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.
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Categories: Psychology Posted by Alex on Fri Nov 21, 2003 |
Comments (449) |
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I have the fear of lotions and creams. Any idea what the proper name for it is?
Google yahoo and ask have no idea 😊
Posted by Lilly on Fri Jan 08, 2010 at 05:06 PM
Google yahoo and ask have no idea 😊
I am terrified of wet napkins, tissue, toilet paper[even tho i have to use it], cotton balls, wet paper...and cats and dogs. Everytime some one accidentally puts a wet napkin near were i am i start to cry..or worse yet i start to hyperventilate..i really hate it because people thik i am wierd..but i just cannot help it..its so disgusting!
Posted by Dana Smith on Fri Jan 08, 2010 at 08:30 PM
Hi
I have two main phobias
1- of certain materials like wool, cashmere and carpets. i always have to wear shoes or at least socks if i walk on a carpet. i especially freak out when standing on the little green carpets you find at the supermarket in the fruit and veg section
2 sometimes i become very aware that the pavement that im walking on is filthy. particularly if its raining and panic about finding the nearest place to sit down so i can elevate my feet off the floor.
i did a little searching and apparently "textophobia" is the term for the first issue. does anyone else feel like this? because my family think im overreacting but I feel so panicy aand uncomfortable, i would feel so much better knowing im not the only one
Posted by alice on Wed Jan 13, 2010 at 10:04 PM
I have two main phobias
1- of certain materials like wool, cashmere and carpets. i always have to wear shoes or at least socks if i walk on a carpet. i especially freak out when standing on the little green carpets you find at the supermarket in the fruit and veg section
2 sometimes i become very aware that the pavement that im walking on is filthy. particularly if its raining and panic about finding the nearest place to sit down so i can elevate my feet off the floor.
i did a little searching and apparently "textophobia" is the term for the first issue. does anyone else feel like this? because my family think im overreacting but I feel so panicy aand uncomfortable, i would feel so much better knowing im not the only one
I can not find the word for, or even some one else who feels the same way, but I'm afraid of pillow cases. I'm afraid there gonna cover my nose when I sleep and smother me to death. Anyone know anything about that?
Posted by Phoebe on Mon Jan 18, 2010 at 12:34 AM
my frend has a fear of frogs.. she heard one croaking and she like started to hypervetilate and freak out 😊
Posted by sara on Sun Jan 24, 2010 at 05:23 PM
I have the fear of scratching paper. :\
Posted by Daria on Mon Feb 01, 2010 at 12:36 AM
Oh wow, finely someone else feels what I feel with chalk, ITS HORRIBLE, I actually cant stand the thought of touching it at all and now im thinking about it I have to keep rubbing my finger nails on my thumb between each word for some reason lol, I took art as a GCSE and it was very hard to even be sat near people using chalk D: I get it with charcoal too and anything powdery that scrapes on paper or something EWW :L
Posted by Sadie on Sun Feb 07, 2010 at 06:35 AM
I have an irrational fear of baby corns. I cannot be around them, look at them, smell them, nevermind EAT them. I don't know what it is about them but it is the scariest thing to me, as well as wet paper I have to leave the room. It's so bad, and it's such a shame because most people don't take me seriously on either of these phobias.
Posted by stephanie on Fri Feb 12, 2010 at 10:20 AM
I have a very strange phobia. It is of rough or eneven things. Like sandpaper, chalk and scratchy trousers. Things like that really creep me out. I have to touch something smooth or think about something smooth to calm me down like plastic.
Posted by Alex on Mon Feb 15, 2010 at 06:56 AM
I can't believe I've found other sufferers with the 'touching paper' thing...but, quite bizarrely, I have the exact opposite fear....touching paper with dry hands. I have to slap lots of moisturiser on them first, or wet my hands slightly, otherwise I simply cannot touch paper. It is an intense form of heebie jeebies if I do. It is quite debilitating, as I come into contact with lots of paper. People think I'm a freak.
Posted by Matthew on Mon Feb 15, 2010 at 03:04 PM
i'm glad there are some people with my phobias, people never take me seriously when i say i have a phobia of soap, i still use soap, im a clean freak, but i rinse my hands for ages afterwards and cant leave a single bit on my hands,one of my tutors at school let me use the bathroom, then didnt let me leave the classroom again coz i'd left some soap between my fingers (the worst place for me) so i ran outta the room and then came back afterwards and got put in detention =|
i also can't stand oils, lotions, washing up liquid or creams and i have eczema as well =|
Posted by Kaleb on Thu Feb 18, 2010 at 05:45 PM
i also can't stand oils, lotions, washing up liquid or creams and i have eczema as well =|
oh i forgot to mention i have an extremely strange OCD as well...
with potato waffles they come as 5x4 squares, i have to make them 4x4 then cut 2 sides off to make 3x3, i dont know why i just can't eat waffles if they're not even
Posted by Kaleb on Thu Feb 18, 2010 at 05:47 PM
with potato waffles they come as 5x4 squares, i have to make them 4x4 then cut 2 sides off to make 3x3, i dont know why i just can't eat waffles if they're not even
I HATE the sound of pencils or markers on paper. It makes me crazy. I used a pencil without a tip the other day and thought I was going to die. The sound it made when it dug into the paper still gives me goosebumps just to think of it. I also hate the sound of markers on paper or when someone folds the paper and rubs it together. Or even touching paper. I have always had this problem but I don't know anyone else like me. People laugh at me when they find out and do it more but they don't understand how much it hurts me. I would much rather hear nails on a chalkboard.
Posted by Donna on Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 07:09 PM
i am only 12 and i cant stand the feeling of styrofoam it gives me bumps on my arms and my ears foled in its a scary feeling even when i hear it it scares me my parents and famiely members think i am wiered and i just had to let it out my brothers get me so mad when they push styrofoam at my face i cry sometimes my parents didnt know what i had so i found this place thats so cool to let out what i am feeling.
Posted by kayla on Thu Mar 18, 2010 at 12:52 PM
Does anyone here have a fear of your feet being looked at or a fear of touching bald heads? Does anyone know what either of these fear might be called, other than Podophobia?
Posted by Brianna on Thu Mar 18, 2010 at 03:30 PM
hi,i also have a phobia of being tickled,it scares me even thinking about it,what is it called?? not being tickled by feathers just tickled in general.can i be cured??
Posted by lynette on Sat Mar 20, 2010 at 08:05 PM
i am afraid of soap Anybody else???
Posted by Joshua on Tue Mar 23, 2010 at 04:49 PM
I have an fear of lotions and creams, but not soap or germ-x, or shampoo, I also have a skin itching condition, so I can't stop it with the cream, the lotion make my skin crawl as well as sand paper and nail filers, anyone else?
Posted by Spencer on Tue Mar 23, 2010 at 08:17 PM
And the fear of midgets is the most common phobia, they kind of creep me out, but I don't FEAR them,....
Posted by Spencer on Tue Mar 23, 2010 at 08:19 PM
I fear bridges especially crossing them. I have the unresonable fear that they will collapse as im crossing them or that someone will throw me off. If someone is walking with me they have to cross the bridge in front of me otherwise I wont cross. the higher the bridge the worse the fear. I am also afraid of being hated or being chewed out,this has all but ruined me for working.
Posted by adam blair on Thu Mar 25, 2010 at 03:19 AM
I have really severe Emetophobia (Phobia of vomiting). Also, I have slight Bathmophobia, which is a phobia of steep slopes. I think that might link to my slight phobia of feeling vertigo.
Posted by Miki on Thu Mar 25, 2010 at 01:13 PM
I have a serious fear of spiders and bugs :grrr:
they MASSIVELY creep me out...
Oompa loompas scare me too lol
Posted by Angie on Fri Mar 26, 2010 at 03:11 AM
they MASSIVELY creep me out...
Oompa loompas scare me too lol
i also have an insane fear of napkins. ever since i was little, just the feeling of them and even the sound they make when someone is rubbing their hands on them, it is actualy disgusting. its hard to even watch someone use them! i also dont like some notebooks, when my arm rubs against the paper when i am writing in them!
Posted by michelle on Sun Mar 28, 2010 at 10:35 AM
I cant sleep with my feet sticking out the end of a blanket. they have to be tucked in because otherwise somebody may be able to walk in and grab my foot! haha i know its stupid and if there was someone else in the house thats the least of my concerns, but i just can't reason with myself.
Posted by lath on Fri Apr 09, 2010 at 06:21 AM
I'm scared of touching napkins or brown paper towels... I have had this phobia for as long as i can remember. I especially hate touching the cheap brown paper towels when my hands are dry. or the sound of these things when the brush together or crumple together. ugh.... just thinking about it freaks me out. It's just the feeling of them. The sound of it just reminds me of the feeling. I flip out when i do, like I get this jolt inside me and it gives me goose bumps. I don't know if there is a name of this fear.
Posted by Kayla on Mon Apr 12, 2010 at 04:59 PM
i am terrified of Rust!
Posted by Tiarra on Wed Apr 14, 2010 at 06:31 PM
I have a fobia of shaving foam. That is blates not normal,, i wanna know the name for it 😊 i have and i dont think ever will come accross anyone else who has a fear of it 😊
Posted by rosie101 on Wed Apr 28, 2010 at 12:21 PM
I have a fear of wooden spoons
i dont know why
i have never been hit with a wooden spoon, i am just terrified by the thought of wooden spoons
is there a word for that?
Posted by elizabeth on Mon May 03, 2010 at 01:54 AM
i dont know why
i have never been hit with a wooden spoon, i am just terrified by the thought of wooden spoons
is there a word for that?
i have a phobia of scratching paper with fingernails my own or someone else's.
Posted by santasia teal on Wed May 05, 2010 at 07:03 PM
Alix. Both me and my sister have the same fear. We just hate it when an object or people touch our collorbones. I can take an object and lightly touch it for like a sec before freaking out. With people I can't do it at all. Its like I think about it breaking or going too. Even though I know it wont I still can't stand it.
Posted by Marie on Wed May 12, 2010 at 02:49 PM
{stupid336x280}
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