a phobia of chalk too! The thought of it never getting off of me doesn't cross my mind or eating it like many others do but i am scared of the feel of it! The texture and the sound it makes on the chalk board is enough to get me cringing about it for the rest of the day. The worst part is i work with children so when ever they have chalks out i have to leave the room or look away and cover my ears!
Posted by Dawn  on  Mon Nov 05, 2007  at  03:21 PM
I work in a restaurant, and a part of my job, is I have to roll silverware in napkins. I can't do it. I am absolutely repulsed when I touch napkins, chalk, cottonballs, or even if someone rubs a dry napkin on my skin. I get goosebumps!! Of course everyone makes fun of me, and chases me with said objects. But I think this "phobia" started with corduroy and velvet clothing when I was little. Is this called something? I know I'm not crazy...I've googled myself out, and this site was the best I could come up with.
Posted by Summer  on  Wed Nov 07, 2007  at  01:02 PM
I too have a fear of chalkboards, i have for years. I'm not sure what caused it. Just recently my teacher (eeeekk) scratched one and i had nightmares for several weeks, even when i took naps. It's gotten to the point where if a professor takes notes on a blackboard i usually have to leave the room. just the thought them makes me cringe.. the smell, the texture, and all of the terrible things you can do to them. I experience similar reactions like digging my nails into something soft or grinding my teeth. to a lesser extent i'm bothered by scratching or rubbing cardboard/paper... and the metal tabs/spouts on the top of a morton salt shakers that made that terrible shreik when you open them.. crazy? maybe. Alone? not anymore... lol.. thanks for listening.
Posted by Lauren  on  Wed Nov 07, 2007  at  11:13 PM
OMG I thought I was the only one that was afraid of styrofoam. Cardboard boxes, dry paper like phone books or papertowels ughhhhhhh....they make my skin crawl. I get goose bumps and my muscles tense up. It is terrible. I thought I was crazy!
Posted by Lynne-Marie  on  Wed Nov 14, 2007  at  03:27 PM
A colleague of mine has a phobia of those boxes that McDonalds use to hold the drinks, and old type egg boxes too. He also has a slightly less reaction to tinsle. But the moulded cardboard box phobia makes him quite violent. Any ideas??
Posted by Kevin  on  Thu Nov 15, 2007  at  08:46 AM
I would like to admit, to the general public that I am extremly afraid of air. My life is just a struggle against life itself. I can't get to sleep as i realise i might breathe the air, im so scared, and im all alone..
please help me, can't breathe...
Posted by Fred  on  Tue Nov 20, 2007  at  05:11 AM
:lol: is there a name for my phobia of people licking food off their fingers or of people eating fat off food? it makes me really nauseus and i wanted to know if other people have this problem too.
Posted by Nia Brown  on  Thu Nov 29, 2007  at  04:02 PM
cannn someone please tell me what the fear of aluminum foil is?
Posted by April  on  Mon Dec 10, 2007  at  06:05 PM
i have a very bad case of iophobia (fear of rust). I just cant stand the smell of it. this and brass. ugh.. it makes me vomit. i also cant stand that feeling you get when you bite metal and the taste of it. i have panic attacks often and my vison becomes distorted. Also... the way the rust peels off its just... disgusting....
Posted by Allen  on  Mon Dec 17, 2007  at  04:09 PM
I have a fear of my feet touching the floor. like its ok when i walk, but if im standing still or sitting down its terrible. i always get in trouble in school beacause my feet are up on the chair or my knees are against the desk. but i can stand it. i mean i dont have bad panic attacks just a compulsive urge to put my feet up. its almost unberable. especily beacause i play the saxophone.
Posted by Erin  on  Tue Dec 25, 2007  at  04:53 PM
I AM TERRIFIED OF MIDGETS.

KHUZDOPHOBIA ITS CALLED?

I CRY AT THE SITE OF THEM...HAVE PANIC ATTACKS AND THEN USUALLY PASS OUT.

NO IDEA HOW THIS FEAR CAME TO BE BUT I WANT TO BE A NURSE SOMEDAY SO HOWS WILL I TREAT MIDGETS?
Posted by Marilise B  on  Wed Jan 02, 2008  at  08:41 PM
i have a phobia of abnormaly huge things and i was cursed with a 9 inch slong so now every time i pull down my pants i start freakin out wat do i do
Posted by alex ferguson  on  Mon Jan 07, 2008  at  12:26 PM
Hi there!

My mum's asked me to look on the net for the technical term for a fear of whistling. She has it really bad and thinks it brings bad luck.

Can anyone help because for the first time, Google can't!
Thanks

Amy :o)
Posted by Amy  on  Sat Jan 12, 2008  at  07:48 AM
I have a fear of bending over!
I've looked on the internet to see what it's called and I can't find anything about it!
But I'm afraid that everything inside of me is going to fall out of my mouth!!
It's the strangest thing ever!!!
I abolutely will REFUSE to bed down at all, and if I must bend down, I will bend straight down with my knees instead of leaning over.
If anyone else has this fear and/or knows what it's called please share!!!!
Posted by Gypsi  on  Thu Jan 31, 2008  at  12:15 PM
I'm so glad I'm not the only one with a fear of little people, I don't want to be, and the strange thing is I know where mine came from. It started with nightmares after watching Willy Wonka, the original oompa loompas were just freaky. The second was actually someone showing me midget porn, I know how strange that is but it freaked me out so totally that I can't even look at them now.

It makes me feel like a horrible person, I am so against racism, sexism, ageism... or any other ism that it makes no sense that I would have a fear of something people can't control...

If there are any little people reading this I am soooo sorry.
Posted by Bosheme  on  Fri Feb 22, 2008  at  05:38 PM
I forgot, but on the original topic. The usual course of action is to face your fear until it is no longer a fear. Usually in gradual steps, so for example if you are afraid of flying your first step might be looking at planes until you no longer feel uncomfortable. Then you might go out to a private airport and look at a real plane. Eventually sitting inside of it, and then actually flying.

It's facing the fear in small doses until you overcome it. My guess is this clinic would just walk you through these steps... You could save a lot of money just going through it on your own with someone you trust.
Posted by Bosheme  on  Fri Feb 22, 2008  at  05:42 PM
so i have this wierd-o phobia of flesh rubbing or touching fabric or cotton or rugs or whatever.. sometimes it FREAKS me out anxiety tears the whole nine yards sometimes it just makes me shiver and feel disgusting, i dont know why sometimes its worse and why similar things can either not bother me or bother me aot, the whole thing is very annoying and confusing.. it had gotten to a point that its disturbing my everyday life.. i need help guys!
Posted by Leah  on  Sun Feb 24, 2008  at  11:07 PM
i have a fear of NOT being homosexual. Waking up and being straight would just ruin my life. You see, I've always wanted to be a hair dresser and as everyone knows, all hair dressers are homosexual, like me. I also have a fear of bananas. I have an idea why but I don't think this is a particularly proper forum for THAT explanation. I don't like men with mustaches but that's not really a phobia, it's just irritating and scratchy. You know what I DO like? I'm really fond of kiwi. Tried it for the first time 8 years ago and can't get enough of it to this day.
Posted by Garry Lee Eacker  on  Wed Feb 27, 2008  at  10:49 AM
BHAHAHA, fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth. Now that is just plain insane. What's next, an mmorpg phobia...fear of gaming. Ridiculous.
Posted by Xerox  on  Thu Feb 28, 2008  at  12:08 AM
Ok so I have a friend who has a fear of lotion...its really odd cause if she touches or sees lotion she freaks out...does anyone know what this phobia is called??
Posted by Olivia  on  Wed Mar 05, 2008  at  06:21 PM
I thought I was the only person in the world that was terrified of "Little People"! I believe mine started by watching "Wild, Wild West" as a Child. (Dr. Loveless was an evil, mean little person.) When I was 6, my sisters took me into a gym at a local park. There was a Little person basketball game going on. They shut the doors on me and wouldn't let me out. A bunch of little people came over and saw me crying. They were tryig to help me, but had no idea I was freaking out because I was scared of them. To this day if I see someone I have to turn the corner, or avoid them by all means. I feel light headed and sick to my stomach. It makes me feel bad, but I can't help it. I know, fro cripes sake, they are NOT evil and want to tie me up in a crazy contraption like "Jim West" LOL! The fear just flies in and completly takes me over. "Aconroplasiaphobia" (Spelling?) is the name for this crazy fear!
Posted by Jdsmom  on  Fri Mar 07, 2008  at  02:09 AM
I have a bizare phobia of girls named brittany. I also have a phobia of squirrels with big yellow teeth. They scare me, i start to panic and turn bright red. In my kitchen, there are many things that i am afraid of. For example, metal spatulas scare me, I always feel like they will eat me in my sleep. I have nightmares about burnt burgers. I will not come near a cow, im scared that they may eat me just like I eat them.
Posted by Hairry Barb Wire  on  Fri Mar 07, 2008  at  11:03 PM
Hi, My husband suffers from lollypopguildphobia, we have had to run though the streets during high traffic, we can
Posted by Lollypopguildphobia sufferers wife  on  Tue Mar 11, 2008  at  06:54 AM
OMG...me to i have a serious fear of midgets they scare the hell out of me for real! do yall know what the name of that is i check the phobia list an i couldnt find it...so if you can post it and help me out plz...
Posted by kirsten  on  Mon Mar 17, 2008  at  01:42 PM
I dont like wet rags and homosexuals but lesbians are cool
Posted by Derek  on  Wed Mar 19, 2008  at  10:52 AM
i have a fear of sheets too. i hate the feel of having them surround me and i hate the feel of the cotton. even the sound of cotton sheets rubbing togeather scared me. i also have a fear of intercourse and a huge fear of dark closets. i cant go to sleep witout making sure ever closet in my house is securely shut. i have cats and one of them knows how to open doors and sometimes he figures out how to open up the closet at night. if i wake up and see the closet open i get so afraid that i cant move and im afraid to breathe. i hold a flashlight when i go to bed just so that if it ever happens i can have light. but then when it happens im too afraid even move my finger and turn the switch on. i just cry. any name for that fear?????
Posted by katie  on  Sun Mar 23, 2008  at  06:39 AM
the wierdest of my phobias is sticky things. it creeps me out even typing it out.
its like its eternial stick will never release its self from you..
you will never be free from this monster.. feeling and being physically sick when one is in the same room as me.
its hard in school when teachers even in the last year of secondary they give them out to pupils and you say you dont want one and the dreaded question why!?!
replying under my breath being so ashamed of such a stupid and silly little thing even they tease me.
causing me to be so scared even more.. having never met any one the same as me i have no idea what im so scared of ..
have to go out of a room till the class are finished a task
crying .. why am i so different .. panic attacks!
what is wrong with me
i see know many people have phobias that some will never be cured or found out what this is because of, i dont know why mine began
However i do know that its an evil thing which the devil has a grip on your life. if takes controll! you need to demolish this. i am only 15 years old and in these 15 years of being alive i have began to realise the only way out of this trap because thats what it is, is to be saved by jesus!!!!!! pray its not hard
Posted by ..........................................>  on  Sun Mar 23, 2008  at  02:24 PM
i have a really wierd paper phobia, when someone uses markers or closes a cardboard box or just touches styrophome it gives me the goosebumps and just gives me the willies. i am currently still in school and the phobia really interferes with my school work, so any cure would be great.
Posted by james harris  on  Mon Mar 24, 2008  at  01:57 PM
ii have a phobia, but ii don't know what iit iis


iim scared a whole bunch of nasty lookiin bumps on peoples bodiies!!!!!!!

iis there anyone who's scared of that??
Posted by caligirl  on  Sat Apr 05, 2008  at  09:58 PM
Hi
I have a fear of puppets, have just been discussing midget phobia with a lady I work with, can't beleive how common it is!

bex
Posted by bex  on  Tue Apr 08, 2008  at  01:26 PM
hi... umm... im afraid of stairs... not climbing them, just freaked out that someone is gonna come sneak up on me, and kill me :(. does ANYONE know wat it is called?? thank you!!

does anyone know wat the fear of towel textures is called?? i hate that feeling 😛

Thank you!!
Posted by Rebecca  on  Sun Apr 20, 2008  at  05:33 PM
I have a secret fear of saying the word "poo" I havnt even told the closest friend this strange Phobia!
Scratching stones together sends me whappy too lol
Posted by Mr B  on  Tue Apr 22, 2008  at  04:35 PM
Another one is the little round white paper lollypop sticks touching my mouth. it makes me suck my teeth at the thought.


Using sandpaper is horrible for me, its the sound and texture.
Posted by Mr B  on  Tue Apr 22, 2008  at  04:50 PM
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