Strangest Phobias You Probably Never Knew Existed

1 Chorophobia – fear of dancing

According to Psych Times, chorophobia is the irrational fear of dancing. A person suffering from this phobia may experience anxiety at the mere thought of dancing. In extreme cases, they may experience a full-blown panic attack at the sight of a dance floor. They may experience an increased heart rate, sweating, and rapid breathing.

Chorophobia can be genetic, especially if there is a family history of phobias or mental illness. A traumatic event involving dancing can also lead to this disorder. There are various forms of treatment to overcome chorophobia, from cognitive behavioral therapy to hypnotherapy.

2 Geliophobia – Fear of Laughter

They say that laughter is the best medicine, but not for people struggling with geliophobia. A person with this phobia has an irrational fear of laughter. The very thought of laughing triggers anxiety, let alone actually laughing. They avoid laughter at all costs. Just the anticipation of laughter can make a funny situation uncomfortable for a geliophobe.

They may avoid going to movies, concerts, or parties where people might be having a good time. Symptoms may be so severe that they experience rapid heartbeat, chills, elevated blood pressure, etc. Exposure therapy is one option for treatment.

3 Arachibutyrophobia – fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth.

Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth. This phenomenon causes a person to have extreme fear of finding themselves in a sticky situation. The severity of the phobia can vary from person to person.

Someone may be able to tolerate a small amount of peanut butter, while other people who suffer from this condition are so terrified that they avoid eating sticky things altogether. Arachibutyrophobia is often based on a fear of all sticky things or a fear of choking. Often a peanut allergy can lead to this phobia.

4 Geniophobia – fear of the chin

Someone who suffers from geniophobia has an irrational fear of chins. Even the thought of a chin can cause fear, let alone the sight of a real chin. The fear can become so severe that it triggers a full-blown panic attack. Among other symptoms, muscle tension, trembling, and excessive sweating may also occur.

This phobia may be triggered by a painful event related to the chin, but environmental factors or genetics may also play a role. For example, a history of mental disorders in the family can lead to geniophobia. According to Psych Times, treatment includes dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or exposure therapy.

5 Chaetophobia – fear of hair

Chaetophobia is a fear of hair. A person suffering from this phobia may be afraid of their own hair, animal hair, or other people’s hair. Even combing their hair can cause severe anxiety. They find it difficult to let anyone touch their hair, and they may avoid getting their hair cut.

A traumatic event involving hair can trigger chaetophobia. For example, if someone loses a large amount of hair or gets a bad haircut. Often a person believes hair is dirty and refuses to touch it. Cognitive behavioral therapy and recursive brain work therapy can help a person overcome this phenomenon.

6 Ergophobia – fear of work

People with ergophobia have a fear of work. They may suffer from extreme anxiety about the work environment or their workplace. Others fear looking for a job, and still others are afraid of physical labor. The fear can be so severe that it triggers a panic attack and affects the person’s ability to function.

The phenomenon may be caused by a traumatic event at work. Occupational burnout can be another factor. An abusive boss or overwork can also trigger ergophobia. Exposure therapy is the first treatment option.

7 Allodoxaphobia – Fear of other people’s opinions.

Allodoxaphobia is the irrational fear of opinions. A person suffering from this disorder may have difficulty managing everyday life due to paranoia, or in some cases may even be judged by others. In the most extreme cases, a full-blown panic attack may occur.

The cause of this phobia often lies in one’s own insecurity. People who suffer from allodoxaphobia are often very strict with themselves. They may avoid people at all costs to protect themselves from the opinions of others. They often isolate themselves, which only exacerbates their condition. Exposure therapy often helps sufferers overcome their social anxiety.

8 Phobophobia – fear of fear

Phobophobia is a fear of phobias. This condition is often cyclical, which can lead to an escalation of a person’s fears. Many people who suffer from it already have one or more phobias, while others sometimes fear that they may develop a phobia in the future.

According to Very Well Mind, “The most common symptom of any phobia is anticipatory anxiety, which causes increasing anxiety in the time leading up to a planned confrontation with the object of fear.” It is one of the few self-fulfilling fears because the fear of developing a phobia can trigger a phobic response.

9 Erythrophobia – Fear of Blushing

Erythrophobia is an irrational fear of blushing. The thought of blushing can cause severe anxiety in people suffering from this disorder. The fear can cause the skin to redden despite their best efforts, which exacerbates the anxiety. A person suffering from this phobia may feel anxious, have difficulty concentrating, or even have a full-blown panic attack.

Public speaking can be a nightmare and being the center of attention can trigger their anxiety. It may be caused by trauma or a family predisposition. Cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy are the best ways to help a patient overcome erythrophobia.

10 Deipnophobia – fear of eating with others

A person with deipnophobia is afraid of eating with others. The cause is often an underlying social phobia. Dinner parties can cause severe anxiety because the person worries about having a conversation with others while eating. A traumatic event can trigger deipnophobia.

Another cause may be fear of being criticized for food choices or poor table manners. A person suffering from this disorder may feel uncomfortable at the very thought of eating with others and often prefers to eat alone. Pharmacotherapy can help them overcome this disorder by getting a better handle on the anxiety.