Many people fear different things; some fears are more common than others. For instance, millions fear driving, heights, flying, or confined spaces. Those are common phobias. However, there are also weird phobias that are extremely hard to come by. Rare phobias such as fear of money, balloons, or fear of fear itself sound ridiculous, yet are no laughing matter for those who suffer from them.
Unusual phobias might be even more challenging to live with and find treatment for because very few people share the same or similar experiences. However, both well-researched, and the most obscure phobias share similar characteristics. What's different is the object (or situation) that triggers fear and the extent of its prevalence. It's also difficult to explain why the same trigger, such as a balloon popping, can be traumatic to one child and have no effect on another. Hence, many facets of phobias remain a conundrum to scientists. Either way, you are not here for a PubMed article, are you? So let's go ahead and learn what the scientists do know about some of the rarest phobias in the world.
Below, we've compiled a list of rare phobias you've probably never heard of! Even if you have, it will likely be the first time you’ve seen their scientific names. After seeing all the entries, upvote the phobias that surprised you the most. Do you know any more odd phobias that most people are unfamiliar with? If so, share those in the comments!
#41
Siderophobia (Fear of stars)
On a clear night, many people enjoy stargazing. Well, except for those with siderophobia. One possible source of the fear of stars is the concern that the stars would bring demise or some other unfortunate event. Some believe that the stars are a bad omen. It could also be connected to past events from childhood, for instance, if a child sees a shooting star when they are very young and believes it will harm them or a loved one.
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#42
Logophobia (Fear of words)
People with logophobia may experience breathlessness, trembling, or panic when presented with written words. This fear generally develops in childhood when the pace of learning new words turns into a source of distress. Frequent spelling errors, like those that happen in a spelling bee, are another factor that might be upsetting. The majority of logophobic individuals have trouble speaking or reading.
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