Humans are strange creatures.We're all afraid of certain things some of the time and a lot of us have things we're afraid of all the time. I have a fear of heights. Well I guess it's more a fear of falling because if I'm high up and feel secure, the height doesn't bother me. Yet I have gone indoor rock climbing, (not the most stable of pastimes) . . . once. So I'm not exactly incapacitated by that fear.
I hate to talk in front of crowds (Could call it a fear. Yep, it's pretty close.) yet I've given speeches as President of LIRW at our annual luncheon. Okay I wasn't the steadiest or clearest or proficient speaker of all time, but again, I did it.
I do get claustrophobic occasionally, usually in a large group of people. Though I did get a bad case when the guy I was with, while sitting in a little MG at a drive-in theater, tried to put the moves on me. Right, like anything was going to happen in that little space. Think again, pal. I left him sitting there while I took a long walk around the concession building.
When it comes to these fears, I seem to be unimpressive since these phobias are some of the most common.
Look at those below. Common tapioca bland fears. See what I mean?
Glossophobia - the fear of speaking in public
Aerophobia- fear of heights
Claustrophobia- fear of enclosed spaces
Emetophobia - fear of vomit
Nycotophobia - fear of the dark
Astraphobia aka Brontophobia - fear of thunder and lightening
Trypanophobia - fear of injections or medical needles
Arachnophobia - fear of spiders
Coulrophobia - fear of clowns
Aviatophobia aka Pteromerhanophobia - fear of flying
And then there are the strange, weird ones. . .
Omphalophobia - fear of bellybuttons But not the lint?
Anatidaephobia - fear that you're being watched by a duck I never trusted that mallard!
Phronemophobia- the fear of thinking Good luck staying away from this one. If you're fearing it aren't you thinking about it?
Arachibutyrophobia- fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth
Hypnophobia - Fear of sleep Oh these people must look good.
Dextrophobia- Fear of objects at the right side of the body. There's one for the left side too.
Euphobia- Fear of hearing good news That's kind of sad.
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia- Fear of long words. And you didn't think psychiatrists had a sense of humor!
Mythophobia- Fear of myths or stories or false statements. Does this mean they can't tell a lie?
Proctophobia- Fear of rectums Okay, how many rectums do you see going down the street? A-holes yes, rectums no.
Politicophobia- Fear or abnormal dislike of politicians. Is this really a fear or a learning curve?
Here's a few writers hope to never develop.
Onomatophobia- Fear of hearing a certain word or of names.
Bibliophobia- Fear of books.
Graphophobia- Fear of writing or handwriting
If you'd like to see more of these go to http://phobialist.com/. I found it fascinating and at times really funny.
All right, I've told you mine, now it's your turn. Fess up. : )
Sources:The Phobia List, Merriam-Webster,the-Healing-Practice.com, psychology.about.com, myhydrolife.com, squidoo.com,voices.yahoo.com, planetnlp.com
The ones that get me are those afraid of a certain number. For instance, Triskaidekaphobics will be having a hard time this year since they are afraid of the number 13. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteMost of us have fears; fewer people have true phobias. I do know someone with a legitimate phobia of frogs (ranidaphobia) and have seen it in action (or rather inaction because the presence of a frog was paralyzing).
My hubby sometimes accuses me of a phobia of roaches, but it's not even fear so much as a complete and utter repulsion at the existence of such creatures. If I did qualify, it would be blattodephobia.
I know true phobias are nothing to really laugh at because of what it can do to that person, but the wide scope of what can actually scare some one has me saying "really, why?".
DeleteBugs for the most part don't bother me, but those hissing Madagascar roaches would take me back.
Thanks for sharing.
"Politicophobia- Fear or abnormal dislike of politicians. Is this really a fear or a learning curve?"
ReplyDeleteSNERK! Gotta love that one...
Glad you liked my jab at politicians.
DeleteThanks for coming by.
Beetles. I hate beetles.
ReplyDeleteAnd if Hypnophobia is the fear of sleeping, is there a fear of NOT sleeping? Cause, yeah, I'd have that
Really? So you worry about not falling asleep which makes you tense and doesn't allow you to unwind enough to sleep? Jeepers, if that's right it sounds like a circle or self fulfilling situation.
ReplyDeleteI tried looking it up and the only thing that comes up is insomnia phobia (duh) but not one of those cool scientific names. But I'm not really that good at research. Sorry.
You hate beetles, huh, even Ladybugs?
Thanks for sharing with us.
My fears are pretty generic, too, I suppose. I'm quite claustrophobic--cannot climb certain lighthouses or explore caves with low ceilings. I cannot tolerate closed MRIs either. It's embarassing because I know that nothing bad will happen but I cannot convince myself to do it. Frustrating. Anyway, my only other fear is flying, but I have that one under control. I think.
ReplyDeleteInteresting list. :)
Nothing to be embarassed about. As you can see you have lots of company since what you stated are the most common.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have overcome your fear of flying with all those trip to Key West. It would make for a terrible trip if you hadn't. : )
Thaks for commenting and coming by.