Friday The 13th, Part Two.

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

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What do you know, it’s Friday 13th AGAIN.

Second one in two months and there will be another in November 2015 too.

How lucky is that?

Well, I guess not so lucky if you suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia (also known as friggatriskaidekaphobia), which is a fear of Friday the 13th, or even triskadekaphobia which is the scientific name given to a fear of the number 13 itself.

It shouldn’t be that much of a surprise really. The longest period that can occur without a Friday the 13th is 14 months, and every year has at least one and sometimes, like this year, three Friday the 13ths.

There is no written evidence for a “Friday the 13th” superstition before the 19th century, the first reference to an unlucky Friday the 13th coming in an 1869 biography of the composer Rossini who died on Friday November 13, 1868.

The superstition only gained widespread distribution in the 20th century, although the origin is believed to have come from the Bible, the association stemming from the idea that the 13th guest at the Last Supper was the one who betrayed Jesus prior to his death, which occurred on a Friday.

Hotels, skyscrapers and even hospitals have been known to skip out on creating a 13th floor due to its unlucky connection and even airports sometimes quietly omit gate 13. The Curtis Hotel in Denver, Colorado, on the other hand uses the superstition as a gimmick to amuse guests by playing the “dun, dun, dunnnnn!!” theme in the elevator shaft for guests as they arrive on the 13th floor.

Sometimes research seems to add weight to the superstition. A study in Finland, for example, has shown that women are more likely to die in traffic accidents on Friday the 13th than on other Fridays.

And, according to a report from U.K.’s newspaper, The Mirror, 72 percent of United Kingdom residents have claimed to have had bad luck experiences Friday the 13th. The readers polled admitted to avoiding traveling, attending business meetings and making large purchases on this unlucky day, with 34 percent admitting to wanting to “hide under their duvet” for the upcoming dates. The study did not speculate if their luck would have been better if they had gone about their normal business!

Former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt had a strong fear of the number 13 and refused to host a dinner party with 13 guests or to travel on the 13th day of any month. US President Herbert Hoover had similar fears.

Maybe he did what superstitious diners in Paris do – hire a quatorzieme, or professional 14th guest.

I don’t think Cuban leader Fidel Castro had the same fears because he was born on Friday, August 13,1926, as was the celebrated outlaw Butch Cassidy (born on. Friday, April 13,1866).

Speaking of outlaws, Oklahoma bandit Crawford “Cherokee Bill” Goldsby murdered 13 victims, and was captured after a reward of $1300 was posted. At his trial, 13 eyewitnesses testified against him, the jury took 13 hours to render a verdict of guilty. He was hanged on April 13,1896 on a gallows with 13 steps!

Stock broker and author Thomas W. Lawson, wrote a novel in 1907 entitled “Friday the Thirteenth,” about a stockbroker’s attempts to take down Wall Street on the unluckiest day of the month. Reportedly, stock brokers after this were as unlikely to buy or sell stocks on this unlucky day as they were to walk under a ladder, according to accounts of a 1925 New York Times article.

The independent horror movie Friday the 13th was released in May 1980 and despite only having a budget of $550,000 it grossed $39.7million at the box office in the United States – not unlucky for it’s backers. In fact the “Friday the 13th” film franchise continues to sweep up its box-office competition. According to  BoxOfficeMojo.com, the dozen films named after the haunted holiday have raked in more than $380 million nationally, with an average gross of $31 million per feature.

Another director noted for his suspenseful psychological thrillers, Alfred Hitchcock, was born on the Friday 13th in August 1899, although he also had a run in with bad luck on that date too when his directorial debut movie called “Number 13,” never made it past the first few scenes and was shut down due to financial problems. He is supposed to have said that the film wasn’t very interesting. We’ll never know!

Also with movies in mind there was a feature film based on the unlucky events of Apollo 13, launched on 13:13 CST, April 11,1970, which barely escaped becoming a doomed flight when an explosion disabled the craft occurring on April 13th (not a Friday in case you are interested).

According to Thomas Gilovich, chair of Psychology at Cornell University, our brains are known to make associations with Friday 13th in a way that would give favor to the “bad luck” myths. He explains this by saying that “if anything bad happens to you on Friday the 13th, the two will be forever associated in your mind and all those uneventful days in which the 13th fell on a Friday will be ignored.” It’s a bit like remembering the good old days and forgetting the bad ones!

Always contrary, pagans believe that 13 is actually a lucky number since it corresponds with the number of full moons in a year and in Spanish-speaking nations, Tuesday The 13th is regarded as unlucky rather than Friday!

So I guess you just have to make up your own mind whether you believe Friday 13th is unlucky or not.

I’m hoping of course that the fact that you have landed on this blog today is good luck rather than bad.

It was good luck for me, please call again.

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It’s Friday 13th!!!

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

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There is a lot of nonsense surrounding Friday 13th.

Many superstitious people consider it to be unlucky. So much so in fact that they spend most, if not all, of that day in their homes, afraid to venture out into the great world beyond in case something bad happens to them.

In fact it has been estimated that around a billion dollars are lost every Friday the 13th because people are scared to work and travel on this date.

The really unfortunate thing is that sometimes circumstances play right into their hands, which only serves to reinforce their superstitions.

You can find some of them below along with other facts about Friday 13th that I hope you enjoy reading.

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Every month has a 13th but no single year

has more than three Friday the 13th’s

and on average there are two.

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Months with a Friday the 13th

always begin on a Sunday.

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Folklore remedies for triskaidekaphobia

include climbing to the top of a mountain

or skyscraper and burning all the socks you own

that have holes in them.

Another is to stand on your head

and eat a piece of gristle.

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It is from the Norse goddess Frigg, or Freyja,

that we get Frigg’s Day, or Freyja’s Day

which became the English Friday.

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On Friday 13 2006,

36 inches of snow fell on upstate New York.

The ensuing chaos claimed three lives

and caused $130 million worth of damage.

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On a Friday 13th in 1307.

thousands of soldier monks of the powerful

Knights Templar were massacred

by French king Louis IV.

Many people believe this is where

our fear of the date springs from.

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Friday 13 January, 1939

in Australia is known as Black Friday

because on that date bushfires

decimated 20,000 km² of land,

killing 71 people and

destroying several towns entirely.

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Retired bus conductor Bob Renphrey of North Wales

decided to spend every Friday 13 in bed

after a run of bad luck on the

fateful day during the early 1990s.

Among other misfortunes

he wrote off four cars,

got made redundant,

fell into a river,

crashed a motorcycle

and walked through a plate glass door.

When Bob died of cancer in 1998,

his widow Betty, who on previous Friday 13ths

had fallen downstairs,

been hit by falling guttering

and been hospitalized

after Bob hit her in the face

with a stick he was throwing to a dog,

decided to book his funeral for

Friday 13 March as a final tribute.

Alas, all Rhyl’s undertakers were too busy.

“Bob would have seen the funny side,”

said Mrs Renphrey.

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On Friday 13 July, 1951

in Kansas ‘The Great Flood’

left 2 million acres of land underwater,

causing $760 million and killing 24 people.

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Friday 13 August, 1976

was particularly unlucky

for New York man Daz Baxter.

Having elected to stay in bed

to ward off bad luck,

the floor of his apartment block collapsed

and he fell six storeys to his death.

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Black Sabbath’s self-titled first album

was released in the UK on

Friday, February 13, 1970.

It wasn’t unlucky for them.

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Michelle and Gary Docherty had a

memorable wedding on Friday 13 August 2004.

First, a swarm of wasps attacked guests

at East Kilbride Registry Office, Lanarkshire,

as they waited for Michelle’s arrival.

Her aunt Mary Strachan

smashed an expensive digital camera

trying to swat one of the pests,

and when Michelle finally did turn up,

an insect flew up her dress,

triggering a panic attack.

After the ceremony,

two minibuses booked to transport guests

to the reception failed to turn up

and the couple lost their wedding video.

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On Friday November 13, 1970

a monster South Asian storm hit Bangladesh

killing 300,000 people in Chittagong

and creating floods that killed one million people

living on the Ganges Delta.

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Women drivers have a 64% increased chance

of death when driving on Friday the 13th.

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Friday 13 February, 1998

was simply business as usual for Manchester man,

John Sheridan, dubbed Britain’s unluckiest man

after once having his car stolen five times in one day,

making 16 trips to casualty in two years,

seeing eight TVs explode in six months

and losing out on a £4000 lottery win when he

put the ticket in the washing machine with his jeans.

John’s big day began when his Saab ran out of petrol.

He hitched a lift with a sympathetic policeman,

whose car broke down at the garage.

John returned to his car with a can of petrol,

got it started but lost a wheel as he turned a corner.

He returned home on a bus, which broke down.

Completing his journey on foot,

he realized he’d left his keys inside the car

and had to return in case in was stolen.

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Friday, October 13th, 1989,

the stock exchange suffered a serious crash,

the second most damaging in market history at the time

(this was in the pre-recession era). 

Brokers were in a state of shock,

as the Dow Jones Industrial Average

was down 190.58 points.

In Britain a deadly virus crashed IBM computers,

terrifying people and deleting lots of data

that could not be recovered.

This was before backup systems were used.

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A full moon on Friday February 13 1987

drove troubled Robert Bullard, 21,

to attempt suicide by putting his head in a gas oven.

Not only was his methodology flawed,

suicide by natural gassing is virtually impossible

since Britain moved from lethal coke gas

to less dangerous natural gas,

but a flicked light switch caused an explosion

which injured his mother and a policeman

and caused £35,000 of damage.

Robert was unharmed.

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On Friday the 13th, 2012,

the cruise ship Costa Concordia partially sank

killing more than 30 people.

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Friday 13 October 1972 was the date

a plane carrying Uruguayan rugby team

Montevideo Old Christians crashed

on its way from Montevideo to Santiago, Chile.

When rescuers finally found the fourteen 

survivors two months later,

it emerged that they had survived

by eating human flesh from some of the

thirty-one crew and passengers

who had perished in the crash.

In 1992, the story was filmed as

Alive, starring Ethan Hawke.

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On the same day, Friday October 13, 1972,

an Aeroflot Il-62 airplane carrying 176 people

took off from Paris on a commuter flight

bound for Leningrad and Moscow.

The plane landed at Leningrad

and then took off for Sheremetyevo airport,

located just outside Moscow.

The weather was bad with rain and poor visibility.

The pilots were told to descend on approach to

the airport, but for unknown reasons,

they attempted and failed to land twice.

On the third attempt to land,

the plane crashed into a large pond

about 4 miles short of the airport.

There were no survivors.

No cause of the accident was ever established.

At the time, the crash resulted in one of the worst

loss of life incidents for a single plane crash, in history.

It remains the 44th worse loss of life in

an airplane crash in aviation history.

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On Friday the 13th August, 2010

at 13 minutes after the 13th hour (1 PM),

a 13 year old boy was struck by lightning

as he was watching an air show

at Lowestoft, England.

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The Hollywood sign above Los Angeles, California,

was first unveiled by the owner

of the Los Angeles Times newspaper,

Harry Chandler,

on Friday the 13th of July, 1923.

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According to at least one interpretation

of the Mayan calendar the world will end

on 13.13.13.13.13.13.13.0.0.0.0

or in the Gregorian calendar,

Friday, October 13, 4772.

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But before then,

on Friday the 13th in 2029,

Asteroid 99942 Apophis

is forecast to pass earth at a

closer distance than any of our satellites.

Crikey!

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Time To Put The Fears Behind Us

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

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Yes, time to put the fears behind us. This is the final selection of curious and sometimes amusing fears and phobias that affect some people. Irrational but very real to them. Irrational and very silly to the rest of us.

So here we go, ‘T’ thru ‘Z’.

Enjoy.

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Tachophobia ……….fear of speed.

 

Taijin Kyofusho ……….a phobia which occurs most typically in Japan, is the fear of offending others by one’s inappropriate social behavior or appearance

 

Taeniophobia or Taeniophobia ……….fear of tapeworms.

 

Taphephobia Taphophobia ……….fear of being buried alive or of cemeteries.

 

Tapinophobia ……….fear of being contagious.

 

Taurophobia ……….fear of bulls.

 

Technophobia ……….fear of technology.

 

Teleophobia ……….fear of 1) definite plans; 2) religious ceremony.

 

Telephonophobia ……….fear of telephones.

 

Teratophobia ……….fear of bearing a deformed child or fear of monsters or deformed people.

 

Testophobia ……….fear of taking tests.

 

Tetanophobia ……….fear of lockjaw, tetanus.

 

Teutophobia ……….fear of German or German things.

 

Textophobia ……….fear of certain fabrics.

 

Thaasophobia ……….fear of sitting.

 

Thalassophobia ……….fear of the sea.

 

Thanatophobia or Thantophobia ……….fear of death or dying.

 

Theatrophobia ……….fear of theatres.

 

Theologicophobia ……….fear of theology.

 

Theophobia ……….fear of gods or religion.

 

Thermophobia ……….fear of heat.

 

Tocophobia ……….fear of pregnancy or childbirth.

 

Tomophobia ……….fear of surgical operations.

 

Tonitrophobia ……….fear of thunder.

 

Topophobia ……….fear of certain places or situations, such as stage fright.

 

Toxiphobia or Toxophobia or Toxicophobia ……….fear of poison or of being accidently poisoned.

 

Traumatophobia ……….fear of injury.

 

Tremophobia ……….fear of trembling.

 

Trichinophobia ……….fear of trichinosis.

 

Trichopathophobia or Trichophobia ……….fear of hair. (Chaetophobia, Hypertrichophobia)

 

Triskaidekaphobia ……….fear of the number 13.

 

Tropophobia ……….fear of moving or making changes.

 

Trypanophobia ……….fear of injections.

 

Tuberculophobia ……….fear of tuberculosis.

 

Turophobia ……….fear of cheese

 

Tyrannophobia ……….fear of tyrants.

 

Uranophobia or Ouranophobia ……….fear of heaven.

 

Urophobia ……….fear of urine or urinating.

 

Vaccinophobia ……….fear of vaccination.

 

Venereophobia ……….fear of catching a venereal disease.

 

Venustraphobia ……….fear of beautiful women.

 

Verbophobia ……….fear of words.

 

Verminophobia ……….fear of germs.

 

Vespertiliophobia ……….fear of bats.

 

Vestiphobia ……….fear of clothing.

 

Virginitiphobia ……….fear of virgins.

 

Virginitiphobia ……….fear of rape.

 

Vitricophobia ……….fear of step-father.

 

Vokephobia ……….fear of returning home.

 

Walloonphobia ……….fear of the Walloons.

 

Wiccaphobia ……….fear of witches and witchcraft.

 

Xanthophobia ……….fear of the color yellow or the word yellow.

 

Xeniaphobia ……….fear of foreign doctors, usually having to do with strong foreign accents making it difficult to understand their English. Also, if travelling in a foreign country, the fear that doctors may have inadequate medical skills.

 

Xenodochiophobia ……….fear of foreign hotels that could include the fear that there won’t be soap, the kind of toilet paper that you like, clean towels, or good maid service.

 

Xenoglossophobia ……….fear of foreign languages.

 

Xenonosocomiophobia ……….fear of foreigners who are pick-pockets.

 

Xenophobia ……….fear of strangers or foreigners.

 

Xerophobia ……….fear of dryness.

 

Xeroxophobia ……….fear of using anything made by Xerox, or fear of office equipment in general.

 

Xylophobia ……….fear of 1) wooden objects; 2) Forests.

 

Xyrophobia ……….fear of razors.

 

Zelophobia ……….fear of jealousy.

 

Zemmiphobia ……….fear of the great mole rat.

 

Zeusophobia ……….fear of God or gods.

 

Zoophobia ……….fear of animals.

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Those Of A Nervous Disposition Should Look Away Now

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

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Yes, those of a nervous disposition should indeed look away now, because today we have the penultimate list of irrational fears and phobias that seem to afflict certain members of the population. How and why they develop such curious mental afflictions I don’t. They are real to them, but foolish and amusing to the rest of us.

Today is ‘Q’, ‘R’ and ‘S’.

Enjoy.

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Quadraphobia ……….fear of the number four.

 

Quadriplegiphobia ……….fear of quadriplegics or fear of becoming a quadriplegic.

 

Quintaphobia ……….fear of the number five.

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Radiophobia ……….fear of radiation, x-rays.

 

Ranidaphobia ……….fear of frogs.

 

Rectophobia ……….fear of rectum or rectal diseases.

 

Rhabdophobia ……….fear of being severely punished or beaten by a rod, or of being severely criticized. Also fear of magic.(wand)

 

Rhypophobia ……….fear of defecation.

 

Rhytiphobia ……….fear of getting wrinkles.

 

Rupophobia ……….fear of dirt.

 

Russophobia ……….fear of Russians.

 

Samhainophobia ……….fear of Halloween.

 

Sarmassophobia ……….fear of love play. (Malaxophobia)

 

Satanophobia ……….fear of Satan.

 

Scabiophobia ……….fear of scabies.

 

Scatophobia ……….fear of fecal matter.

 

Scelerophibia ……….fear of bad men, burglars.

 

Sciaphobia or Sciophobia or Sciaphobia ……….fear of shadows.

 

Scoleciphobia ……….fear of worms.

 

Scolionophobia ……….fear of school.

 

Scopophobia or Scoptophobia ……….fear of being seen or stared at.

 

Scotomaphobia ……….fear of blindness in visual field.

 

Scotophobia ……….fear of darkness. (Achluophobia)

 

Scriptophobia ……….fear of writing in public.

 

Selachophobia ……….fear of sharks.

 

Selaphobia ……….fear of light flashes.

 

Selenophobia ……….fear of the moon.

 

Seplophobia ……….fear of decaying matter.

 

Sesquipedalophobia ……….fear of long words.

 

Sexophobia ……….fear of the opposite sex. (Heterophobia)

 

Siderodromophobia ……….fear of trains, railroads or train travel.

 

Siderophobia ……….fear of stars.

 

Sinistrophobia ……….fear of things to the left or left-handed.

 

Sinophobia ……….fear of Chinese, Chinese culture.

 

Sitophobia or Sitiophobia ……….fear of food or eating. (Cibophobia)

 

Snakephobia ……….fear of snakes. (Ophidiophobia)

 

Soceraphobia ……….fear of parents-in-law.

 

Social Phobia ……….fear of being evaluated negatively in social situations.

 

Sociophobia ……….fear of society or people in general.

 

Somniphobia ……….fear of sleep.

 

Sophophobia ……….fear of learning.

 

Soteriophobia ……….fear of dependence on others.

 

Spacephobia ……….fear of outer space.

 

Spectrophobia ……….fear of specters or ghosts.

 

Spermatophobia or Spermophobia ……….fear of germs.

 

Spheksophobia ……….fear of wasps.

 

Stasibasiphobia or Stasiphobia ……….fear of standing or walking. (Ambulophobia)

 

Staurophobia ……….fear of crosses or the crucifix.

 

Stenophobia ……….fear of narrow things or places.

 

Stygiophobia or Stigiophobia ……….fear of hell.

 

Suriphobia ……….fear of mice.

 

Symbolophobia ……….fear of symbolism.

 

Symmetrophobia ……….fear of symmetry.

 

Syngenesophobia ……….fear of relatives.

 

Syphilophobia ……….fear of syphilis.

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Day Two 2013, Are You Scared Yet?

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

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If you aren’t scared yet the chances are you are not afflicted with anything on the following list of phobias or irrational fears that seem to grip some unfortunate people. For them 2013 will be as frightening as 2012. Imagine, for example, spending the whole year with proctophobia – what a bummer!

In today’s list are the ‘O’s and the ‘P’s. 

Enjoy.

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Obesophobia……….fear of gaining weight. (Pocrescophobia)

 

Ochlophobia……….fear of crowds or mobs.

 

Ochophobia……….fear of vehicles.

 

Octophobia ……….fear of the figure 8.

 

Odontophobia……….fear of teeth or dental surgery.

 

Odynophobia or Odynephobia……….fear of pain. (Algophobia)

 

Oenophobia……….fear of wines.

 

Oikophobia……….fear of home surroundings, house. (Domatophobia, Eicophobia)

 

Olfactophobia……….fear of smells.

 

Ombrophobia……….fear of rain or of being rained on.

 

Ommetaphobia or Ommatophobia……….fear of eyes.

 

Omphalophobia……….fear of belly buttons.

 

Oneirophobia……….fear of dreams.

 

Oneirogmophobia……….fear of wet dreams.

 

Onomatophobia……….fear of hearing a certain word or of names.

 

Ophidiophobia……….fear of snakes. (Snakephobia)

 

Ophthalmophobia……….fear of being stared at.

 

Opiophobia……….fear medical doctors experience of prescribing needed pain medications for patients.

 

Optophobia……….fear of opening one’s eyes.

 

Ornithophobia……….fear of birds.

 

Orthophobia……….fear of property.

 

Osmophobia or Osphresiophobia……….fear of smells or odors.

 

Ostraconophobia……….fear of shellfish.

 

Ouranophobia or Uranophobia……….fear of heaven.

 

Pagophobia……….fear of ice or frost.

 

Panthophobia……….fear of suffering and disease.

 

Panophobia or Pantophobia……….fear of everything.

 

Papaphobia……….fear of the Pope.

 

Papyrophobia……….fear of paper.

 

Paralipophobia……….fear of neglecting duty or responsibility.

 

Paraphobia……….fear of sexual perversion.

 

Parasitophobia……….fear of parasites.

 

Paraskavedekatriaphobia……….fear of Friday the 13th.

 

Parthenophobia……….fear of virgins or young girls.

 

Pathophobia……….fear of disease.

 

Patroiophobia……….fear of heredity.

 

Parturiphobia……….fear of childbirth.

 

Peccatophobia……….fear of sinning or imaginary crimes.

 

Pediculophobia……….fear of lice.

 

Pediophobia……….fear of dolls.

 

Pedophobia……….fear of children.

 

Peladophobia……….fear of bald people.

 

Pellagrophobia……….fear of pellagra.

 

Peniaphobia……….fear of poverty.

 

Pentheraphobia……….fear of mother-in-law. (Novercaphobia)

 

Phagophobia……….fear of swallowing or of eating or of being eaten.

 

Phalacrophobia……….fear of becoming bald.

 

Phallophobia……….fear of a penis, especially erect.

 

Pharmacophobia……….fear of taking medicine.

 

Phasmophobia……….fear of ghosts.

 

Phengophobia……….fear of daylight or sunshine.

 

Philemaphobia or Philematophobia……….fear of kissing.

 

Philophobia……….fear of falling in love or being in love.

 

Philosophobia……….fear of philosophy.

 

Phobophobia……….fear of phobias.

 

Photoaugliaphobia……….fear of glaring lights.

 

Photophobia……….fear of light.

 

Phonophobia……….fear of noises or voices or one’s own voice; of telephones.

 

Phronemophobia……….fear of thinking.

 

Phthiriophobia……….fear of lice. (Pediculophobia)

 

Phthisiophobia……….fear of tuberculosis.

 

Placophobia……….fear of tombstones.

 

Plutophobia……….fear of wealth.

 

Pluviophobia……….fear of rain or of being rained on.

 

Pneumatiphobia……….fear of spirits.

 

Pnigophobia or Pnigerophobia……….fear of choking of being smothered.

 

Pocrescophobia……….fear of gaining weight. (Obesophobia)

 

Podophobia……….fear of feet.

 

Pogonophobia……….fear of beards.

 

Poliosophobia……….fear of contracting poliomyelitis.

 

Politicophobia……….fear or abnormal dislike of politicians.

 

Polyphobia……….fear of many things.

 

Poinephobia……….fear of punishment.

 

Ponophobia……….fear of overworking or of pain.

 

Porphyrophobia……….fear of the color purple.

 

Potamophobia……….fear of rivers or running water.

 

Potophobia……….fear of alcohol.

 

Pharmacophobia……….fear of drugs.

 

Proctophobia……….fear of rectums.

 

Prosophobia……….fear of progress.

 

P-P-P-P-P-Psellismophobia……….fear of stuttering.

 

Psychophobia……….fear of mind.

 

Psychrophobia……….fear of cold.

 

Pteridophobia……….morbid fear of fearns.

 

Pteromerhanophobia……….fear of flying.

 

Pteronophobia……….fear of being tickled by feathers.

 

Pupaphobia ……….fear of puppets.

 

Pyrexiophobia……….fear of fever.

 

Pyrophobia……….fear of fire.

 

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How are you after all that? Are you developing symptoms or are you feeling good?

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I’m Almost Afraid To Look At Today’s Post!

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

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No I haven’t been stricken with Fasabophobia, not yet anyway, and I hope none of you have either.

As you will see there are plenty of other afflictions already in existence without creating any more.

Today’s list of phobias covers some of those listed from ‘L’ to ‘N’.

Enjoy!

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Lachanophobia ……….fear of vegetables.

 

Laliophobia or Lalophobia ……….fear of speaking. (This one only very rarely affects women.) 

 

Leitourgophobia ……….fear of public servants.

 

Lepidopterophobia ……….fear of butterflies

 

Leprophobia or Lepraphobia ……….fear of leprosy.

 

Leukophobia ……….fear of the color white.

 

Levophobia ……….fear of things to the left side of the body.

 

Ligyrophobia ……….fear of loud noises.

 

Lilapsophobia ……….fear of tornadoes and hurricanes.

 

Limnophobia ……….fear of lakes.

 

Linonophobia ……….fear of string.

 

Liticaphobia ……….fear of lawsuits.

 

Lockiophobia ……….fear of childbirth.

 

Logizomechanophobia ……….fear of computers.

 

Logophobia ……….fear of words.

 

Luiphobia ……….fear of lues, syphillis.

 

Lutraphobia ……….fear of otters.

 

Lygophobia ……….fear of darkness.

 

Lyssophobia ……….fear of rabies or of becoming mad.

 

Macrophobia ……….fear of long waits.

 

Mageirocophobia ……….fear of cooking.

 

Maieusiophobia ……….fear of childbirth.

 

Malaxophobia ……….fear of love play. (Sarmassophobia)

 

Maniaphobia ……….fear of insanity.

 

Mastigophobia ……….fear of punishment.

 

Mechanophobia ……….fear of machines.

 

Medomalacuphobia ……….fear of losing an erection.

 

Medorthophobia ……….fear of an erect penis.

 

Megalophobia ……….fear of large things.

 

Melissophobia ……….fear of bees.

 

Melanophobia ……….fear of the color black.

 

Melophobia ……….fear or hatred of music.

 

Meningitophobia ……….fear of brain disease.

 

Menophobia ……….fear of menstruation.

 

Merinthophobia ……….fear of being bound or tied up.

 

Metallophobia ……….fear of metal.

 

Metathesiophobia ……….fear of changes.

 

Meteorophobia ……….fear of meteors.

 

Methyphobia ……….fear of alcohol.

 

Metrophobia ……….fear or hatred of poetry.

 

Microbiophobia ……….fear of microbes. (Bacillophobia)

 

Microphobia ……….fear of small things.

 

Misophobia or Mysophobia ……….fear of being contaminated with dirt or germs.

 

Mnemophobia ……….fear of memories.

 

Molysmophobia or Molysomophobia ……….fear of dirt or contamination.

 

Monophobia ……….fear of solitude or being alone.

 

Monopathophobia ……….fear of definite disease.

 

Motorphobia ……….fear of automobiles.

 

Mottephobia ……….fear of moths.

 

Musophobia or Muriphobia ……….fear of mice.

 

Mycophobia ……….fear or aversion to mushrooms.

 

Mycrophobia ……….fear of small things.

 

Myctophobia ……….fear of darkness.

 

Myrmecophobia ……….fear of ants.

 

Mysophobia ……….fear of dirt and germs

 

Mythophobia ……….fear of myths or stories or false statements.

 

Myxophobia ……….fear of slime. (Blennophobia)

 

Nebulaphobia ……….fear of fog. (Homichlophobia)

 

Necrophobia ……….fear of death or dead things.

 

Nelophobia ……….fear of glass.

 

Neopharmaphobia ……….fear of new drugs.

 

Neophobia ……….fear of anything new.

 

Nephophobia ……….fear of clouds.

 

Noctiphobia ……….fear of the night.

 

Nomatophobia ……….fear of names.

 

Nosocomephobia ……….fear of hospitals.

 

Nosophobia or Nosemaphobia ……….fear of becoming ill.

 

Nostophobia ……….fear of returning home.

 

Novercaphobia ……….fear of your step-mother.

 

Nucleomituphobia ……….fear of nuclear weapons.

 

Nudophobia ……….fear of nudity.

 

Numerophobia ……….fear of numbers.

 

Nyctohylophobia ……….fear of dark wooded areas or of forests at night

 

Nyctophobia ……….fear of the dark or of night.

 

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More Scaredy Cats, Phobias Part Four

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

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We are going for ‘H’ to ‘K’ today in part four of this incredible list of irrational fears called phobias. As usual I have omitted the more mundane and well known ailments such as ‘Hypocondria’. A lot of the rest should shock, amuse or otherwise entertain.

My own favorite, by a long way (little pun there to get you in the mood for tomorrow’s post), is ‘Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia’ the very look and mention of which must send waves of terror into those afflicted by it.

Read on and discover why.

Enjoy.

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Hadephobia ………. fear of hell.

 

Hagiophobia ………. fear of saints or holy things.

 

Hamartophobia ………. fear of sinning.

 

Haphephobia or Haptephobia ………. fear of being touched.

 

Harpaxophobia ………. fear of being robbed.

 

Hedonophobia ………. fear of feeling pleasure.

 

Heliophobia ………. fear of the sun.

 

Hellenologophobia ………. fear of Greek terms or complex scientific terminology.

 

Helminthophobia ………. fear of being infested with worms.

 

Hemophobia or Hemaphobia or Hematophobia ………. fear of blood.

 

Heresyphobia or Hereiophobia ………. fear of challenges to official doctrine or of radical deviation.

 

Herpetophobia ………. fear of reptiles or creepy, crawly things.

 

Heterophobia ………. fear of the opposite sex. (Sexophobia)

 

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia ………. fear of the number 666.

 

Hierophobia ………. fear of priests or sacred things.

 

Hippophobia ………. fear of horses.

 

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia ………. fear of long words.

 

Hobophobia ………. fear of bums or beggars.

 

Hodophobia ………. fear of road travel.

 

Hormephobia ………. fear of shock.

 

Homichlophobia ………. fear of fog.

 

Homilophobia ………. fear of sermons.

 

Hominophobia ………. fear of men.

 

Homophobia ………. fear of sameness, monotony or of homosexuality or of becoming homosexual.

 

Hoplophobia ………. fear of firearms.

 

Hydrargyophobia ………. fear of mercurial medicines.

 

Hydrophobia ………. fear of water or of rabies.

 

Hydrophobophobia ………. fear of rabies.

 

Hyelophobia or Hyalophobia ………. fear of glass.

 

Hygrophobia ………. fear of liquids, dampness, or moisture.

 

Hylephobia ………. fear of materialism or the fear of epilepsy.

 

Hylophobia ………. fear of forests.

 

Hypengyophobia or Hypegiaphobia ………. fear of responsibility.

 

Hypnophobia ………. fear of sleep or of being hypnotized.

 

Hypsiphobia ………. fear of height.

 

Iatrophobia ………. fear of going to the doctor or of doctors.

 

Ichthyophobia ………. fear of fish.

 

Ideophobia ………. fear of ideas.

 

Idiophobia ………. fear of idiots.

 

Illyngophobia ………. fear of vertigo or feeling dizzy when looking down.

 

Iophobia ………. fear of poison.

 

Insectophobia ………. fear of insects.

 

Isolophobia ………. fear of solitude, being alone.

 

Isopterophobia ………. fear of termites, insects that eat wood.

 

Ithyphallophobia ………. fear of seeing, thinking about or having an erect penis.

 

Japanophobia ………. fear of Japanese.

 

Judeophobia ………. fear of Jews.

 

Kainolophobia or Kainophobia ………. fear of anything new, novelty.

 

Kakorrhaphiophobia ………. fear of failure or defeat.

 

Katagelophobia ………. fear of ridicule.

 

Kathisophobia ………. fear of sitting down.

 

Katsaridaphobia ………. fear of cockroaches.

 

Kenophobia ………. fear of voids or empty spaces.

 

Keraunophobia or Ceraunophobia ………. fear of thunder and lightning.(Astraphobia, Astrapophobia)

 

Kinetophobia or Kinesophobia ………. fear of movement or motion.

 

Klaoanemophobia ………. fear of breaking wind (which quite a number of people have in social settings). [Perhaps Phartophobia might have been a better name for this one?] 

 

Kleptophobia ………. fear of stealing.

 

Koinoniphobia ………. fear of rooms.

 

Kolpophobia ………. fear of genitals, particularly female.

 

Kopophobia ………. fear of fatigue.

 

Koniophobia ………. fear of dust. (Amathophobia)

 

Kosmikophobia ………. fear of cosmic phenomenon.

 

Kymophobia ………. fear of waves. (Cymophobia)

 

Kynophobia ………. fear of rabies.

 

Kyphophobia ………. fear of stooping.

. 

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If It Exists You Can Be Sure Somebody Will Be Afraid Of It, Phobias Part Three

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

 .

Another amusing yet astonishing list of the phobias that some people have to the most ordinary and mundane things. The title really is true, if it exists you can be sure somebody will be afraid of it. 

Today we have ‘D’ to ‘G’. 

Although if you have Diarrheaphobia, Dystychiphobia and Dromophobia and the nearest toilet is across the street then you may be in trouble. Read on and you’ll find out why.

Enjoy.

.

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Decidophobia ………. fear of making decisions.

 

Defecaloesiophobia ………. fear of painful bowels movements.

 

Deipnophobia ………. fear of dining or dinner conversations.

 

Dementophobia ………. fear of insanity.

 

Demonophobia or Daemonophobia ………. fear of demons.

 

Demophobia ………. fear of crowds. (Agoraphobia)

 

Dendrophobia ………. fear of trees.

 

Dentophobia ………. fear of dentists.

 

Dermatophobia ………. fear of skin lesions.

 

Dermatosiophobia or Dermatophobia or Dermatopathophobia ………. fear of skin disease.

 

Dextrophobia ………. fear of objects at the right side of the body.

 

Diabetophobia ………. fear of diabetes.

 

Diarrheaphobia ………. fear of getting diarrhea, usually accompanied with the fear of not being able to get to a bathroom in time, and of making a mess.

 

Didaskaleinophobia ………. fear of going to school.

 

Dikephobia ………. fear of justice.

 

Dinophobia ………. fear of dizziness or whirlpools.

 

Diplophobia ………. fear of double vision.

 

Dipsophobia ………. fear of drinking.

 

Dishabiliophobia ………. fear of undressing in front of someone.

 

Disposophobia ………. fear of throwing stuff out. Hoarding.

 

Domatophobia ………. fear of houses or being in a house.(Eicophobia, Oikophobia)

 

Doraphobia ………. fear of fur or skins of animals.

 

Doxophobia ………. fear of expressing opinions or of receiving praise.

 

Dromophobia ………. fear of crossing streets.

 

Dutchphobia ………. fear of the Dutch.

 

Dysmorphophobia ………. fear of deformity.

 

Dystychiphobia ………. fear of accidents.

 

Ecclesiophobia ………. fear of church.

 

Ecophobia ………. fear of home.

 

Eicophobia ………. fear of home surroundings.(Domatophobia, Oikophobia)

 

Eisoptrophobia ………. fear of mirrors or of seeing oneself in a mirror.

 

Electrophobia ………. fear of electricity.

 

Eleutherophobia ………. fear of freedom.

 

Elurophobia ………. fear of cats. (Ailurophobia)

 

Emetophobia ………. fear of vomiting.

 

Enetophobia ………. fear of pins.

 

Enochlophobia ………. fear of crowds.

 

Enosiophobia or Enissophobia ………. fear of having committed an unpardonable sin or of criticism.

 

Entomophobia ………. fear of insects.

 

Eosophobia ………. fear of dawn or daylight.

 

Ephebiphobia ………. fear of teenagers.

 

Epistaxiophobia ………. fear of nosebleeds.

 

Epistemophobia ………. fear of knowledge.

 

Equinophobia ………. fear of horses.

 

Eremophobia ………. fear of being oneself or of loneliness.

 

Ereuthrophobia ………. fear of blushing.

 

Ergalilektriphobia ………. fear of power tools or using power tools.

 

Ergasiophobia ………. 1) fear of work or functioning. 2) surgeon’s fear of operating.

 

Ergophobia ………. fear of work.

 

Erotophobia ………. fear of sexual love or sexual questions.

 

Euphobia ………. fear of hearing good news.

 

Eurotophobia ………. fear of female genitalia.

 

Erythrophobia or Erytophobia or Ereuthophobia ………. 1) fear of redlights. 2) blushing. 3) red.

 

Febriphobia or Fibriphobia or Fibriophobia ………. fear of fever.

 

Felinophobia ………. fear of cats. (Ailurophobia, Elurophobia, Galeophobia, Gatophobia)

 

Francophobia ………. fear of France or French culture. (Gallophobia, Galiophobia)

 

Frigophobia ………. fear of cold or cold things. (Cheimaphobia, Cheimatophobia, Psychrophobia)

 

Galeophobia ………. fear of sharks

 

Gatophobia ………. fear of cats.

 

Gallophobia or Galiophobia ………. fear France or French culture. (Francophobia)

 

Gamophobia ………. fear of marriage.

 

Geliophobia ………. fear of laughter.

 

Gelotophobia ………. fear of being laughed at.

 

Geniophobia ………. fear of chins.

 

Genophobia ………. fear of sex.

 

Genuphobia ………. fear of knees.

 

Gephyrophobia or Gephydrophobia or Gephysrophobia ………. fear of crossing bridges.

 

Germanophobia ………. fear of Germany or German culture.

 

Gerascophobia ………. fear of growing old.

 

Gerontophobia ………. fear of old people or of growing old.

 

Geumaphobia or Geumophobia ………. fear of taste.

 

Glossophobia ………. fear of speaking in public or of trying to speak.

 

Gnosiophobia ………. fear of knowledge.

 

Graphophobia ………. fear of writing or handwriting.

 

Gymnophobia ………. fear of nudity.

 

Gynephobia or Gynophobia ………. fear of women.

 

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Scared Of This, Scared Of That, Scared Of The Other Thing Too, Phobias part two

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

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Last week was the first installment in the list of phobias that afflict some unfortunate people. I think everyone, including me, was shocked both at the number of phobias and at the wide range of otherwise ‘normal’ things that people have developed an irrational and heightened fear of.

These lists may seem long, but they are actually my edited version of the information I have researched, so count yourselves lucky on that score!

In the ‘B’ list there are the more understandable or perhaps excusable things like Bacillophobia (fear of microbes) or Bacteriophobia (fear of bacteria), and in the ‘C’ list things like Cholerophobia (fear of anger or the fear of cholera) or Claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces), but apart from those it just gets silly. See for yourself. 

Here’s the list:    

 

Ballistophobia ……….. fear of missiles or bullets.

 

Bolshephobia ……….. fear of Bolsheviks.

 

Barophobia ……….. fear of gravity.

 

Basophobia or Basiphobia ……….. inability to stand or fear of walking or falling.

 

Bathmophobia ……….. fear of stairs or steep slopes.

 

Bathophobia ……….. fear of depth.

 

Batophobia ……….. fear of heights or being close to high buildings.

 

Batrachophobia ………. fear of amphibians, such as frogs, newts, salamanders, etc.

 

Belonephobia ……….. fear of pins and needles. (Aichmophobia)

 

Bibliophobia ……….. fear of books.

 

Blennophobia ……….. fear of slime.

 

Bogyphobia ……….. fear of bogeys or the bogeyman.

 

Botanophobia ……….. fear of plants.

 

Bromidrosiphobia or Bromidrophobia ……….. fear of body smells.

 

Brontophobia ……….. fear of thunder and lightning.

 

Bufonophobia ……….. fear of toads.

 

Cacophobia ……….. fear of ugliness.

 

Cainophobia or Cainotophobia ……….. fear of newness, novelty.

 

Caligynephobia ……….. fear of beautiful women.

 

Carnophobia ……….. fear of meat.

 

Catagelophobia ……….. fear of being ridiculed.

 

Catapedaphobia ……….. fear of jumping from high and low places.

 

Cathisophobia ……….. fear of sitting.

 

Catoptrophobia ……….. fear of mirrors.

 

Cenophobia or Centophobia ……….. fear of new things or ideas.

 

Ceraunophobia or Keraunophobia ……….. fear of thunder and lightning. (Astraphobia, Astrapophobia)

 

Chaetophobia ……….. fear of hair.

 

Cheimaphobia or Cheimatophobia ……….. fear of cold. (Frigophobia, Psychophobia)

 

Chemophobia ……….. fear of chemicals or working with chemicals.

 

Cherophobia ……….. fear of gaiety.

 

Chiclephobia ……….. fear of chewing gum

 

Chionophobia ……….. fear of snow.

 

Chiraptophobia ……….. fear of being touched.

 

Chirophobia ……….. fear of hands.

 

Chiroptophobia ……….. fear of bats.

 

Chorophobia ……….. fear of dancing.

 

Chrometophobia or Chrematophobia ……….. fear of money.

 

Chromophobia or Chromatophobia ……….. fear of colors.

 

Chronophobia ……….. fear of time.

 

Chronomentrophobia ……….. fear of clocks.

 

Cibophobia ……….. fear of food. (Sitophobia, Sitiophobia)

 

Cleithrophobia or Cleisiophobia ……….. fear of being locked in an enclosed place.

 

Cleptophobia ………. fear of stealing.

 

Climacophobia ……….. fear of stairs, climbing, or of falling downstairs.

 

Clinophobia ……….. fear of going to bed.

 

Clithrophobia or Cleithrophobia ……….. fear of being enclosed.

 

Cnidophobia ……….. fear of stings.

 

Cometophobia ……….. fear of comets.

 

Coimetrophobia ……….. fear of cemeteries.

 

Coitophobia ……….. fear of coitus.

 

Consecotaleophobia ……….. fear of chopsticks

 

Contreltophobia ……….. fear of sexual abuse.

 

Coprastasophobia ……….. fear of constipation.

 

Coprophobia ……….. fear of feces.

 

Coulrophobia ……….. fear of clowns.

 

Cremnophobia ……….. fear of precipices.

 

Cryophobia ……….. fear of extreme cold, ice or frost.

 

Cryptophobia ……….. fear of things that are hidden

 

Crystallophobia ……….. fear of crystals or glass.

 

Cyberphobia ……….. fear of computers or working on a computer.

 

Cyclophobia ……….. fear of bicycles.

 

Cymophobia or Kymophobia ……….. fear of waves or wave like motions.

 

Cynophobia ……….. fear of dogs or rabies.

 

Cyprinophobia ……….. fear of prostitutes or venereal disease.

 

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What Is It You’re Scared Of? Bet I Have A Name For It.

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”

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I thought it might be a good idea to do a post on phobias, that is, things that people are scared of. There re the obvious things like spiders and rats and heights and so forth, but I was hoping that there might be enough material to do a post concentrating on the stupid things, the things that you would never imagine in your wildest dreams that somebody would be scared of.

Well it turns out I was right. There was enough material for a post. In fact there was enough material for a whole series of posts!

The rule I quickly discovered is  –  if it exists some poor demented soul will be scared of it. Even the most mundane and innocuous things.

I should also point out that what we are talking about here is not just simply being scared as you would be scared of a lion or a charging herd of elephants. That’s just common sense. What we are talking about here is a totally irrational and heightened fear for which there is no logic or sensible explanation, other than that the sufferer is a bit nuts!

So we’ll start the series today. If you like it then we can do more. It’s actually quite entertaining in two senses, one just to laugh at the stupidity of people, and two, to marvel at some of the names scientists and doctors have dreamt up for the phobias.

Here we go. By the way, if you have a phobia about lists (and there is one!) get in behind the sofa now.

 

 

Ablutophobia ………. Fear of washing or bathing.

 

Acarophobia ………. Fear of itching or of the insects that cause itching.

 

Acerophobia ………. Fear of sourness.   

 

Achluophobia ………. Fear of darkness.  

 

Acousticophobia ………. Fear of noise.  

 

Aerophobia ………. Fear of drafts, air swallowing, or airbourne noxious substances.  

 

Aeroacrophobia ………. Fear of open high places.  

 

Aeronausiphobia ………. Fear of vomiting secondary to airsickness.   

 

Agateophobia ………. Fear of insanity.   

 

Agliophobia ………. Fear of pain.  

 

Agoraphobia ………. Fear of open spaces, or of being in crowded, public places like markets, or of leaving a safe place.  

 

Agraphobia ………. Fear of sexual abuse.   Also known as Contreltophobia

 

Agrizoophobia ………. Fear of wild animals.  

 

Agyrophobia ………. Fear of streets or crossing the street.

 

Aibohphobia ………. Fear of palindromes.

(So why did they make the name of this ailment a palindrome???)

 

Aichmophobia ………. Fear of needles or pointed objects.

 

Ailurophobia ………. Fear of cats.

 

Albuminurophobia ………. Fear of kidney disease.

 

Alektorophobia ………. Fear of chickens.

 

Algophobia ………. Fear of pain.

 

Alliumphobia ………. Fear of garlic.

 

Allodoxaphobia ………. Fear of opinions.

 

Altophobia ………. Fear of heights.

 

Amathophobia ………. Fear of dust.

 

Amaxophobia ………. Fear of riding in a car.

 

Ambulophobia ………. Fear of walking.

 

Amnesiphobia ………. Fear of amnesia.

 

Amychophobia ………. Fear of scratches or being scratched.

 

Anablephobia ………. Fear of looking up.

 

Ancraophobia ………. Fear of wind. (Anemophobia)

 

Androphobia ………. Fear of men.

 

Androidophobia ………. Fear of androids or robots

 

Anemophobia ………. Fear of air drafts or wind. (Ancraophobia)

 

Anestesiaphobia ………. Fear of being under anthestic or fear of loss of sensation

 

Anginophobia ………. Fear of angina, choking or narrowness.

 

Anglophobia ………. Fear of England or English culture, etc.

 

Angrophobia ………. Fear of anger or of becoming angry.

 

Ankylophobia ………. Fear of immobility of a joint.

 

Anthophobia ………. Fear of flowers or parts of flowers

 

Anthrophobia or Anthophobia ………. Fear of flowers.

 

Anthropophobia ………. Fear of people or society.

 

Antlophobia ………. Fear of floods.

 

Anuptaphobia ………. Fear of staying single.

 

Apeirophobia ………. Fear of infinity.

 

Aphenphosmphobia ………. Fear of being touched. (Haphephobia)

 

Apiphobia ………. Fear of bees.

 

Apotemnophobia ………. Fear of persons with amputations.

 

Aguaphobia ………. Fear of water

 

Arachibutyrophobia ………. Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth.

 

Arithmophobia ………. Fear of numbers.

 

Arrhenphobia ………. Fear of men.

 

Arsonphobia ………. Fear of fire.

 

Ashenophobia ………. Fear of fainting or weakness

 

Astraphobia or Astrapophobia ………. Fear of thunder and lightning.(Ceraunophobia, Keraunophobia)

 

Astrophobia ………. Fear of stars or celestial space.

 

Asymmetriphobia ………. Fear of asymmetrical things.

 

Ataxiophobia ………. Fear of ataxia. (muscular incoordination)

 

Ataxophobia ………. Fear of disorder or untidiness.

 

Atelophobia ………. Fear of imperfection.

 

Atephobia ………. Fear of ruin or ruins.

 

Athazagoraphobia ………. Fear of being forgotten or ignored or forgetting.

 

Atomosophobia ………. Fear of atomic explosions.

 

Atychiphobia ………. Fear of failure.

 

Aulophobia ………. Fear of flutes.

 

Aurophobia ………. Fear of gold.

 

Auroraphobia ………. Fear of Northern lights.

 

Autodysomophobia ………. Fear of one that has a vile odor.

 

Automatonophobia ………. Fear of ventriloquist’s dummies, animatronic creatures, wax statues – anything that falsely represents a sentient being.

 

Automysophobia ………. Fear of being dirty.

 

Autophobia ………. Fear of being alone or of oneself.

 

Aviophobia or Aviatophobia ………. Fear of flying.

 

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