We all know about common fears like heights or spiders, but there’s a whole world of weird phobias that can make you scratch your head and laugh at the same time, like the fear of Friday the 13th. These quirky anxieties might sound outlandish, but they’re surprisingly relatable. It’s funny how our brains can create fears over the most random things, and sometimes, they even reflect the wacky lives we lead today!
Here are some explanations of weird phobias that you may have:
Anatidaephobia
Anatidaephobia is the bizarre but hilarious fear that, no matter where you are, a duck (or goose) is watching you. Imagine stressing out during a big exam, not because of how difficult it is, but because you’re convinced there’s a duck somewhere in the building judging your every move!
While it sounds like a hilarious idea, the term isn’t recognised as one of the many legit phobias in the field of psychology, as it was actually coined by the cartoonist Gary Larson in his comic strip “The Far Side” back in the 1980s.
Arachibutyrophobia
Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth, which is honestly a pretty specific worry but can totally ruin your morning toast and kopi.
Arithmophobia
Arithmophobia is the fear of numbers, which can be a real struggle when you’re just trying to calculate your bill at a restaurant and start sweating at the sight of the total!
Brontophobia
Brontophobia is the fear of thunder and lightning—which is pretty scary when you live in Singapore, which has one of the highest lightning rates in the world. “Bronto” comes from the Greek word brontē, which means thunder. Interestingly, “bronto” is also the root of brontosaurus, so it’s literally a “thunder lizard”.
Ergophobia
Ergophobia is basically the fear of work, where just the idea of going to your job or doing any work-related stuff makes you super anxious.
Eremophobia
Eremophobia is basically the fear of being alone, like when the thought of having no one around totally freaks you out. It’s not so far fetched, since we probably know a lot of people who’re afraid of being alone in the night, especially after watching a horror film.
Decidophobia
Decidophobia is the fear of making decisions, which can be super relatable when even picking what to eat for dinner feels like a massive life choice!
Hypengyophobia
Hypengyophobia is the fear of responsibility, like when you’re sweating just thinking about all the adulting you have to do and would rather binge-watch your favourite series instead!
Ideophobia
Ideophobia is the fear of ideas, which is pretty wild—imagine being so freaked out by new thoughts that you avoid brainstorming sessions like the plague!
Kakorrhaphiophobia
Kakorrhaphiophobia is the abnormal fear of failure or losing, which in Singapore can totally hit home with all the pressure to excel in school, work, and even in the smallest competitions.
Katsiradaphobia
Katsiradaphobia is the fear of cockroaches, which is hilariously relatable in Singapore, where you can witness even the strongest men sprinting away at the sight of these critters. While “Katsirada” is the Greek word for cockroach (hence the phobia), sometimes you’ll also find Blattophobia being used, since “Blattodea” is an order of insects that cockroaches are classified under.
Nomophobia
Nomophobia is the fear of being without your mobile phone, like that panicky feeling you get when you realize you left it at home and suddenly feel cut off from the world! Of all the weird phobias, this one is totally relatable, right?
Omphalophobia
Omphalophobia is the fear of belly buttons, which might sound a bit strange, but those with omphalophobia will avoid seeing or touching belly buttons, even their own. They may also avoid places where belly buttons are exposed, like in pools or beaches.
Philophobia
Philophobia is the fear of falling in love, and it’s super relatable these days, especially with the growing number of people choosing to stay single in Singapore.
Pogonophobia
Pogonophobia is the fear of beards, so if you see someone with a bushy beard and feel the urge to run in the opposite direction, you may have this quirky phobia.
Trichopathophobia
Trichopathophobia is the fear of loose hair that has fallen, and those with the condition get getting anxious over stray hairs on the floor or stuck on clothes. It may sound weird, but when you’ve grown up watching Asian horror films, you’ll know the fear is real.
So, whether you find yourself sweating over a stray hair on the floor or feeling anxious about making the wrong dinner choice, it’s clear that weird phobias can pop up in the most unexpected ways. They remind us that everyone has their quirks and fears, no matter how strange they might seem. Embracing these odd anxieties can actually make us feel a little less alone in our everyday struggles, and you might even find a bit of humour in them along the way!
