Bizarre Phobias

Tom wrote to ask about the reality of a site called The Phobia Clinic. At first glance, the site definitely looks like it represents a real business that's selling a program to help people overcome their fears. The strangeness comes when you dig into some of the fears that they claim they can cure, and you have to wonder... do such fears or anxieties really exist? For example, they can cure you of Arachibutyrophobia (that's a fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth), Ballistophobia (a fear of bullets... but why would anyone want to overcome their fear of bullets? Isn't that a good thing to be afraid of?), Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (fear of long words... the name of the anxiety alone probably sends sufferers into convulsions), and the list goes on and on. Despite all the weird anxieties, I think that the Phobia Clinic is real enough, in the sense that they'll take your money and offer some kind of 'cure.' But I'm skeptical about whether their cure actually works.

Psychology

Posted on Fri Nov 21, 2003



Comments

hi... again.. i forgot to say that i also have a fear of hearing the sound of markers on paper.. and i mean any kind of markers... even the colouring ones that kids use. And the thing is i don't hate or even dislike the sound of other things on paper like pencils or pens or whatever. When the tip of the marker screeches on the paper, i grit my teeth and arrghhh. i almost hit my neice when she started screeching loudly in the room while colouring a color book... and she's 6 years old.. can anybody also tell me the scientific name for this phobia aswell?
Posted by Ascension  on  Sun Jan 18, 2009  at  03:37 PM
Is there a name/word for the fear of boxes?
Posted by Tori  on  Fri Jan 23, 2009  at  05:39 AM
I have a fear of ripping nails. Like when in horror movies people are dragged across floors and their nails start shredding. I have to hold mine in place really tight because I'm afriad their going to get ripped off

I also have a fear of losing/cracking/shattering teeth. I have dreams where I lose my teeth sometimes, or my teeth will shatter and I'll start crying.

What are those called?
Posted by hillary scrogins  on  Tue Jan 27, 2009  at  04:05 PM
I am 15 years old and i have a little problem.

I have a fear of touching wet things like wet rags or sponges or if they have been used and i know it or it looks like it. I can touch wet clothing and other things its just them and i am not afraid of getting dirty can any one tell me why or tell me the name of this phobia.
Posted by Jessica  on  Mon Feb 02, 2009  at  02:56 PM
I have a fear of my own belly button. i dont like it to be touched at all. Just thinking about it makes me feel nervous and uncomfortable.
Posted by danielle  on  Sat Feb 07, 2009  at  01:03 PM
OMG I cannot believe that I found this! Many of those things bother me too! Except one thing that I escpecially hate is dry hands! And lucky me it runs in the family. So i am obsessed with lotion. i have to have it everywhere i go. I really hate it when people with dry hands scrath their hands. i get goosebups everywhere. I also hate lots of the noises that dry things make. I dont know why im like this but i think its really funny that there are other ppl who have the same issues too. I dont like the feeling of dry crayons either. It isnt as serious as other peoples cuz i dont blank out or anything. if i have to use it then i just grin and berrit.
Posted by Beth  on  Wed Feb 11, 2009  at  04:24 PM
I have a fear of tape. Well actually adhesive. I can't stand it sticking to me. I need to wash the area of skin that adhesive just touched because it feels like its still sticking to me. I once almost had a panick attack because i had it sticking to me for 2 and a half minutes. I noticed that i didnt like adhesive when i was in 6 or 7 grade. I know this is bizarre
Posted by Elizabeth  on  Wed Feb 11, 2009  at  07:41 PM
Hi, I have a huge fear of spnal cords. It's wierd because I can go to a chiropractor just fine but the sight of one makes me feel sick immediately. My husband as a joke told me to look at this rotisserie chicken we had just bought and when I looked he had opened it up and showed me it's spine. I freaked out SO BAD, screaming and all. It almost makes me want to be a vegetarian. Also, I had a nightmare about this persons spine sretching out of their back almost as if it was reaching for me. Scariest dream EVER! YUCK!!! Is there a name for this? Thanks.
Posted by Angel  on  Thu Feb 12, 2009  at  09:18 AM
What is the fear of Cardboard Called? i need to know. cauce i can't go near cardboard and if i do i have to hold my breathe and i hate to touch it. its really weird.
Posted by James  on  Sun Feb 22, 2009  at  08:52 PM
I'm not gay at all but I have a fear of being chased by a group of young women. I'm a 35 year old guy and I should have no problem with this whatsoever. All other guys would probably dream of this happening to them. I have no idea of what brought this fear on but just the mere thought of the girls catching me and having their way with me sends me into a cold sweat. When I am out of the house I am always looking over my shoulder to see when it might happen but I know it probably will never happen. On a couple of times I've walked round a corner and then started sprinting because I think that the group of women might be following me. Once it happened when I was with my girlfriend but I could not tell her what was going on as she would think I was a total nutter. What makes me think like this? Can anyone help me? It's been going on for way to long. It simply has to stop. Also does anyone know the name of this fear? Bert from LA California.
Posted by Bert  on  Sat Feb 28, 2009  at  04:20 AM
I have a very severe phobia of red-orange hair that is greasy and volatile and touches my hand and fingers and is just so gross. It makes me feel like punching people. What should I do? Also, that stupid girl, has a fear of lotion and Windex. Is this a phobia? Or is she just needing attention? Please help because I feel as if I am soon going to punch her and rip out her hair and put lotion in her eyes. This is a severe phobia and I really want some help. Please, please, please, please. Thank you for your time and I appreciate your response. ^_^

LOTION HATER FOR LIFE
Posted by Pahoehoe  on  Wed Mar 11, 2009  at  01:12 PM
Someone mentioned a fear of the ring and the grudge, which is the exact same as me. a fear of the films the ring, the grudge and the unborn. its quite normal, but even now i feel asif theres something here, therefore i must just go and close my eyes and listen to the rasmus
Posted by Georgia  on  Tue Mar 17, 2009  at  06:09 PM
I have a fear of people touching, blowing in, biting, licking, putting IPod ear buds in, etc. my ears. I know it's weird. I really want to know what the phobia is!!! Please respond!
Posted by Allison  on  Fri Mar 27, 2009  at  01:47 PM
I am actually glad to see that I am not the only person that is freaked out by wet paper! I can't go into public bathrooms- because I worry that there will be little bits of paper on the floor that are wet and will stick to my shoes. I also freak out if I see someone using a tissue and it gets wet or they lick it with their tounge- so gross! Does anyone know of a name for it? I certianly wouldn't want to be cured though if it means I have to touch it to try to work my way thru it. I am perfectly happy living the rest of my life avoiding it- just would like to know what its called. And to prove to my friends and family that I am not nuts- it does exsist.
Posted by Heather  on  Sun Mar 29, 2009  at  10:42 PM
i understand the wet hand thing. i can not stand to be touched by wet hands, and i get the nastiest feeling if my feet are dry and then touch water. i really dont know when this started or why but i was wondering if other people had this problem or if any one knew the name of it
Posted by Ariel  on  Mon Mar 30, 2009  at  02:58 PM
I have a terrible fear for my Achilles tendon. I hate being barefoot and I'm always hyper aware of them, it's an awful feeling. Whenever I walk, I'm afraid they're gonna snap (typing that made me have a near panic attack)
When I bump into things or something brushes into them (sometimes when just thinking about it) I start breathing really heavy and my insides become uncomfortably warm.
Some people are aware of this fear and yet they feel the need to GRAB THEM. I freak out and I don't think they quite get that this fear is just as real as the fear of heights or death.
I heard that it's too rare to have a name, is this true?
Posted by Lica  on  Thu Apr 02, 2009  at  05:38 PM
can anyone tell me the name of the phobia for faces painted white with white face paint. not clowns. she has no problem with clowns. just people with white face paint.
Posted by becca  on  Mon Apr 06, 2009  at  03:30 PM
:long: i know this is weird but i am so incredibly terrified of cotton balls being torn or ripped. if i see it or hear that someone has ripped one, i will start gaging and getting weak. at one point this phobia was so bad that i actually avoided the isles in stores that had cotton balls, out of fear that some one would stand right in front of me and continuously tear and rip cotton balls right in front of my face... also i have a fear of pink liquid. like pink lemonade sends fear surging through my body... it's horrible because one time i was at a family event and my aunt handed me a glass of pink lemonade and i didn't know it, simply because it was in a red plastic cup. here i was, a thirty two year old women about to drink the one thing that she was afraid of. as soon i was about to drink it i saw that it was pink and i threw the cup down to the ground and started screaming. my poor aunt, and every one else around me for that manner, jumped with fear... i felt horrible. could someone please tell me what the name of these phobias are?
Posted by marina  on  Thu Apr 09, 2009  at  07:13 PM
I have too many phobias! I wish I could just get rid of them. My most common phobia is afraid of being in the dark, especially when I am alone. I literally freak out and scream bloody murder whenever I am.
A weird one may be that I'm terrified of closing my eyes whenever I'm taking a shower..? I'm not afraid to blink or anything, just afraid to close my eyes. I'm always thinking something is in the bathtub with me, staring. It gotten worse ever since I started playing with my ouija board and the things that started to happen. I started to keep my bathroom door open, along with the curtains which wasn't my greatest idea since I've learned my two older twin brothers liked to intrude on me when I was showering, which is both repulsive and disgusting. Plus, I have a phobia of being seen partially, or fully naked. :red:
Posted by Jessica  on  Sat Apr 18, 2009  at  08:45 PM
I have this weird phobia (i think?). I just can
Posted by Lucy  on  Tue Apr 21, 2009  at  05:26 PM
I can totally relate to everyone out there who has a fear of midgets/dwarves. I have no idea where my phobia came from; but its serious. I have full out panic attacks around them. My heart starts beating unbelievably fast, my breathing becomes shallow, i feel dizzy, my body feels numb, and I usually burst out crying. Its embarrassing especially when you work with the public and you come across one. I do admit there has been times where I have just ran the other way to get away from them. Once I got off the skytrain (metro) and caught another one because a midget had just stepped on. I have also almost been in a car accident because I saw one driving and swerved to get away. I want to be a nurse someday but wonder...what if I have to treat a midget or work with one? I will pass out and be unable to help them. My close family and friends tell me I should go for therapy but I don't know...only way to get over a fear is to face it right? I am afraid that at the beat my heart races when I see one that I'll end up having a heart attack. Does anyone actually know where there fear rooted from?
Posted by Marilise  on  Sun Apr 26, 2009  at  11:40 PM
oh just to add to what I said before....its only the T-rex resembling ones that terrify me. like Little People Big World mom style. I'm fine with Mini Me and Deep Roy! Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Oompa Loompas? nooooo thank you. And what is with the media and movies lately featuring midgets in EVERY single movie? I went and saw Prince Caspian and nearly died. A whole army of Narnians being midgets? eff that! they're everywhere lately. are they haunting us? OH. Dont watch Nacho Libre either if you're afraid of them. Im serious.
Posted by Marilise  on  Sun Apr 26, 2009  at  11:43 PM
i fully know what you mean about the chalk thing, my boyfriend reckons i'm crazy so i had to find out if other people have chalkophobia too. i feel sick thinking about it, the thought of it touching my fingernails or getting some stuck under my nails makes me gag. eurgh. why the hell would chalk make you feel so disgusting and sick?! i don't get it at all.
also my vomit phobia is pretty bad, they need to put warnings on movies with spew scenes. ("Warning: This film contains vomit scenes that may disturb some people...")
Posted by sparky  on  Mon Apr 27, 2009  at  05:06 PM
I read one of the earlier posts in which someone said they have this uncomfortable feeling when they see or even think about people chewing on cloth (ex: kids chewing their sweaters in school). I too get this wierd feeling in my teeth even just thinking about it. Does anyone know if that's even a technical phobia? Im curious of the name and how many people actually get this wierd feeling
Posted by Bill  on  Tue Apr 28, 2009  at  09:15 PM
Whoever mentioned their fear for their Achilles Tendon and I must have been separated at birth.
I have the same exact thing. I had a boyfriend who knew about it and would touch them on purpose.

I hate them being touched by anything that isnt the backs of my shoes. I want them protected constantly.

FYI, don't watch Hostel, it has a very graphic scene that involves that tendon and garden shears.
=[
Posted by Rachel  on  Wed May 06, 2009  at  03:12 PM
I have a fear of scratching paper. with my nails. i can't find anything on it. and anyone who finds out is pretty cruel about it. i have to suck on my nails if i do it, and have the urge to do it to anyone else who scratches paper. thinking about it makes me dig my nails into my palms. help? at least a name for it.
Posted by Marina  on  Sun May 17, 2009  at  06:23 PM
me again.

@Marina
I do that with walls.
Like scratching them or having cloth rub against them. It's horrible.
Posted by Rachel  on  Mon May 18, 2009  at  10:51 PM
My 9 year old son has a real fear of tissue, napkins, kitchen roll or anything similar. Does anyon else have the problem, if so how do you cope with it? or does anyone know if there is a name for this type of phobia?
Posted by Claire  on  Tue May 19, 2009  at  11:13 AM
my palms and feet sweat most of the time. When they are sweating I have a phobia of touching or rubbing anything warm (especially skin) with my hands or feet. Therefore I can't hold hands or high five or shake hands. I can't also stand the sound of slightly damp hands sliding down a smooth surface such as a door. The sound it makes really makes me cringe!! My siblings do this to wind me up.
Posted by Christina  on  Sat May 23, 2009  at  01:31 PM
OMG! i totally have this wet paper thing,
when i go into a public toilets and there's like wet paper on the floor and its all like bitty it makes me actually hurl,
now its got to wet plastic bags too, i cant stand the sight of them, or the textures
urgh, i am cringing at this discussion topic
Posted by Bella bumble bee  on  Fri Jun 05, 2009  at  04:50 AM
I also have a fear of my nails scratching paper, and people are horrible about it. Freaked out in class several times cause people thinks its funny to sit and scratch paper. I don`t think there is a name for it, not any that I have found, it must be quite similar to nails on a blackboard though!
Posted by Hannah  on  Sun Jun 07, 2009  at  12:50 AM
Ok so I read that some of you have a fear of touching paper with wet hands, that doesnt bother me. But what does bother me is touching paper AFTER I wash my hands, like when they get all dry. I swear I have to bring lotion with me everywhere I go. I can't touch paper, just the sound of paper rubbing togehter...ugh. I have to wear a sweater everyday at school cuz I cant touch the paper. Some of my friends make fun of me for this and then tease me by scratching paper, but I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one with this problem... 😖
Posted by Erin  on  Mon Jun 22, 2009  at  03:20 PM
I have this wierd thing where I don't like it when people touch my collar bone. They can but if I think about it too much it makes me think of a broken collar bone and..I dunno, its just wierd. Please respond if you have a simmilar phobia or know what this is called...
Posted by Alix  on  Mon Jun 22, 2009  at  03:25 PM
I have a fear of ripping nails. I cant pull my nails...I feel like they are going to be ripped out. What is this called??
Posted by Raven  on  Tue Jun 23, 2009  at  11:17 PM
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, this is the fear of long words. I was just wondering how ANYONE could hace a fear of long words. They cant hurt you or anything, so if you have this, could you please explain how and why you have this phobia. Like...what is going on in your mind to make you actually fear a long word. I'm not trying to be mean or anything, I just want to know.
P.S. I also have a phobia, I already wrote about it. Its in the list under my name if you can find it.
Posted by Erin  on  Tue Jun 23, 2009  at  11:22 PM
"have"
Sorry, typo.
Posted by Erin  on  Tue Jun 23, 2009  at  11:23 PM
Hello all!

I thought I was a "freak" or something. For as long as I can remember I have been "afraid" of paper! Not really afraid, but I freak out when I touch it and when other people touch it. I can't read the newspaper or magazines. I hate the smell and the texture. Whenever I touch, see or smell it, I FREAK OUT. I feel like my nose, mouth and skin is drying out!!! I want to know why I HATE paper so much.
Posted by Michelle  on  Sat Jul 18, 2009  at  12:13 PM
i have a phobia of foam getting rubbed together scares the living day lights outta me and i faint, i cant stand it its horrible,
Posted by Chaz  on  Tue Jul 21, 2009  at  02:42 AM
Thomas in CA:

I have the same problem. I can't stand for my hands, feet and lips to be dry. I go through lotion and chap stick like most people go through underwear...it drives my fiance crazy!!! Then if I even get near paper or wood I lose it. I feel like I am drying up..it's awful. I work in an office so I have to deal with paper all day, it kills me! I can't stuff envelopes like "normal" people, and lick and envelope...well you might as well kill me now. i have to fold paper using a pen and sometime I wrap my sweater sleeves around my hand to touch paper..yes I am a FREAK...I know. I can't tell you the last time I actually read a newspaper..and not online. My guess is, it's been YEARS upon YEARS upon YEARS!!! OH...and I can't use pencils unless they are plastic or covered in plastic. Man it feels good to get this out. And then I'm a bit OCD. I can't do things like blink one eye without blinking the other. Then I have to blink them together about twenty times to make it even. Yeah, I know that has nothing to do with paper but I just wanted to get it OUT!!! Anyway, I'm at work so I better WORK!!!! Good to know I am not alone...
Posted by Michelle  on  Tue Jul 21, 2009  at  10:23 AM
Danielle in Colorado:

I have that problem too! I can't STAND anyone to touch my belly button. I can't even touch it. The thought of anything going in or near it makes me FREAK OUT..my fiance tries all the time, just to show me that it's okay...I can't do it. I can't even touch anyone elses belly button. Ewww....I'm freakin' a little right now...
Posted by Michelle  on  Tue Jul 21, 2009  at  10:27 AM
I just wanted to comment on the fear of "midgets" or "little people" to be CORRECT. Those with Dwarfism prefer to be called "little people" because that is exactly what they are, PEOPLE who are little. The fact that people have a phobia of them is just sad, and it makes me realize how many movies etc. are out there making them seem "scary" or "threatening." They are just like any other person with a bone condition. Their bones just don't grow as fast as the rest of ours. It has nothing to do with being "evil" or anything like that one religous PSYCHO posted...he scares me more than anything. We are all gods children & it is sad that you cannot understand or accept this.
Posted by Tara  on  Wed Jul 22, 2009  at  01:00 AM
I have a phobia of sweaty fingers touching paper. and also a fear of achillies tendons. and a phobia of fish.. but mainly sweaty fingers on paper. if i hear sweaty fingers on paper, i get visible goose bumps and feel like im going to cry.
Posted by Ruby  on  Wed Jul 29, 2009  at  09:20 AM
OK, I have the dry thing..and I just found out recently that my Dad does too! I seriously thought I was the only one and that something was wrong with me! I work in an office and have to make sure to put lotion on if I'm gonna be doing a lot of paperwork. No licking envelopes..no eating popsicles straight off the stick..no using wooden spoons to cook with..sometimes I can't even use a dry paper towel! I have to get it a little bit damp to use it during dinner! The thought of dry things in my mouth (like when the dentist puts gauze in OMG!!), or rubbing certain fabrics (corduroy) literally gives me chills. It's insane!
Posted by RBSar  on  Wed Jul 29, 2009  at  01:20 PM
i have a phobia of nosebleeds and of getting my face wet
Posted by Amber  on  Sun Aug 02, 2009  at  06:27 PM
wow i thought i was the only person who is weird with hands and feet. the bottoms of my hands i cant touch together same with my feet. people rubbing there hands together kills me i get so upset. the thought of me doing it makes me want to start crying. i get a weird sensation (most likely in my head) once in a while that the bottom of my hands and feet dont feel right? i put lotion on them or put them in water put them on something smooth and cold? i dont know im out of my mind i guess : /
Posted by Heather  on  Sat Aug 08, 2009  at  04:33 AM
I have afear of dirty or carpets or fabric in general. its really bad, my grandma's house has this really old dirty and raggy carpeting and i hate having to walk around on it, i almost always avoid it unless i have to. also, sometimes with dirty car seats or movie theater seats or whatever, if the seats are made of that certain type of fabric, i just wont sit.
Posted by josh  on  Mon Aug 10, 2009  at  12:30 AM
I have a terrible fear of Egypt, Egyptians, Pyramids, Desert, and sandstorms. I'm also scared of the 1800's. We've toured many old houses from those time periods when I was young and I now have a fear of the smell of older houses. It's very odd.
Posted by Ashley  on  Tue Aug 25, 2009  at  04:50 PM
ok i have the worst phobia ever about mcdonalds and asian food, its really bad an im really sure im the only one, please correct me if im wrong cuz i h8 them both more than anything.
Posted by patrick  on  Thu Sep 03, 2009  at  08:21 PM
o and i have a fingernail breaking uneven phobia too, just bothers a bit
Posted by patrick  on  Thu Sep 03, 2009  at  08:37 PM
i cant stand bug or even step of one i have the fear of one going on me and crawling inside my skin its wierd and i always get someon e else to kill a bug if i see one and if i have to kill it i would take a long tiime from dropping cups of water and chemicals on it
Posted by liam  on  Mon Sep 14, 2009  at  06:46 AM
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