Las phobias son anxiety disorders characterized by an irrational and excessive fear of specific objects, situations or activities. Although many people can identify common phobias, such as fear of snakes or heights, there are other less known phobias that affect a smaller part of the population.
According to the psychiatrist Robert J. Campbellauthor of Campbell’s Psychiatric Dictionarythere are more than 230 documented phobias, many of which are so unusual that their diagnosis and treatment can be complicated. Some of these phobias became better known thanks to the expansion of clinical psychology and research in the field of mental illness. These are some of the strangest phobias and their implications for those who suffer from them.
The chrometophobia is a rare phobia that involves anxiety or panic in the presence of money. The causes of this phobia can vary, but are often related to past experiences of financial hardship or a distorted perception of the risks associated with wealth. Those who suffer from chrometophobia may feel constant worry about losing or wasting their money, which generates great emotional and psychological discomfort.
The catisofobia is a less well-known but highly limiting phobia, which is characterized by the irrational fear of sitting. This fear is associated with social anxiety, as many people who suffer from this phobia avoid sitting in the presence of others for fear of judgment or discomfort.
Additionally, some people with catisophobia may experience anxiety while lying down, which further aggravates their situation. The phobia can seriously interfere with everyday activities, from attending meetings to participating in social activities.
Investigations of the American Psychiatric Association demonstrated that this type of phobias can be related to traumatic experiences or stigmatization in social situations, contributing to the development of generalized anxiety.
The nomophobiawhich comes from the English term “no-mobile-phone-phobia”, describes the fear of being without a mobile phone or to be disconnected from social networks. Although it is often considered a modern phobia, it is actually linked to an increasing reliance on technology in everyday life. Overreliance on a mobile phone can lead to feelings of anxiety, stress and isolation when the device is out of reach or runs out of battery.
This phenomenon has been widely studied in the last decade. According to a report from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), nomophobia mainly affects young people, who feel increasing anxiety about losing connection through their phones, a device that many consider essential to their social and professional lives.
He fear of waitingknown as macrophobiamanifests itself in people who experience anxiety during prolonged waiting times. This type of phobia not only occurs in everyday situations such as standing in line at the supermarket or waiting at the bank, but also in activities that require patience, such as waiting for an appointment or an important result. Macrophobia is linked to impatience and the desire for control, where the person fears feeling trapped in a situation of uncertainty.
University of California published a study that states that macrophobia may be linked to generalized anxiety disorders, where people have difficulty tolerating any form of waiting or uncertainty.
The Kompounofobia It is an extremely rare phobia that refers to the irrational fear of buttons. People who suffer from this phobia may avoid clothing that contains buttons or feel deeply uncomfortable when seeing or touching buttons. This fear is often associated with the idea that the buttons can “trap” the person or cause some type of harm. Although it is a rare phobia, it can have a significant impact on the way a person dresses or interacts with their environment.
A study published in Journal of Anxiety Disorders analyzed cases of phobias related to everyday objects such as buttons, and found that fear disorders towards inanimate objects can be triggered by traumatic experiences during childhood or by a genetic predisposition towards anxiety.
The turophobia is the irrational fear of cheesea fear that goes beyond simply not enjoying the taste of this food. People who suffer from this phobia may experience anxiety or panic when seeing, smelling, and even thinking about cheese. This type of phobia can interfere with social life, especially in situations where cheese is served as part of the meal.
Research in food psychology have shown that food phobias, such as turophobia, may be linked to experiences of gastrointestinal discomfort or aversions that develop during childhood, related to the texture or flavor of cheese.
The pogonophobia It is the irrational fear of beards or facial hair. People who suffer from this phobia may feel discomfort, fear or even panic when seeing someone with a beard. This fear may be related to a traumatic personal experience or a distorted perception of what beards represent, as a form of “aggression” or “danger.” Pogonophobia is more common in some cultures where beards are not as prevalent as in others.
According to an article published in American Psychological Associationfears of other people’s physical characteristics, such as beards, may be linked to stigmatization or experiences of social rejection.
The genuphobia is the irrational fear of the kneeseither to their own or to those of other people. People with genuphobia may avoid situations that require squatting or bending the knees. This type of phobia may be associated with physical or psychological trauma related to the knees, such as an injury or a bad experience in childhood.
Journal of Clinical Psychology indicates that fears of specific body parts, such as the knees, may originate from traumatic experiences in which these body parts were associated with pain or vulnerability.
