Right, here's the thing, I have a fear of balloons, and people always think I'm completely bonkers for it, so I thought I'd see what other unusual phobias there are out there, you know, just to make myself look slightly less insane!
Ambulophobia - Fear of walking.
Hmm… I know a few people who would probably claim to have this if they knew it existed. The real term for them however is lazy - straight to the point and much easier to spell.
Autodysomophobia - Fear of one who has a vile odour.
Well, let's face it, whether you're crammed into a crowded train on the daily commute to work or stuck in a well-packed lift for twenty floors, this one is something we all fear from time to time.
Barophobia - Fear of gravity.
How the heck do you live with that one?! I guess you must just hide away dreaming of the days when space travel reaches the masses.
Cacophobia - Fear of ugliness.
Aaw, and there was me thinking those people who picked on me at school were just plain shallow. Poor things. NOT.
Coprastasophobia - Fear of constipation.
Uh… let's be honest, does anyone really like it?!
Didaskaleinophobia - Fear of going to school.
Ah, I can see it now! Schoolchildren up and down the country walking up to their teachers and saying: “Sorry, Miss, I can't come to school anymore, my Mom says I have didaskaleinophobia. Oh, and by the way, the dog ate my homework.”
Ephebiphobia - Fear of teenagers.
I know they're grumpy, over-dramatic, brooding and generally annoying (come on, folks, we've all been there!) but are they really scary? Just threaten them with some really uncool trainers and they'll soon run a mile.
Euphobia - Fear of hearing good news.
Just… why???
Gamophobia - Fear of marriage.
Uh-oh! Don't let the men of the world get wind of this one! “No, my darling, it's not that I don't want to marry you. I'm afraid I have gamophobia. The doctors say it's incurable.”
Geniophobia - Fear of chins.
Does this include your own chin? Because if it does, then talk about a rough deal! It would be like someone with arachnophobia walking around with a spider sellotaped to their face all day.
Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia - Fear of the number 666.
I just threw this one in because I like big words. Speaking of which…
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia - Fear of long words.
How ironic!
Lockiophobia - Fear of childbirth.
Well, I'd say that's a pretty rational fear really! Unless you're a sadist… or a gynaecologist of course, but that would just be silly.
Pentheraphobia - Fear of mother-in-laws.
Is this one serious?! I mean, I know we've all heard the many mother-in-law jokes told by bad comedians, but an actual phobia of them? Surely that's a bit much.
Oopsiwishidneverreadthisstupidlistophobia - Fear of reading boring lists that think they're funny but really aren't.
Don't worry, I made that last one up… Apologies if you feel like you have it anyway though!
