The 15 purest phobias that exist
There are many rare phobias that some people suffer A phobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by an irrational fear of a stimulus (a situation, an object, a place, an insect, etc.).
The person who suffers a phobia does everything possible to avoid that stimulus that causes discomfort, and this avoidance behavior can interfere with the normal functioning of their daily lives. From fear of clowns to fear of number 13, there are many strange and unexplainable phobias.
Here we present a list with the 15 purest phobias .
Know the rarest phobias that exist
1. Hexakosioihexekontahexafobia: fear of number 666
Those who suffer from hexakosioihexekontahexafobia feel a Irrational fear towards 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 frequent to suffer people who have been raised in Christian families.
2. Xanthophobia: fear of yellow color
Among the rarest phobias, xanophobia is Irrational fear of yellow color . Anything that contains yellow produces great anxiety to people who suffer from this type of phobia. The sun, yellow paint or even the word 'yellow', generate symptoms of anxiety in the xanophobic.
3. Turofobia: fear of cheese
People suffering from turophobia they can not see or smell a simple piece of cheese . Whether it's mozarella, cheddar or roquefort, the cheese produces a sensation of intense discomfort. This is due to a traumatic experience suffered previously, usually in childhood. Without a doubt, it is one of the rarest phobias known.
4. Crematophobia or Chromophobia: fear of money
This is one of the rare phobias that attracts the most attention. Crematophobia or chromophobia is the irrational fear of money . For these people it is very difficult to go to the supermarket or buy a bus ticket. Some crematofóbicos are afraid of the corrupting power of money and others may have suffered a trauma caused by money. Do not confuse the fear felt by some people to touch bills or coins that have touched other people, because in this case would be afraid of germs (misophobia or germiphobia).
5. Somniphobia: fear of sleeping
This phobia causes a Irrational and excessive fear before the act of sleeping . People who suffer from it feel panic because they think that while they are sleeping, something terrible will 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 before. Obviously, this phobia is linked with insomnia.
6. Coulrophobia: fear of clowns
The image of a clown causes panic, fear and anguish 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 the clown phobia or coulrophobia can get to trigger important anxiety attacks.
To read more about the 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 who suffer ombrofobia they feel an uncontrollable fear of getting wet with rainwater . These people can become extremely obsessive in order not to get wet, which leads them to idolize the objects that are used to protect themselves from water like umbrellas, raincoats or awnings.
8. Hypopotomonstrosesquipedaliofobia: fear of long words
It refers to Irrational fear of the pronunciation of long and complicated words , so the person suffering 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 used to describe this phobia, the words sesquipedalisophobia or largsophobia are currently used.
9. Omphatophobia: fear of the navels
This phobia refers to fear of seeing or touching your own belly button or that of others . These people have serious conflicts when bathing because they can not look at their navel or touch it. The physiological symptoms that occur range from irritability, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, feelings of anger along with anger, as well as a feeling of total impotence. Without a doubt, one of the rarest phobias.
10. Hilophobia: fear of trees
It refers to fear of shrubs, trees and forests . It usually develops in young children, as it is linked to the fear presented by the films about enchanted forests, in which witches or evil monsters can be found.
11. Triscaidecaphobia: fear of number 13
Triscaidecaphobia is the Irrational fear of number 13. Those who suffer from this anxiety disorder avoid any object or thing that contains the number 13. On the other hand, the phobia on Friday the 13th is called parascevedecatriaphobia.
12. Papaphobia: fear of the Pope
The papaphobia is the fear or fear of the Pope (to the Holy Father of the Vatican, head of the Catholic Church) or to everything related to him. Some experts think it is part of the phobia of the sacred or the saints. In any case, it is enough to stay away from the Holy See so as not to reach worrying levels of anxiety.
13. Uranophobia: fear of heaven
People suffering from uranofobia feel fear of heaven and life after death . It can develop into believers who think 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 Irrational fear that many people feel towards beards , especially towards the longest and most populated. Although the beards do not pose a danger to the health of people, the pogonophobes feel fear and nausea when they see someone with facial hair.
15. Tripophobia: fear of holes
Those who suffer from this phobia manifest Authentic panic, nausea and cold sweats when they see small holes and together or things that contain holes . For example, a honeycomb or the holes of a brick.
Bibliographic references:
- André, C. (2006). Psychology of fear. Fears, anguish and phobias Barcelona. Editorial Kairós.
- Bourne, E. J. (2005). The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook, 4th ed. New Harbinger Publications.
