Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Are You Phobophobic?

I stumbled across the word phobophobia today--fear of phobias. The first phobia I remember learning about was hydrophobia--fear of water, as well as a term used for rabies (since rabies creates a fear of water in the human or animal who has the condition)--thanks to reading Old Yeller. Nobody can accuse me of having triskaidekaphobia (an irrational fear of the number 13), since my birthday occasionally falls on Friday the 13th. So I joyfully consider 13 my lucky number.

Thinking about phobias (meaning "irrational fears") led me to wonder about other kinds of phobias people might have, so I searched for "phobias" and came up with this site: The Phobia List . Here are a few of my favorite phobias from this site:
  • Alliumphobia - Fear of garlic. (I guess this phobia is genetic for vampires.)
  • Amathophobia - Fear of dust. (I can honestly say this is a phobia I do NOT have--as anyone who has seen the dust bunnies in my house can attest to.)
  • Genuphobia - Fear of knees. (What?)
  • Papyrophobia - Fear of paper. (I can understand this one. I once got a papercut on my eyeball--don't ask.)
  • Thaasophobia - Fear of sitting. (I can't imagine going through life only standing or reclining.)
  • Vestiphobia - Fear of clothing. (My cat exhibits signs of this phobia. She absolutely refuses to be dressed up. I have shown her pictures of the three little kittens who lost their mittens and cried as a result, but she remains unconvinced that clothing is necessary for felines.)
  • Xenoglossophobia - Fear of foreign languages.
  • Zemmiphobia - Fear of the great mole rat. (Sounds like the premise for a bad sci-fi flick.)

If you enjoyed The Phobia List, try The Phobias or About.com's Phobias List. If you are looking for more serious sites, visit Mayo Clinic's Phobias fact sheet or the American Psychiatric Association's Phobias site.

If I suffer from any phobia, it's agoraphobia--fear of being in crowded, public places like markets. I don't have a problem in most crowds, but if the crowds get really close, I feel like I need to scream. So...what's your phobia?

3 comments:

Diane said...

Kris,



This was absolutely hilarious! I laughed out loud, you are so wity. And PLEASE tell me how you got a paper cut on your eyeball, the curiousity is killing me!



My phobias are of heights. However I can go on any roller coaster you put me on (and love it) or any other amusement park ride with no problem, but can NOT go on a ferris wheel or a lift! I completely PANIC! Severe anxiety attack! I can fly in a plane, but can not go anywhere near the windows at the top of the John Hancock building (they go all the way to the floor) Wierd. This fear developed in adulthood, I did not have it as a child. I am not sure what triggered it, or why it developed.



I also have a phobia of drowning, however I own a pool and swim all the time. My phobia is mainly just regarding drowning in the ocean or anywhere there is an undercurrent. Maybe my fear is actually of undercurrents. So alas I may never get to go to Hawaii, my dream vacation, or anywhere else that involves flying over the ocean. I would consider going on a cruise line though. So figure that out?!?!?



I do know that truth is life as we perceive it and so no matter how much you explain the silliness of a phobia to one that has it, they can not change it or help it. I know my drowning phobia is very silly but I still can't get "over" it. My height phobia actually causes physical symptoms.



Anyway, thank you so much for including me in your blog, it was interesting, thought provoking, and just plain funny!



Love, Diane

nofiltergirl said...

Kris,
You slay me! Fear of knees? Where did you find that one? Now spiders, THATS something to be afraid of! I think you ought to talk about what soothes the soul and mind/body connection for each of us. Might be an interesting exploration....Love ya! (Borg)

b*sherrie said...

Hilarious! Here are mine:
Acrophobia- Fear of heights.
Agateophobia- Fear of insanity.
Athazagoraphobia- Fear of being forgotton or ignored or forgetting.
Aviophobia or Aviatophobia- Fear of flying.
Dystychiphobia- Fear of accidents.
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedalio phobia- Fear of long words (not really, I just think it's funny!)
Soteriophobia - Fear of dependence on others.
Topophobia- Fear of certain places or situations, such as stage fright.
Papyrophobia- Fear of paper (although it's not a fear of the paper itself; it's the fear of papercuts, particularly in my eyeball).

Thanks for the laugh! :)