We define a phobia as that irrational fear of a person, situation or object. This fear can become unhealthy and highly disabling, so phobias should be treated by specialist psychologists in this field. There are many specific fears and phobias for each type of stimulus. Some phobias may be more common, such as fear of spiders, open spaces, social phobia... However, there are phobias that can be curious and even funny for those who do not suffer from them.
Let's take an example: Did you know that there is an irrational fear of belly buttons?
If you are curious to know more about this curious topic, in this Psychology-Online article, we will list the Rarer types of phobias and their meaning.
First of all, it is important to explain that not all phobias are "strange", they are directed at everyday objects or stimuli that do not normally produce fear. Fear is an adaptive response of our organism that arises from the need to identify those potentially dangerous stimuli for our species.
For that same reason, the most common phobias are directly related to objects or situations identified as dangerous.
1. Agoraphobia
Besides being quite common, the irrational fear of open spaces It is a phobia that greatly disables the individual who suffers from it. This is because the stimulus that is avoided at all costs, in this case is extended to any situation that involves being in an open space. A person with agoraphobia Severe will not be able to attend social events, go to any meeting and even will not be able to leave the house.
2. Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia can be understood as the fear of closed spaces (an elevator, the subway car, a small room ...). Like agoraphobia, there are different levels of claustrophobia, so claustrophobia can express itself as a simple fear or as an exaggerated response of anxiety to closed spaces and little ventilated.
3. Arachnophobia
Arachnophobia is defined as the intense fear of spiders. It is the most common phobia towards an animal and, therefore, the most studied. People who suffer from arachnophobia tend to stay away from spaces where they can appear these insects and in the case of encountering a spider, they can respond with high levels of anxiety.
4. Acrophobia
The fear of heights it is a fairly common phobia. The most adaptive response that human beings have in a dangerous situation such as being in a high place is to move away and return to a safe space. However, acrophobia can produce situations of deep discomfort when faced with small stimuli, such as, for example, leaning out of a window or climbing stairs.
5. Glossophobia
Almost all of us feel reluctant to speak in front of a multitude of people, however, we have tools to calm down and overcome these types of situations. In the case of people with glossophobia, this Scared of speaking in public it becomes a feeling of suffocation, extreme nerves and anxiety that prevent the individual from acting in a correct and calm way.
Once the most common phobias have been described, it is time to talk about those fears identified as strange, curious and funny. Although it is strange to understand the fear responses of individuals who suffer from fear phobia, it is important to understand that their emotional reactions are real and that they need help and therapy psychological. Next, we will show a list with 15 types of rare phobias and their meaning:
- Anthrophobia: fear of flowers
- Philematophobia: phobia to kiss
- Medortophobia: fear of having an erection or observing one
- Optofobia: afraid to open my eyes
- Omaltophobia: Extreme and irrational fear of belly buttons
- Sphincter phobia: fear of not being able to control the urge to go to the bathroom
- Melophobia: irrational fear of music
- Nomophobia: highly related to addiction to new technologies, it is about the fear of losing or forgetting your mobile phone at home
- Colurophobia: exaggerated fear of clowns
- Gerontophobia: phobia and rejection of the elderly
- Hypopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia: fear of long words (this is quite curious given its own name)
- Diplophobia: fear of drinking alcohol and / or being drunk
- Ictiphobia: irrational fish phobia
- Cacophobia: fear of unattractive people
- Trypophobia: This fear is quite common, it is a phobia of holes and repetitive patterns (such as a bee hive or the image that we attach to you below)
While it is true that there is no specific name for the discomfort or anxiety that the fear of being afraid produces, it is undeniable that it is a feeling that exists in many people.
These types of emotions are quite common among individuals who suffer or have suffered from some type of phobia, they occur because the discomfort produced by anxiety and the same phobia are very unpleasant emotions that one does not want to experience again, for that same reason, the people with fears and phobias they may experience the so-called "fear of being afraid."
How to overcome the fear of being afraid
In the first place, the focus to be treated will be the phobia itself. This is the cause of the anxious feeling and discomfort in general. To overcome a phobia, the first step will be to identify the stimuli that produce it and learn to control our emotional responses.
The treatment of fears and phobias can be quite complex, for that very reason it is recommended to go to psychological therapy. In this way, we can guarantee a complete and quality treatment.
Do you suffer from any type of fear or phobia that we have discussed? Do not hesitate to consult our directory of psychologists and therapists to find the treatment that best suits your needs.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
