25 Phobias You Might Have And Not Even Know It

Posted by , Updated on March 24, 2024

Everyone has fears in life, though some may be more intense than others. These fears can often stem from negative experiences that eventually develop into serious phobias. However, not all fears are a product of negative events. Some fears can unexpectedly emerge with no clear origin. It’s not uncommon to be unaware of their existence until a triggering moment occurs, such as suffering a panic attack right before your first public speech. Fear reactions aren’t always characterized by the typical fight or flight response, and phobias can manifest in peculiar, unexpected ways. Eventually, fear can become a crippling issue that needs to be addressed and conquered. Therefore, summon your courage because here are 25 Phobias You Might Have And Not Even Know It.

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25

Consecotaleophobia

chopsticksSource: http://common-phobias.com/Consecotaleo/phobia.htm

For people with this fear, spoons, forks, and knives are the usual weapons of choice when tackling sushi because they’re terrified of chopsticks. The idea of picking up two pieces of wood as an instrument of eating gives them a ton of anxiety.

24

Sinistrophobia

left turnSource: http://www.phobiasource.com/sinistrophobia-fear-of-things-to-the-left-or-left-handed/

Ever wonder why when you drive you hate taking left turns? Maybe you look at your left hand with disdain or are afraid of some swift attack from the left? It’s because you have a fear of anything from the left side.

23

Liticaphobia

trusty gavelSource: https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/liticaphobia

With this phobia, you’re terrified of lawsuits. But honestly, who isn’t? The idea of a lawsuit makes most people get a little bit fearful. It’s likely, though, if all you think about is someone suing you, then you probably have liticaphobia.

22

Peladophobia

bald manSource: https://www.belgraviacentre.com/blog/when-worrying-about-losing-your-hair-becomes-a-phobia/

Many men likely have this fear. It’s the fear of being bald or a fear of bald men. A little worry might not be a problem, but once you find yourself in a bathroom with every shampoo and hair loss product in the world, then it’s time to get help.

21

Coulrophobia

clownSource: https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/4395633/phobias-coulrophobia-causes-fear-of-clowns-symptoms/

For many, clowns represent humor, silliness, and children’s birthday parties. But others see a far more sinister villain hiding behind that red bulbous nose and colorful costume. If you get serious anxiety with clowns around, then you probably have a fear of clowns.

20

Phobophobia

fearSource: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-fear-of-phobias-2671894

This is exactly what it sounds like, a fear of phobias. Usually, people with this phobia already have an established phobia. So, phobophobia is an anticipatory anxiety whereby someone fears to be afraid. It sadly becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy.

19

Ephebiphobia

boysSource: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/mar/17/ephebiphobia-young-people-mosquito

Have you ever said something like, “Kids these days, they don’t respect their parents, they’re rude and impatient and are always breaking the rules?” Well, you might have early symptoms of ephebiphobia or fear of young people.

18

Philophobia

loveSource: https://www.healthtopia.net/disease/mental-health/phobia/philophobia-fear-of-love

Most people want to be loved and have a lot of love to give. For others, it’s a horrifying prospect. The fear of love is probably more common than you think, with plenty of people showing it in different ways, from fear of commitment to unhealthy relationships.

17

Kathisophobia

sittingSource: http://common-phobias.com/Kathiso/phobia.htm

If you’re terrified of sitting down, then you have kathisophobia. It’s similar to the fear of idleness. It’s also kind of hard to believe many people have this fear, but it is a thing.

16

Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

longest nameSource: https://www.fearof.net/fear-of-long-words-phobia-hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia/

There’s a tinge of irony to hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia. It’s the fear of long words. If you have this fear, definitely don’t look at this word for too long. Then again, we didn’t need to tell you that. You probably already noticed that hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia is a super long word and moved on.

15

Scriptophobia

hand writingSource: https://www.fearof.net/fear-of-writing-phobia-graphophobia-or-scriptophobia/

If you’re afraid to write things in public, then you have scriptophobia. This fear can manifest itself in various ways, like not being able to complete school papers or writing in the dark so no one can see you writing.

14

Myxophobia

slimeSource: https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexzakon/myxophobia?utm_term=.erEVWV1DyA#.lvR1P1RwN6

Who doesn’t love Nickelodeon’s slime? Well, you might not if you have Myxophobia, the fear of slime. It’s sticky, messy, and the idea of it gives you serious anxiety and panic attacks.

13

Novercaphobia

disneySource: https://massivephobia.com/novercaphobia-fear-of-ones-stepmother/

You either had a bad experience as a child or watched one too many Disney movies growing up if you have novercaphobia, the fear of stepmothers. Subsequently, you might also suffer from victricophobia, the fear of stepfathers. People with one of these phobias often have both.

12

Aulophobia

flute circleSource: http://common-phobias.com/aulo/phobia.htm

If you ever wondered why flutes freak you out, then wonder no more. You have aulophobia, the fear of flutes. Maybe they sound creepy to you or the story of the pied piper really messed with your head, either way, flutists are your worst nightmare.

11

Haphephobia

touchSource: https://www.verywellmind.com/haphephobia-fear-of-touch-2671748

If you can’t stand it when people reach out to touch you, then you might have haphephobia. Usually, this fear comes about because of a traumatic event, but not always. Sometimes there is no known cause. Sadly, not wanting people to touch you is a lonely and debilitating fear.

10

Euphobia

good newsSource: http://www.phobiasource.com/euphobia-fear-of-hearing-good-news/

Most people love the thought of hearing good news, like getting a promotion or winning an award. Those with the fear of good news, or euphobia, usually thrive on negative thoughts and feelings and find a way to turn the good news on its head as something bad. They hate hearing good news because it isn’t really good for them.

9

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia

666Source: http://phobia.wikia.com/wiki/Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia, http://articles.latimes.com/1988-11-19/news/mn-360_1_ronald-reagan

If you’re afraid of the number 6, particularly 666, then you have Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia. You might especially notice this number more frequently than most and get upset seeing it on license plates, your library card, or your order number at a restaurant. A good example of it was when Ronald Reagan moved to a new house on 666 St. Cloud Road in Bel Air and he and his wife had the road changed to 668 St. Cloud Road due to concerns of Satan worship. They definitely had hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia.

8

Nomophobia

cell phoneSource: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scientists-study-nomophobia-mdash-fear-of-being-without-a-mobile-phone/

This is an especially new fear. For instance, few people would be afraid to be without their phone in the 1970’s. But, here we are, terrified to be apart from our mobile phone for even a few minutes. Let’s face it, we probably all have nomophobia, constantly thinking about it, keeping it by our bedside, and freaking out if we lose it or drop it.

7

Deipnophobia

dinnerSource: http://www.phobiasource.com/deipnophobia-fear-of-dining-or-dinner-conversations/

If you have deipnophobia, then the idea of eating out with friends terrifies you. You’d rather make dinner at home and eat under your dining table in the cover of darkness than go out to eat.

6

Kenophobia

empty spaceSource: http://phobia.wikia.com/wiki/Kenophobia

This is the fear of voids and empty spaces and usually shows itself in hoarding and keeping tons of junk in your house. These people can’t stand empty spaces and want to be confined because the sight of a void makes them feel lonely.

5

Pogonophobia

man beardSource: https://www.fearof.net/fear-of-beards-phobia-pogonophobia/

There hasn’t been a U.S. President with a beard in over a hundred years, which might mean the United States is fraught with pogonophobia, the fear of beards. People who have pogonophobia think men with beards as untrustworthy and have something to hide.

4

Gelotophobia

laughingSource: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/people-with-this-phobia-suffer-from-a-fear-of-being-laughed-at/

Some people love to hear laughter and to laugh with the joke. For others, it’s no laughing matter. Chuckling, giggling, or any kind of laughing is a big no-no because they’re always afraid they’re the butt of the joke.

3

Glossophobia

microphoneSource: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/overcome-glossophobia-fear-of-public-speaking-526124

The fear of public speaking, or glossophobia, is one of the most common fears of all. Afraid they’ll be laughed at, ridiculed, or ignored, people afraid of public speaking often have intense anxiety and sweating before they get up on stage to talk.

2

Chirophobia

handsSource: https://massivephobia.com/chirophobia-fear-of-hands/

Related to the fear of being touched, chirophobia is the fear of hands, either one’s own or the hands of others. People who suffer from this might cover their hands with gloves and may not ever wash their hands. Shaking hands is an especially great cause of anxiety.

1

Panophobia

everythingSource: https://www.fearof.net/fear-of-everything-phobia-panophobia/

With panophobia, people straight up fear everything. Sights. Sounds. Smells. Everything. Usually, they’re in a consistent state of fear that something bad might happen or something terribly evil is after them.



Photo: Featured Image - Shutterstock, 1. David OReilly, Everything KeyArt, CC BY-SA 3.0 , 2. Sharon & Nikki McCutcheon from We currently live in the United States, we are paying it forward and spreading love worldwide!, Many Hands (16859686419), CC BY 2.0 , 3. PxHere.com (Public Domain), 4. PxHere.com (Public Domain), 5. PxHere.com (Public Domain), 6. Pixabay.com (Public Domain), 7. Matthew Hurst, Chinatown's last supper 2, CC BY-SA 2.0, 8. Pixabay.com (Public Domain), 9. Amy, Room #666, CC BY 2.0, 10. PxHere.com (Public Domain), 11. PxHere.com (Public Domain), 12. ClintGoss, Participants at a Flute Circle, CC BY-SA 4.0 , 13. Pixabay.com (Public Domain), 14. Ciphers, Pouring Slime, CC BY-SA 3.0 , 15. PxHere.com (Public Domain), 16. Tanya Dedyukhina, The longest name of railway ST - panoramio, CC BY 3.0 , 17. Ananian, Young man sitting in a chair, Feb 2014, CC BY-SA 3.0 , 18. Pixabay.com (Public Domain), 19. Pexels.com (Public Domain), 20. PxHere.com (Public Domain), 21. Pixabay.com (Public Domain), 22. pexels (Public Domain), 23. Brian Turner, My Trusty Gavel, CC BY 2.0 , 24. Pixabay.com (Public Domain), 25. Michael Johnson - http://www.thebusybrain.com, Chinese Plate with Chopsticks (b), CC BY 2.0