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

i don't know why but i have a fear of roofs and other roofers, i just can't explain it but when i look at roofers i get the shakes.
Posted by south-london roofers  on  Sat Jan 29, 2011  at  03:36 AM
I am doing a grade 6 report on phobias. If anyone has any information on them please post because there seems to be a lack of useful info on them. 😖 Did you know that there is a phobia called Phobophobia. That is the fear of phobia(s)
Posted by GogoGirl  on  Sat Jan 29, 2011  at  08:28 AM
I have a phobia - almost - of people biting down on cotton, cardboard, fabric, or napkins... or things like that - ack. It just makes me tremble to even think about it. I also can't stand styrofoam, or hearing about human anatomy - how your body works or people describing problems with muscles, etc. I feel really weak and frail. I almost passed out when we were discussing tendons in class. Anyone else who has problems like that? D:

And my dad has a fear of wet feet. Whenever the floor is mopped he won't cross it unless he's wearing shoes and he just squeals (it's actually kind of funny.)
Posted by Brooksong  on  Sat Jan 29, 2011  at  05:50 PM
I have a phobia of standing on a wet floor in socks or bare feet! When i turn the shower off, i have to get out of the shower and dry my feet before anything else! I cannot stand on a floor that is wet, mostly hard flooring, but sometimes carpets. If something is spilled on the floor, i will not walk on the floor until it is fully dry, because i begin to shake and feel sick...
Not normal. Not normal at all :(
Posted by Leah  on  Sat Feb 05, 2011  at  03:24 AM
i cant stand eyelashes they creap me out i be thinking they bug legs growing out of my face they give me goose bumps everytime i think or so eyelashes i pull atleast 10-15 eye lashes out a day im scard they wont grow back but i cant stand them if i could pull other people eyelashes out i would whats wrong with me
Posted by Alexis Taylor  on  Fri Feb 11, 2011  at  01:38 AM
I have a huge fear of... marijuana? :/ I dunno why! I think because it has caused alot of problems with my friends and stuff... but whenever people talk about it around me I start like hyperventilating.

and when someone asks me to try it, I have a mini panic attack!

I know that's odd... But If anyone else has that problem, you should notify me...
Posted by Erin  on  Thu Feb 24, 2011  at  09:40 PM
I can't stand to hear bathroom fans they are so annoying. I also can't stand touching just about anything without having lotion on my hands and feet and my lip always have to have chap-stick. Another thing about feet, I always have to wear shocks even to bed because of that I don't wear sandals or flip-flops. What is wrong with me? I'm I normal? My parents siblings think I act like a baby for when mention this stuff to them. Find out please!
Posted by VM  on  Fri Mar 04, 2011  at  12:00 PM
My friend is standidng right next to me and she has a fear of Dora the Explorer. I think its crazy. But, is there a way to cure it and what is this phobia called. She runs away if she hears it!!!!!!!! PLEASE HELPPPPPPP!!!!!!! 😊
Posted by URA FREAK  on  Fri Mar 11, 2011  at  07:46 PM
Well i have 2 really bad ones.. i cannot touch food!!!!!!! the oils gross me out so bad i start to cry and almost blackout. i always have to use forks/spoons for even hand held foods. and my 2nd one is more odd.. im deathly afraid of fish out of water? i have no idea why but i cant even be around fish out of the fear that they will end up out of there tanks im not afraid of them just them dieing from no water. please tell me why i have these weird phobias!! and how to get rid of them if possible!
Posted by Alishia  on  Tue Mar 22, 2011  at  06:07 PM
okayy soo im thirteen and i think i have a wierd phobia. i have a fear of dead skin or dead skin cells. i start to freak out if someone is picking at dead skin and i just hate it. but hey we're all human, right?
Posted by shayy  on  Tue Mar 22, 2011  at  06:35 PM
I have a phobia of wooden spoons and wooden lollipop sticks, i cant touch them or worse, put them in my mouth, even watching others put a lollipop stick or a wooden spoon in their mouths makes me cringe and tense.
Posted by Danielle  on  Wed Apr 20, 2011  at  08:20 AM
Please answer me!!! I woul like the name of my phobia, I am afraid of rubbing my fingertips together. Even when I think about it, or when it accidentally happens, I freak out and have to have my hands in a fist. Usually for at least 10 minutes. Again, please tell me my phobia!!!!
Posted by Cass  on  Wed Apr 20, 2011  at  10:25 PM
I have a fear of people rubbing the skin around their eyes, like when they are tired for example, not their eye ball, just the skin around it. It makes me feel really woozy and I have to look away. Just thinking about it now is making me feel a bit sick. I nearly fainted once and this was when I was just imagining it, now that if crazy. I would love to know if anyone else has this phobia and if it has a name. My boyfriend does it all the time, and he has to let me know so that I can look away.
Posted by Kathryn Gibbons  on  Fri May 20, 2011  at  09:23 AM
I am afraid of posting my fears on the internet.
Posted by Joe Bayer  on  Sat May 21, 2011  at  07:32 AM
Stop taking the mick Joe Bayer, if that is all your gonna put, then don't bother.
Posted by Kathryn Gibbons  on  Mon May 23, 2011  at  01:25 PM
I'm terrified of clowns. :( I used to love themes a kid but now when I see them I start hyperventilating and cry. I also have a fear of whispering. Every time someone whispers to me I shake all over. One time my mom was whispering to my sister and I freaked out!
Posted by Lauren  on  Mon May 30, 2011  at  10:21 PM
I am 18 and I have this horrible fear of sticking my arm or my leg off of my bed when I'm sleeping. Does anyone know what it's called....this would be barreble if I knew what it was called.
Thanks
Posted by Adam  on  Wed Jun 01, 2011  at  01:40 PM
It's me again! And I have more phobias to add.
Fear of: under my bed (I'm a little too old for that)
Dying (who isn't? Most people. :,(
Midgets
Sleeping by closets
The ocean
3d movies

Sad, I know. :d
Posted by Lauren  on  Wed Jun 01, 2011  at  10:02 PM
im DEATHLY scared of raccoons, im scared they look at me when im changing and they go on my laptop and look at my history and check if i've been looking at any porn, and tell my dad so he bends me over and hits me with the belt. HELP!
p.s i saw a picture of a raccoon with an eye patch and a turd popped out of my shorts
Posted by Mike Rotch  on  Fri Jun 10, 2011  at  03:19 AM
Does anyone know the name of my phobia? My phobia is touching wet rags, the ones to wipe down tables. I CAN'T EVEN TOUCH 'EM FOR ANY REASON! :gulp:
I barely look at them. Does anyone know the name?
I can touch rags in the shower, but, YUCK!!!!!
Thanks~
Posted by Sara  on  Mon Jul 04, 2011  at  10:29 PM
Ya, I know, more phobias. Here:
Sleeping by closets
CLOWNS. OH MY GOD. :zip:
Midgets
@ Adam : I totally agree. Sticking my leg or arm off my bed. :\
@ Lauren : I don't know about dying. It's not scary. We'll all got to heaven.
Name of phobias? THANKS~
P.S. I'm 15. -_-
Posted by Sara  on  Mon Jul 04, 2011  at  10:39 PM
okay, so I have a severe phobia of waffles. it's really bad. I can't see, think about, or smell a waffle or I'll cringe and shake uncontrolably. Pancakes are FINE can anyone identify my fear of waffles? I'd appreciate it. email me if you can tell me the name of my disease, or if you are a fellow waffle phobiac.
Posted by Anna Leslie  on  Wed Jul 06, 2011  at  10:30 AM
Hello , 😊
just a couple of questions i was wondering about phobia's... i don't really have any other then the fear of walking outside alone in the dark & the fear of death and being alone , but i would like to know if anyone has any of these if they could let me know 😊

does anyone know what the fear of crayons , pencils , sticks , fans , tv's , love , relationships , being single forever , sleeping , washers , dryers , bbq's , grass , rodents, toes, death , toungs , underwear , skin, glass , paint , dogs , cats , electronics, pokemon , old people , dolpins , sharks , hockey , soccer , sports , & water called?


thanks alot 😊
Posted by anonomus  on  Tue Jul 12, 2011  at  08:15 PM
Hi i'm Maddy and im 12.
For the past few years I have been deathly afraid of scratching anything, even my skin. I have to scratch backwards, and sideways only on my skin. I clean out my fingernails a few times a day, and always have nail clippers by my side. I also have some kind of OCD that whenever I scratch something I have to scratch backwards on it and whenever I rub against something I have to rub against it in the other direction, twice, five, ten or twenty times. I am obsessed with those numbers and I hate it...
If I touch something I have to touch it again or else I think I am going to "Die".
Posted by Maddy  on  Fri Jul 15, 2011  at  10:17 PM
Also, I am afraid of barnacles.
They make me cringe and get goosebumps.
My other phobias do the same. I am also really afraid of towels touching my teeth. The vibrations and noises it makes freak me out!!. Also, as you can see, I have to have periods at the end of every sentence or I think I am going to die. And if I write an a or d they have to be completely closed, no gaps, or I am going to die.
Posted by Maddy  on  Fri Jul 15, 2011  at  10:20 PM
Glad to see I am not the only one with a paper fear. I hate when someone rubbs their fingers along paper. It gives chills up my back and down to my toes.

Its that feeling of dry paper rubbing against skin. Ahhh! I have to lick my fingers constantly when trying to read a book. Wet paper is fine with me. lol
Posted by Amber  on  Mon Jul 18, 2011  at  01:01 PM
I have a very bad fear of napkins. I'm 16 years old and I have always been distant from them but during this year I have developed a strange phobia. If they're wet napkins, I don't mind. But I won't touch them if they're dry. When I even think about them or see my family using them at the dinner table, I freak out. I get goosebumps, my teeth start grating, I get cold, and shake. I can't stand the feeling or the sound. I also hate the feeling of towels, clothes, etc, right after I wash my hands and dry them. And the sound of the material of napkins or towels rubbing on my fingernails aggravates me alot. Sometimes it's hard just to take a shower because I hate the feeling towels, clothes, etc, so much... I don't know why i'm so scared though.
Posted by Caitlyn  on  Mon Jul 18, 2011  at  01:07 PM
My names McKenna. I'm 15 years old and I have a type of water phobia. I love swimming and taking showers...but I hate getting my clothes wet. My friends tease me about going on water rides at amusement parks and dancing in the rain. I just wont get wet. It's not because I care about what I look like, it's because I have anxiety when my clothes are wet. Ever since I was little I've hated getting my clothes wet. My mom would splash a little bit of water on my from doing the dishes and I'd immediately change clothes. Or I'd spill a drop of food on my clothes and my mom would get a wet rag to get the spot off, and I'd go change. I just cant stand getting wet and I don't even know what the phobia is called. I'm tired of telling people that "I have a type of water phobia" cuz no one believes me!!! Please help me out!!! I have to end this madness!
Posted by McKenna Silvester  on  Thu Jul 21, 2011  at  11:36 AM
I have a few phobias that included thunder and lightning, the flash and noise freaks me out, I always plug my ear phones in, I can't watch anything that involves clowns, the painted smiles freak me out and shouting, I can't be near someone shouting or have someone shout at me, I start feeling uncomfortable and my heart rate speeds up, I was never afraid of shouting up until 1/2 a year ago when I started arguing with my ex and he would shout at me a lot also there has been an increased amount of arguements in my family recently which has involved a lot of shouting.
Posted by Becki  on  Sun Jul 31, 2011  at  07:42 AM
I have a fear my rubbing my fingertips together, ESPECIALLY when they get pruny after a shower/bath, or anyone elses pruny hands or feet, and I also have a fear of touching cotton, or Q-tips, and touching my jeans whenever my hands are dry, touching wet wood, (wooden spoons when washed), cotton, tissue, or any cloth being in my mouth, I have a big fear of my jaw getting stuck open, (Had nightmares of this), razor tops, and spiders or any other crawly bug.
Posted by Heaven  on  Sun Jul 31, 2011  at  02:33 PM
omg me too rihannon-.-!
Posted by kaykaykaykay  on  Thu Aug 11, 2011  at  04:10 AM
I'm sixteen years old and I, as most people do, have many fears. Fear of the dark, fear of hurting myself, fear of peoples opinions of me but I don't feel as though any of these are actually phobias. There are two main phobias that I think I have. One is spiders which has got to the extent where I can't even look at a picture of a spider without either feeling sick or having to shut my eyes. Let alone actually seeing a spider in real life. I'm afraid of most other insects too but there's something about spiders that just really gets me. My other phobia is a little abnormal and I was wondering if anyone else suffers from the same sort of thing? In a brief explanation, I can't stand anything being dry. Dry skin is the worst, mainly my hands, feet and elbows but my lips are just about bearable being dry. I have to moisturise my feet several times during the day and sometimes even in the night and my hands have to be constantly clammy, which is a pain really! If they dry up slightly and I don't have moisturiser or hand cream near me, it's got to the point where I actually have to lick them to solve the problem. I can't wear socks unless they're a little damp and even then, I have to moisturise my feet before I put them on. My mum often tells me to take the clothes out of the airing cupboard which are usually very dry and include socks and towels and flannels. This usually makes me gag if I touch them and even thinking about it now is making me gag. Maybe I just have a gland problem, I don't know. One other thing that really gets me is drying china with kitchen towels. It's something about the friction between them and the sounds it makes that makes me feel really sick. I actually vomited once from it. So, basically, I suffer from a weird phobia that I genuinely can't seem to control.
Posted by annajay  on  Tue Jan 03, 2012  at  05:14 AM
OHHH MYY GOSHHH,

to the person who is afraid of spines, I have the exact same fear as you and everything you said!! Im glad to know I am not alone.
Posted by Paige Keebler  on  Tue Feb 07, 2012  at  09:08 PM
I also can't stand to touch cotton balls and chalk! I hate the sound it makes too, I hate having dry feet or hands also,I keep lotion bottles everywhere because if my skin gets dry I freak out. I'm not scared of the chalk and cotton balls I just won't touch them, it makes my skin crawl and i have to chatter my teeth together. Is it still a phobia then? I have felt panicky when I've heard/touched chalk or if my skin is to dry but I'm not scared of it.
Posted by Ashely  on  Wed Feb 22, 2012  at  08:38 PM
What would be the phobia of not touching the floor of the pool.because like I like to swim but I walk on the floor and any time I'm not touching the floor I freak. I almost failed gym for this.once my cousin tried teaching me to swim and tried having me float and as soon as my feet left the bottom I have a panic attack. What would the name of the phobia be? If there is one I can't be alone
Posted by Chelsea  on  Thu Mar 15, 2012  at  05:33 PM
Chelsea -- the scientific name for that is answimmingpoolfloorophobia.
Posted by The Curator  in  San Diego  on  Thu Mar 15, 2012  at  06:03 PM
I've only read some of the pages of comments here, but of those, at least 50% of the things people are calling phobias here are probably related to some type of Sensory Processing Disorder (look up "SPD"). :exclaim: This includes not being able to stand touching certain things because of their texture, the sound they make, etc. When you have SPD, certain types of sensory input (i.e. sounds, textures, sensations) make you feel disgusted and shivery, or like one feels when hearing fingernails scratching on a chalkboard. So if you're one of the ones who posted about fabric/paper/cardboard/styrofoam or wet clothes/hands/feet or certain noises, you should look into SPD. I know about this because I have two types of it called tactile defensiveness and oral defensiveness. I can't stand to touch any type of synthetic fabric, especially if my hands are sweaty. I also can't stand the feeling of toothpaste foam in my mouth. There are others too, but those are my main problems. I hope this info helps at least one person! 😊
Posted by They're Not Phobias  on  Wed Mar 21, 2012  at  12:41 AM
I have a fear of straws, does anyone else? It's because I almost died by one almost lodging itself in my throat. If it was just a tiny centimeter or less to the side, it would've went down my throat and killed me. I can use them, but I get super paranoid about being in a car or walking with one in my mouth. It makes my heart speed up and I feel like I'm gonna trip or the car will hit a bump and the straw will hit my throat again. Does anyone else have this phobia? And what's the official term for it?
Posted by Rachel S.  on  Sat Apr 14, 2012  at  03:51 PM
Omg i dieee when someone rubbs their hands together
I never rub mine or put any hand lotion or touch the inside of my hands cause i cant take that sound and the feeling kills me!
Its seriously not normal ! My whole body gets goosebumbs and i go crazy
Ppl do it on purpose they think its something funny but they know i hate it ! I might laugh put it pisses me off !
I also cant take it whem someone eats next to me
If i hear someone eating , really i get no control and am about to slap that person !
I cant do nothing when my parents eat next to me
I just leave or put music on
I feel like everyones eating like animals in the jungle tht have never seen any food i literally go crazy !

Another thing is after taking a shower.. I cant touch nothing for atleast 5 min till my fingers get normal again and i cant walk without socks
The feeling of my feet rubbing on catpet or wht ever kind of floor drives me crazy !
Posted by Sara  on  Thu Apr 19, 2012  at  08:05 PM
I am shocked @ Elizabeth's fear of Tape.

I seriously thought I was the only one. Realizing that it is completely irrational - I usually don't tell a soul, because it spurs on several dozen embarrassing follow up questions.

I have actually lost a job over the fear of any type of tape / adhesive paper sticking to me. I cannot use 'Hello my name is' stickers, and cannot participate in charitable donation days (such as casual day) if I am forced to wear something sticky to announce to the world that I am supporting a cause.

I become physically ill, I begin to gag - and cannot concentrate until the offending item is removed. The threat of tape is enough to send me into a quivering mass, or an angry defender of my person. Completely irrational - I know. I think I would physically harm someone if they stuck something to me on purpose.

My other most prominent fear is Moths (and it has grown to include butterflies). I must leave the house if one enters - I am TERRIFIED of them.

My friends joke that if I don't do what they want, they will TAPE A MOTH TO ME... I pretend that it's funny - but I am horrified by the thought.

I am 37 years old.
Posted by Bonnie  on  Mon May 21, 2012  at  08:44 PM
I have a fear of spiders rust mold and fruit drinks? Like kool aid gatoraid poweraid all of those freak me out I have to walk away when I see someone drinking it bc of the smell? I'm not anti fruit I love fruit! I guess it's bc its fake/processed? Punch freaks me out too. Help?
Posted by Jojo  on  Tue May 29, 2012  at  03:23 PM
I have a fear of people with flawless skin, or almost porcelain like skin. Not porcelain dolls, but REAL people with perfect skin. It freaks me out, and I just get nauseated by it!!! Can someone tell me what this phobia is called?
Posted by Matt M  on  Mon Jun 25, 2012  at  09:22 PM
I really want to know what the name is to my phobia, I'm afraid of spoons, the shape of it really freaks me out, I also had a nightmare about spoon, it had to do with the shape, and it somehow impacted on me... I can't remember the exact details, but it was terrifying, DOES ANYONE KNOW THE NAME OF THIS PHOBIA, because by relatives make fun of me when I say, "I'm afraid of spoons" when I could say, "I'm ______phobic"
Posted by Natasha J  on  Thu Jul 26, 2012  at  03:51 PM
i HATE HATE HATE cardboard more than ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD, the feeling the smell the look the noise it makes, when i say the word cardboard or box my mouth just stops working like i cant explain it but i cant say those words my mouth just starts to shutter and i grind my teeth and my whole body starts to get loose and people think im crazy but i started crying once cuz i just cant stand cardboard and also popsicle sticks ohmygosh when i eat popsicles and the stick goes in my mouth i wanna rip my head off, or when i go to the doctor for a check up the worst thing the doctor can do is stick the cardboard stick in youre mouth i feel like dying when someone puts cardboard near me, its just horrible :/
Posted by Azniv  on  Tue Sep 18, 2012  at  10:27 PM
I have a really bad phobia of ripped/torn cardboard.
It makes me cringe and grind my teeth.
I can't look at it or touch it or i'll get a weird shock threw my whole body.
I can barely think about it let alone touch.
anybody have any ideas?
Posted by Jesse  on  Sat Oct 20, 2012  at  12:13 AM
Someone touching my solar plexus or even thinking of them being touched .. makes me defensive.. You try to touch them I will punch you!
Posted by Jeba  on  Tue Nov 27, 2012  at  05:05 AM
I have a phobia of the inside if my arm being touched where it bends like the inside of my elbow? I cannot have blood took from here because of it! It's the same with my legs the back of knee and my groin I'm near sick even talking about it I also can't touch another persons bends lol sooo strange! I get laughed at havnt met another person like it :( therefore cannot find a name for it! Lol
Posted by Shannon  on  Wed Jan 02, 2013  at  08:17 PM
I have a fear of wet plastic. Just the thought of it makes me squirm. I also hate using plastic cutlery and drinking through a straw. I do not know when this started. Anyone else have the same thing?
Posted by Ollie  on  Sat Jan 05, 2013  at  03:10 PM
Can anyone tell me the fear of have bends touched ie the bend of your arm the bend of your leg(back of knee) also of groin being touched? I have the weirdest phobias never met someone with the same thing! Someone wrote about people chewing material! I'm the same with sleeve jumpers etc and especially wooden sticks like Lolly pop sticks and tooth pick absolute turn me! Arghhh lol
Posted by Shannon  on  Sat Jan 05, 2013  at  08:20 PM
I am not sure if this is an actual phobia, or if it's anxiety issues. However, for as long as I can remember I have had an extreme issue with paper towels. I hate them. I hate the texture, smell, and look of them. I especially hate it when It is rubbed together or torn up. It gives me goose bumps and the need to leave the room. I really want to get over this. If anyone has a similar issue, or some advice it would be very much appreciated.
Posted by Heather  on  Mon Jan 28, 2013  at  11:41 PM
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