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

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
I have a fear of getting my eyebrows waxed. I'm so terrified they will mess it up and I'll have one eyebrow. I went once in 7th grade. First and last time I got it done. Is there a name for it?
Posted by Rachel  on  Thu Sep 24, 2009  at  04:39 PM
I have a phobia of people scratching fabric (especially denim) with their finger nails. People donn't belive me and think I am making it up. But it makes me gag and cry and cringe. It also hurts my nails and teeth. Is their a name for this so I can prove it to people?
Posted by Samantha  on  Tue Sep 29, 2009  at  05:50 AM
Arachibutyrophobia is indeed the fear of Peanut Butter sticking to the roof of your mouth.
Posted by Mello  on  Tue Sep 29, 2009  at  05:53 PM
RE: Samantha; Fear of Scratching;

That would be Amychophobia... X|
Posted by Mello  on  Tue Sep 29, 2009  at  05:58 PM
I have actually heard of hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia before.
Posted by Spencer  on  Thu Oct 01, 2009  at  06:27 PM
omg i no this sounds carzy and wired but i have there huge phobias agoraphobia(open space)
ironicaly i also have a bit of calstraphobia but its not as bad as the agoraphobia but the worst of alli have a big fear of crayon i dont no what ti is about them but i just cant touch them or uggg i think its the waxy feeling or sumthing i dont no but its wired but my qustin is wat is that called
Posted by kobe dziuba  on  Wed Oct 07, 2009  at  09:32 PM
omg but i also have a fear of a coulor its such a stange coulor its like when u mix peach and red or sumthing i dont no but its gross
Posted by kobe dziuba  on  Wed Oct 07, 2009  at  09:35 PM
ok people i am deathly afraid of fake finger nails i dont no what its called tho can anybody help?
Posted by sarah vanpuymbrouck  on  Thu Oct 08, 2009  at  01:12 PM
I have a few. Agliophobia: Fear of pain. Ophthalmophobia: Fear of being stared at. Hemaphobia: Fear of blood. I deal with pain terribly. I can't stand it, I think for weeks before I go to the dentist or something like that and psych myself out. I can't look people in the eye when I talk to them, and public speaking makes me hyperventilate. Blood makes me throw up. You know the best part? I get random nose bleeds, and blood makes me throw up. Ever better: I'm only 14 and I've already been diagnosed with these things. Hahaa. Well, my point is, these aren't very drastic, but a lot of phobias are. Don't think they're a joke or laugh at them. I feel bad for others with worse phobias than mine.
Posted by Angela  on  Sat Oct 10, 2009  at  06:04 PM
I Have a fear of people touching my ears, breathing in my ears, whispering in my ears if they do this it makes me get goose bumps all over the side of my body where the ear has been effected. I get cold sweats and generally freak out. I can't submerge my head in water, can let shampoo bubbles get on them or i freak out and start to panic. Thinking about going to the hairdressers makes me feel sick. I can't sleep without having them covered. I cant go out in the wind without something covering my ears. Does anyone know what this phobia is called? I cant seem to find a name for it anywhere.
Posted by Artt  on  Mon Oct 12, 2009  at  04:56 PM
I have an intense fear of doorknobs... I actually have to climb in and out of my side window at home. The neighbors have called the police a number of times, yet I've explained my phobia clearly to them. Grocery day really sucks
Posted by steve meters  on  Sun Oct 18, 2009  at  12:24 PM
I have this fear of my feet touching flat on the ground in bathrooms especially in the shower. I also cant stand for my hands to be wet or touch anything gross and everything has to be in like perfect order everything has to be perfectly organized. Is this like OCD and germaphobia or what I am just so confused and it seems to be getting worse.
Posted by Ariana McCoy  on  Wed Oct 21, 2009  at  03:21 PM
I'm not really sure this is a phobia.
Its more of an OCD type thing. I count my
syllables when i'm talking. it is the most
peculiar thing. I do it subconsciously now.
i'll just be talking and saying stuff and
counting my syllables and if they don't fit
into an ever number or a number with a five in it i get upset. and have to fit new words into
it to make it even. yeah i'm a freak. 😊
Posted by Emily  on  Sun Oct 25, 2009  at  09:13 AM
I have, I don't know if you'd call it a phobia, but I...cannot stand to TOUCH PAPER, especially after washing my hands or being in the shower. I also cannot touch fabrics, like clothes, or carpet. This extends to my feet as well. I am 21 years old. My mom says I've been like this all my life. I have to put lotion on constantly. I always have a bottle. Always. It's the only solution I've found.

On another note, I seem to have recently developed a phobia of my nails scratching things. Certain surfaces. I used to bite my nails constantly, and now I don't. I work in a lab, and just seeing the countertops (I don't know what material they are) gets me sweating and speeds up my heart rate. Also, smooth metals, like bowls. And ceramics. I can't even think about it. It makes my nails itch to the point of pain. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated! And a name so I can put a name to this monster.
Posted by Harmony  on  Thu Oct 29, 2009  at  10:02 AM
I have a fear of those things that are on paper and if you move them the image changes. Only when I am touching them do I freak out, or if someone else touches them and starts sratching their nails on it and makes a smaller and quieter sound similar to a zipper being zipped. It sends shivers up my back and I can't stand it! Even when I think about it enough it sends shivers up my back. Uhg!!
Posted by Brittney O'Bryan  on  Fri Nov 13, 2009  at  05:43 PM
does anyone know the name of the phobia of wednesdays? as in the day...?

it's something like "mercred..." idk

thanks =]
Posted by Mayra  on  Sat Nov 14, 2009  at  10:54 PM
@Dana - yes I have a HORRIBLE fear of spines, it freaks me out so much. The thought of breaking my back or getting a slipped disk is my worst nightmare!! If anyone touches my back I freak out!! Cant even get massages!!
Posted by neadi  on  Sun Nov 15, 2009  at  05:06 PM
i also have an intense fear of spines when really skinny people bend over,and of achillles tendons! i always imagine them getting cut or snapping and it just makes my insides squirm with revulsion.
Posted by lara  on  Sun Nov 15, 2009  at  06:44 PM
i have to say that i am deathly afraid of midgets. if i see one, or someone mendtions them i cry start shaking hyperventalate and i just stand still dont do anything like i forget where i am, just know that one is around. i wish i could calm down and i feel bad, but its something i can't ever get over. i've tried watching willy wonka, didnt work. watched the wizzard of oz, made it worse. everything i try to do doesnt work. im even like that when i visit hospitals.
Posted by brit  on  Sun Nov 15, 2009  at  09:05 PM
i am 15 and i have a fear of touching paper after i wash my hands it freaks me out touching paper would even make me scream sometimes the other day while i was in school i washed my hands and came back into the classroom to do my work but when i touched the paper i went crazy i was going around the class asking for lotion omg its like i heard the paper and the sound of it was scratching a chalk bored as soon as i touched the paper a sort of shock or something went into my body and was just like aaahhhhhhh.!!! i didnt kno what to do when i was younger i hated paper i couldnt even touch it the only paper i could use was construction paper or that handwriting paper the school gave you(the one with only like 5 lines)i couldnt bare the feeling of touching envelopes it was like if i did i was going to die..i have grew out of that a little but i still cant touch paper after washing my hands does anyone know what that is called??
Posted by asia battles  on  Tue Nov 17, 2009  at  07:34 PM
hi. I have a phobia of touching my collar bone i dont even like other people touching theirs in front of me also cant stand touching tendons like at the back of your ankle, knees and writs. I also cant put any kind of paper or cardboard on my bare skin it makes me sick. Does anyone know what any of these phobias are called?
Posted by Rhiannon Riley  on  Fri Nov 20, 2009  at  06:44 AM
I also have a phobia of felt if i ever accidentally touch it it makes me want to peel a layer of skin off my hands.
Posted by Rhiannon Riley  on  Fri Nov 20, 2009  at  06:48 AM
I CANNOT Touch paper or put on pants without lotion, and I mean alot of lotion! And I CANNOT STAND looking at or touching or looking at people touching their bellybuttons! I cannot touch ANYTHING dry! Chalk,Paper,Pants, ext. ext. And Whenever I get out of the shower, even the air HURTS!! I also have fear of The Ring and The Grudge! My older sister has to turn on the TV for me ! And Whenever she does I have to be on my bed! Also , (I HAVE ALOT OF PHOBIAS) I am afraid of having my nails too short!!! And a fear of Porclean Dolls! And a fear of being FAT/UGLY! Also of Dry Lips. Also of being in LOUD room with people YELLING and SHOUTING , I get A PANICK atack. THEIRS More , but I'm running out space, BUT PROBABLY the BIGGEST 1 is That I'm AFRAID of anything being Odd ( Not EVEN) and Fair! Like if I kick something with one foot , I hve to kick it with the other one 2, and I have A PANICK ATTACK when I have to write an uneven Number!! HELP!
Posted by Shannon Brand  on  Mon Nov 23, 2009  at  04:28 PM
I have a phobia of PVA glue. The thought of touching it or going near it makes me scream :S
Posted by Kirsten  on  Thu Nov 26, 2009  at  12:42 PM
In reply to Ian on page 3, the website you sent out didnt actually have my phobia there :/
Posted by Julia  on  Thu Nov 26, 2009  at  01:15 PM
When i was younger i had a dream where i stuck my hand out the window in the car and my hand got caught on a picker bush.. Ever since then i cannot touch any fabric after i cut my fingernails. I am just looking for the name of the phobia.
Posted by Topher  on  Mon Dec 07, 2009  at  07:57 PM
yup, i have a fear of kneecaps (genuphobia) AND wet wood, paper or (worst) tissue paper. havent found a name for that one yet...
Posted by lauren  on  Wed Dec 09, 2009  at  08:09 AM
ok, to the sarah girl in canada and for everyone else... i absolutley 100% afraid of napkins!!! it's not like i'm afraid of them but i juss hate the sound wen some1 uses them or wipes there hands or anything.. my body gets goosbumps ALL over my arms! and lke the thot of some1 getting a napkin and putting it between there teeth and grinding on it!! i HATE it!! when i hear it i yell STOP! or take it away and throw it somewhere as fast as i can!! and i'm tearafied of clowns!!! i hate to look at them or anything!!!! the 1 thing i hate the most about them is there eyes... theyy always look like there looking at you or something and i juss freak out.. i literaly tell a clown like at the mall or something to get away from me!!!! BUT I FREAKIN HATE NAPKINS!!
Posted by kristan  on  Sun Dec 13, 2009  at  09:02 AM
When some one rips fabric it makes me grind my teeth and I have to get out of the room as fast as I can.
Posted by John  on  Mon Dec 14, 2009  at  08:19 PM
I have a fear of touching something that was touched by someone who might not have washed their hands! So with all my phobias adn other stuff I do together I think I have OCD!!! But its weird because my grades aren't super HIGH and my room isn't super CLEAN! But I know how you feel Kristan from USA when people do that with their teeth! UGH! Help me people , am I OCD or am I CRAZY ?!
Posted by Shannon Brand  on  Wed Dec 16, 2009  at  03:36 PM
I can't believe someone else out there is also afraid of lotion! And I'm sorry to all of you who are afraid of little people - but Dr. Loveless wasn't one in Wild Wild West, by the way, Jdsmom. He was in a wheelchair... hope that doesn't turn your phobia upside-down!
Posted by Elk  on  Wed Dec 16, 2009  at  06:34 PM
I have this awful problem with touching paper towels with wet hands and not being able to rub my fingertips together let alone let someone rub there fingertips on mine, I feel like I can feel every ridge of there fingerprint and the same with the paper towels. I get goosebumps all over and it makes me shiver and then I usually act on instinct and yelp and drop or let go like it's actually hurting me. I have to tell friends because when do you not have wet hands and almost every where has paper towels but the worst is my ex's trying to rub my hand ,they think I'm nuts when I tell them I can feel there fingerprint.LOL!!!!
Posted by Cia Lashelle  on  Fri Dec 18, 2009  at  01:42 AM
I AM TERRIFIED OF MIDGETS.

KHUZDOPHOBIA ITS CALLED?

I CRY AT THE SITE OF THEM...HAVE PANIC ATTACKS AND THEN USUALLY PASS OUT.

NO IDEA HOW THIS FEAR CAME TO BE BUT I WANT TO BE A NURSE SOMEDAY SO HOWS WILL I TREAT MIDGETS?

nanosophobia
if you watched the wizard of oz as a child, i probably came from that... 😊
Posted by Abbie  on  Sun Dec 20, 2009  at  01:22 PM
Good to see other people with the midget/dwarf phobia!! It's always been a joke between my mates, i'll have a bit of a laugh when I'm with mates, but they don't know how deep it goes. I'm 24 now but from a kid i couldn't watch charlie and the chocolate factory. I can't "do" oompa loompas! It makes me cringe just writing it! Dwarfs in person freak me out but i can handle it and not be to obvious though.
Posted by lath  on  Thu Dec 31, 2009  at  09:26 PM
I have the fear of people touching my feet! I cry! Also I have the fear of stuffed animals staring at me at night, also the fear of windows. I can't look out them or i freak! also the fear cleaning supplies
Posted by judi  on  Thu Dec 31, 2009  at  09:43 PM
Does anybody know what a fear of people touching your head is called? I won't lett anyone touch my head and i can't go to the hairdressers or anything like that. yesterday my grandma was showing us this thing u put on your head that's supposed to relax you. when she put it on my head, I screamed SO loud. you wouldn't believe
Posted by Leah  on  Sat Jan 02, 2010  at  02:57 PM
I have come across a couple of people who are afraid of being
alone. What do you call that kind of phobia?


eve
Posted by Eve Falcon-Korems  on  Mon Jan 04, 2010  at  09:12 AM
I have a fear of two things; waterproof material and dry hands. My dad constantly rubs his hands together and I get goosebumps and shiver. With the waterproof material it's the same and it aggrivates me when I touch it and when I hear it.
Posted by Georgina  on  Wed Jan 06, 2010  at  03:58 PM
I blink too much. It started like a week ago. I kinda noticed but it wasn't a big deal. It's just gotten worse. Now I blink too hard, blink so much and double blink a lot. It's wierd an I feel like I don't actually open my eyes. If I concentrate on this it kind of works but not always. What's it called I'm trying to find a natural cure.
Posted by Mellisa Brown  on  Thu Jan 07, 2010  at  05:59 PM
Well I used to have the same thing with blinking but I noticed I only blinked even or common numbers like 2,5,10, etc...so I just focused myself on the odder numbers like (i know it's not odd but it's hardly used lol) 4,6,7,11, etc...so maybe the next time you blink so much count how many times and if it's even then focus on odd numbers. I hope this helps a bit! 😊
Posted by Brittney  on  Thu Jan 07, 2010  at  08:42 PM
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