Bizarre & Common Fears You Might Have

#1 Somniphobia

Dreading falling asleep and perhaps having a frightful dream or nightmare is known as somniphobia. People who have this spend countless minutes and hours lying in bed before falling asleep, worrying about never waking up or some type of paralysis. These people have also been found to have the most vivid dreams, which may account for their fear of finally succumbing to sleep.

#2 Aerophobia

If the thought of flying makes you physically sick, and you become so stressed that you can't visit family members or end up losing a job, you may be afflicted with a common fear, aerophobia. Sp many people have been diagnosed with this phobia since air travel in the last 2 decades has become frightening and sometimes fatal. Don't fret, you can always drive or take a train or boat to your destination.

#3 Ophidiophobia

A lot of people also suffer from the fear of snakes or reptiles. Even the sight of a snake in a picture or drawing can make some people go over the edge. Doctors believe this is so common because of evolution. The fear of deadly or venomous snakes is essential for survival. To get over this fear you are supposed to gradually introduce yourself to non-venomous snakes. Or, you can jump into a pit of the creatures like the famous Indiana Jones did.

#4 Haphephobia

Don't take it personally the next time someone is jolted into shock the next time you touch their skin. They may have haphephobia, which is the fear of being touched by human hands. This is a very serious malady as it can cause sufferers to not want to leave their home and lead productive lives. Performer and personality Kelly Osbourne suffers from this phobia but has undergone extensive treatment for it.

#5 Triskaidekaphobia

Not classified as a common phobia, it is just the fear of the number thirteen. It is considered unlucky, or even evil to some people, and they can become stressed or panicked when they are forced to use the number for any reason. Many hotels, office buildings, and apartment buildings skip the number 13 when assigning floors. People believe when the 13th falls on a Friday, it is unsafe or bad luck to leave the house.

#6 Coulrophobia

The majority of people with the fear of clowns are children who hopefully, will grow out of it as they get older. But there are some adults with a deathly fear of anyone in a clown suit and makeup. Several movies about killer clowns has not helped the clown population with its bad rap, and actor Johnny Depp is morbidly afraid of them.

#7 Cynophobia

Not everyone loves your sweet and fluffy new puppy. There are people who are afraid of dogs. Some fear animals totally, but this one is simply a nightmarish fear of dogs. While it is not as common as snake or spider phobias, it is more debilitating due to the number of dogs sufferers can come into contact with in their daily routine.

#8 Panphobia

This is not the fear of anything specifically, but instead it is a fear of fear itself. Have you ever met a person you thought was afraid to do just about everything? Well, they may be suffering from this condition. It's a constant fear that danger and evil are always looming.

#9 Germophobia

It's not a bad thing to be concerned about germs and viruses that can end up making you sick. However, some people are a bit extreme when it comes to their hygiene and are afraid of anything that might give them germs such as shaking hands or even kissing someone. Maintaining good hygiene and living a healthy lifestyle are good practices but if it is consuming most of your thought and time then it can lead to unwanted stress and other fears. Singer Ariana Grande and comedian Howie Mandell are both germophobes.

#10 Optophobia

Are you afraid to open your eyes? Maybe the outside world is getting to be a bit much to handle. If you are afraid to open your eyes after sleeping, you suffer from optophobia. Luckily, if you are reading this list, you most likely aren't suffering from this condition!

#11 Arachnophobia

The most common fear of all fears is the fear of spiders. Many people are fine being around these creatures but for a growing number of people, it is impossible to live a normal life when even the thought of a spider is present. Arachnophobes can become so stressed by just looking at pictures or even simply discussing spiders, that they are unable to function. There is no known cause for the fear of spiders, but is could be simply that they are gross and can bite and kill you.

#12 Claustrophobia

Many people suffer with claustrophobia and are afraid of being trapped or enclosed in tight spaces. A trip to the doctor for an MRI might set someone into a swirling panic can become uncontrollable. Eventually, people with this stress inducing fear will start to avoid any situation that would lead to being 'trapped' in a tight spot, such as travelling.

#13 Glossophobia

Everyone has a little of this fear. But there are some people who will do just about anything to avoid talking to a crowd of people. Some folks are even unable to be in a small group and carry on a conversation. A lot of people get over their fear of public speaking by simply doing it a little at a time until it becomes second nature. However, there is no promise that you will ever become a talk show host if you have this phobia.

#14 Acrophobia

Another popular fear is that of heights or being trapped in high places. The fear of heights seems to set in later in life and gets worse with age. Specialists say that the best way to get over this phobia is to face it head on rather than avoiding it. I wouldn't recommend sitting on a high ledge right off the bat however.

#15 Hypochondriasis

There are a lot of people who constantly believe that they have some sort of life threatening disease that turns out to be nothing more than a common cold. Some of these people watch television shows about health and illnesses or read things online, and immediately believe they have the same exact symptoms and are about to die. Some people who are hypochondriacs never believe their doctors and still go on to think that every rash or blister means impending death.

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