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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.
Categories: Psychology
Posted by Alex on Fri Nov 21, 2003
Comments (449)
More from the Hoax Museum Archives:
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
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
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