The Most Unusual and Peculiar Phobias

Phobias are irrational fears that are persistent and pertain to certain objects or situations. Some of the most unusual phobias are listed here. While these phobias may relate to things that are strange to imagine someone being scared of, the irrational nature of phobias lends no real reasons why someone should have such intense fear of any of the subjects.

Ablutophobia - The fear of bathing, washing or cleaning is more common in children and women than men. This isn't to be confused with a general dislike of having a bath or shower, but is an intense fear of cleaning up.

Anthophobia - This is the fear of flowers; though it is generally understood that there is no danger from the flowers, sufferers still feel anxiety at the site of flowers or parts of flowers, like stems. Any flower can be the subject of this phobia.

Chorophobia - There aren't a lot of statistics or information available about the fear of dancing.

Gymnophobia - This is the fear of nudity; whether of being nude or of seeing others nude, or both.

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia - The fear of the number 666, while present among Christians; has also been made an issue in horror movies. Believed to be the mark of evil, many who have this fear are religious, though not all.

Koumpounophobia - The fear of buttons, either worn by the sufferer or worn by others.

Nomophobia - The fear of being out of mobile phone contact was a phobia that was named during a UK Post Office study. They found that 53% of British mobile phone users are anxious when they are without their phones or cell phone coverage. More than half of those with Nomophobia never turn their cell phones off at all.

Phobophobia - This is described as the fear of having a phobia. Sufferers fear having a phobia or of developing a phobia. It is quite ironic that to have Phobophobia, you must already have what you are afraid of getting. If you weren't scared of developing a phobia, you wouldn't even have a phobia.

Telephone Phobia - The fear or reluctance of making or taking phone calls was reportedly suffered by about 2.5 million people in Great Britain.

Trypophobia - The fear or anxiety from the sight of certain regular patterns or geometrical objects, like honeycombs; more easily described as the fear of clusters of holes.

Resources

National Institute of Mental Health - The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America
Wikipedia - List of Phobias
Wikipedia - Ablutophobia
Wikipedia - Anthophobia
Wikipedia - Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia
Wikipedia - Gymnophobia
Wikipedia - Nomophobia
Wikipedia - Phobophobia
Wikipedia - Telephone Phobia
Trypophobia Website