25 Weird Phobias That Some People Actually Have

Published September 8, 2018
Updated July 31, 2019

You may think you have some irrational fears, but wait until you read about these weird phobias — which are more common than you probably thought.

Weird Phobias Ketchup
Weird Phobias Buttons
Weird Phobias
Weird Phobias
25 Weird Phobias That Some People Actually Have
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There is a shocking array of phobias — weird phobias, especially — that plague the human race. It certainly seems like almost everyone is deathly afraid of something, and often something you might not expect.

According to The Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 19 million adults in the U.S. (8.7 percent of the population) suffer from a specific phobia.

Specific phobias can often be traced back to an explicit source or experience. It is a fear that is brought on by a particular event or trauma and it usually develops in childhood.

Some of these types of fears arise from the invention of new technologies: artificial intelligence, chemicals, and even cell phones. There are also more complex phobias that are a product of conditioning or life experience, genetics, and brain chemistry. And some strange phobias may also be remnants of early human behavior from a time when our ancestors lived in a more tense and threatening world.

Whatever their genesis, the important thing to remember about weird phobias is that various therapies can help people take control of these fears. That's why professionals encourage sufferers to seek help for their phobias, no matter how strange they may seem. Besides, it's virtually certain that someone somewhere probably has an even weirder phobia than yours.

See for yourself in the gallery of weird phobias above.


Next, discover more of the world's strangest phobias. Then, read about these famous people that you never knew had agoraphobia.

Erin Kelly
An All That’s Interesting writer since 2013, Erin Kelly focuses on historic places, natural wonders, environmental issues, and the world of science. Her work has also been featured in Smithsonian and she’s designed several book covers in her career as a graphic artist.