List of 7 Rare and Unique Phobias

All of us are fearful of something. However, a phobia is completely different than usual fear. A phobia refers to an irrational fear of a situation, object or living thing. The difference between a phobia and usual fear is that natural fear usually stems from us being in a potentially dangerous situation, whereas with phobias, in most cases, the irrational fear is actually a response to something that is less likely to cause actual harm. Phobias are known to cause significant distress to the person which leads to them avoiding the situation or object.

Well, most of us may have heard about common phobias like acrophobia (fear of heights) or claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces). However, there are few phobias that are rare and unique and are much lesser known than others. Few of them have been listed below:

• Eisoptrophia (fear of mirrors)

More accurately, eisoptrophobia is the fear of seeing your own reflection. Looking at one’s own reflection leads to severe distress and anxiety. Thus, the avoidance of mirrors or reflective surfaces is of paramount importance for people eisoptrophobia. A case study on a ‘Ms. A’ was recorded by William Pitchot where Ms. A had experienced eisoptrophobia, associated with major depression, for 30 years. Feelings of shame and distress were associated with the phobia. The case also showed how the usual cognitive-behavioural therapy did not work for the client, however, duloxetine monotherapy did help, with her fear dropping from 9 to 2 on a visual analogue scale. Soon thereafter, feelings of shame and distress associated with mirrors also dispersed (Pitchot, 2014).

• Arachibutyrophobia (fear of peanut butter getting stuck to the roof of your mouth)

This phenomenon may have happened to most of us at some point, especially is we took a big spoonful of peanut butter all at one go. However, people with arachibutyrophobia are extremely afraid of this feat. As with other phobias, the severity of arachibutyrophobia differs from person to person. The fear could stem from an even greater fear of sticky foods or from choking. It could have also stemmed from a previous traumatic incident of an allergic reaction to peanut butter or from choking. Since the severity of the phobia differs, some people may be able to still have peanut butter in small amounts, while some may avoid eating it altogether.

• Alektorophobia (fear of chickens)

This phobia stems from a strong fear of chickens. Alektorophobia is derived from the Greek word Elektor, meaning rooster and Phobos, meaning fear. Again, the severity of the phobia differs, where for some people it may result in just discomfort, whereas others may experience panic attacks too. There are a few causes of the phobia. One could be that the person was a part of or observed a traumatic incident involving chickens. Secondly, one’s family history- where children could have picked up on parent’s behaviours of being fearful or anxious around chickens. Finally, one is more likely to develop alektorophobia if they grew up in a rural area with a large number of chickens.

• Plutophobia (fear of money)

While most of us wish for more money, plutophobics have an intense fear of wealth and money. Plutophobia includes people being fearful of being wealthy themselves or fear of wealthy people. They strongly avoid having anything to do with money. This fear perhaps stems from them having to deal with a large number of responsibilities or from pressure associated with making money, or are fearful of getting robbed. On the downside, plutophobics may deliberately sabotage their careers in order to prevent themselves from becoming wealthier.

• Thalassophobia (fear of the ocean or wide, open water)

This phobia involves having a deep fear of unknown sea creatures lurking in the deep, blue waters of the ocean. It is different from aquaphobia, which is the fear of water. Thalassophobia is more a fear of what lies below the surface. Thalassophobics believe the ocean or sea to be spaces that are dark and dangerous in nature, especially since it is a space that is relatively unexplored, and unknown.

• Octophobia (fear of the number 8)

Octophobia differs from other number related phobias such as arithmophobia (fear of all numbers). People with Octophobia are fearful not only of seeing the number 8 written down or having to write 8 down, but are also fearful of objects that come in groups of 8. Reasons for this phobia could stem from a traumatic incident involving number 8, says the death of a loved one on the 8th of a month or in the month of August. The number 8 also resembles an infinity sign that is a never-ending curve that can make some people dizzy.

• Pogonophobia (fear of beards)

Pogonophobia is derived from the Greek word pogon, which means beard and Phobos which means fear. The phobia usually stems from a traumatic incident with a bearded person or from the fact that a beard hides someone’s face. Stereotypes portrayed by the media about bearded people being untrustworthy and dangerous say for example, after the 9/11 attacks in the US, further fuels this phobia. Pognophobics may feel anxious or nervous when around someone with a beard, or even a picture of a bearded person.

Well, there you have it! The above listed are only a handful of the rare phobias known. It is important to note that however known or unknown your phobia is, if you see that it hinders everyday living or if you turn to alcohol or drugs to cope with the phobia- please consider seeking help. Help is always available, be it treatment plans online or psychotherapy- depending on the severity of the phobia. So, do not hesitate to get the help you need!  

References

Pitchot, W. (2014). Effective treatment of Eisoptrophobia with duloxetine: A case report. National Center for Biotechnology Information, 16 (5). doi:10.4088/PCC.14l01636  

Sippel, T. (2020). 21 weird phobias that you’ve likely never heard of. The Recovery Village. Retrieved from: https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/phobias/related/weird-phobias/

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