A phobia is an irrational fear. Even when the object of this fear is entirely unjustified, it is usually impossible to convince the person otherwise.

Phobia can be paralyzing, and therefore quite serious. Still, these have to be the strangest phobias ever.

1. Phobophobia - Fear Of Having A Phobia

This is not just one of the strangest phobias ever, and it is also quite ironic. People with this fear live in constant worry that they might have a phobia. We wonder how they fail to realize that they already have anxiety.

2. Somniphobia - Fear Of Falling Asleep

Most people look forward to an opportunity to lie down and get some sleep. However, there are those who are extremely afraid of falling asleep. This might be because they associate sleeping with dying and fear that they might never get up.

3. Heliophobia - Fear Of Sunlight

It would make sense if vampires had this fear, but apparently, ordinary people do. Usually, these people are unreasonably afraid of skin cancer. Such people might spend their days in rooms with very dark curtains to ensure no ray of sunshine gets inside.

4. Anatidaephobia - Fear Of Being Watched By A Duck

This fear is as hilarious as it is weird. People with this fear are apparently constantly afraid that a duck is watching them, even when indoors.

It makes you wonder why this fear applies to ducks and not other animals. Nevertheless, this is one of the strangest phobias ever.

5. Chorophobia - Fear Of Dancing

Anything associated with dancing can trigger this fear, making it one of the strangest phobias ever. This problem is closely associated with a fear of crowds and other social phobias.

6. Hylophobia - Fear Of Trees

This has to be a terrible phobia and one of the strangest fears imaginable. Such people can't stand forests.

Therefore, deserts might seem like the best places in the world for them. The fear might have something to do with fairy tales involving talking trees and stories about evil spirits living in spooky forests.

7. Spectrophobia - Fear Of Mirrors And Own Reflection

These days, many people love nothing more than their reflections. However, some people panic as soon as they see their reflections in the mirror. This might be connected to a fear of ghosts or extreme low self-esteem over personal looks.

8. Globophobia - Fear Of Popping Balloons

People who have this strange fear generally want nothing to do with balloons. The sound of a balloon popping simply drives them frantic.

9. Allodoxaphobia - Fear Of Opinions

Some people have a problem expressing their opinions, and they suffer from one of the strangest phobias ever. They would rather stay quiet, and when called upon to express themselves, they freeze with fear. This fear might be caused by negative encounters when people could not express themselves adequately.

10. Trypophobia - Fear Of Holes

To these people, holes represent danger, however small they are. Therefore, seeing a sponge, honeycomb, or something as innocent can be mortifying. Clearly, this is one of the strangest phobias imaginable.

11. Nomophobia - Fear Of Being Away From Your Mobile Phone

Who knew that modern technology could create more phobias! Apparently, some people are so attached to their mobile phones that losing access to this handy device can send them into a full-blown panic.

12. Octophobia - Fear Of The Number Eight

Not only do these people fear the number eight, but also objects that appear in groups of eight. Some people think this fear might have something to do with the fact that eight sort of looks like infinity, which is a concept some people can't handle. This fear can also come from a traumatic experience involving the number 8, such as having an accident on the eighth day of the month.

13. Arachibutyrophobia - Fear Of Peanut Butter Sticking To The Top Of The Mouth

Some people are terrified of eating peanut butter, and it's not because they have allergies. For these people, when peanut butter sticks to the top of their mouths, a period of dread and terror soon follows. As understandable as this fear is, it is one of the strangest phobias in the world.

14. Papaphobia - Fear Of The Pope

As weird as it sounds, some people are terrified of the pope. It is believed that this fear might be connected to the fear of saints and holy men. These people won't be caught within a mile of Vatican City.

15. Ablutophobia - Fear Of Bathing

If you have this fear, you will most likely live a very lonely life. It is pretty unsettling to learn that some people can't bring themselves to bathe or wash. Strangely, this fear affects kids and women more than men.

16. Symmetrophobia - Fear Of Symmetry

Some people hate perfection, and something like a perfect circle can ruin their day, which makes this one of the strangest phobias you can have. They also hate anything that looks perfect, such as ideal beauty. The fear might originate from a feeling that they are imperfect and undeserving of anything good.

Surprisingly, people who fear anything asymmetrical are said to be suffering from asymmetriphobia.

17. Ergophobia - Fear Of Work

Some people can't wait to get to work, but some are afraid of work and would instead lead miserable lives than work. Not only is this one of the strangest phobias imaginable, but also one of the worst for an adult of working age.

18. Ancraophobia/Anemophobia - Fear Of The Wind

When these people go outdoors and a slight breeze starts, they get anxious. These people can't handle open windows, air vents, or hand dryers. Bad experiences are believed to be the reason behind this fear.

19. Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia - Fear Of Long Words

The name they gave to this fear does not really help the situation. The phobia has irony combined with a healthy dose of cruelty.

If you are in a situation where you often have to deal with long words, then it must really suck having this fear.

20. Didaskaleinophobia - Fear Of Going To School

Most people wish to skip a class once in a while, but people with this fear suffer serious anxiety from being in school. Typically, this phobia affects kids between 7 and 11 years due to fear of being separated from their parents or dealing with bullies. This may be one of the strangest phobias ever, but it's very real.

21. Plutophobia - Fear Of Money (Strangest Phobia Ever?)

If more people had this fear and not the opposite of it, the world would be a much better place. Apparently, folks with this problem are afraid to have too much money on them. This is not just one of the strangest phobias possible but also one of the most interesting.

22. Optophobia - Fear Of Opening One's Eyes

Apparently, there are people who are scared of opening their eyes. That must be rough as our lives mostly revolve around our ability to open our eyes and see our environments.

23. Pogonophobia - Fear Of Beards

If you have this fear, dating life might be rough for you. People who have this strange fear go into a panic whenever they see a beard.

24. Geliophobia - Fear Of Laughter (The Saddest Phobia)

This is not just one of the strangest phobias, but clearly, one of the worst anyone can have. These people are afraid that people might laugh at them. They also tend to hate the sound of other people laughing at them and can actually go into a panic after hearing people laugh.

25. Chaetophobia - Fear Of Hair

Some people consider hair the scariest thing ever, and a lump of hair on the floor can stop them dead on their tracks. They often even avoid touching their own hair, which is partly why this is considered one of the strangest phobias you can have.

26. Linonophobia - Fear Of Strings

This strange fear starts with a negative experience with strings. The severity of this fear varies from one person to another.

27. Sanguivoriphobia - Fear Of Vampires

The good thing about this fear is that those who suffer from it don't have a chance of ever seeing their nightmares come true. Of course, keeping off vampire movies and series is a good idea for these folks. A phobia based on an imaginary creature has to be one of the strangest phobias anyone can have.

28. Omphalophobia - Fear Of Navels

There are people out there who are afraid of navels, including their own. These people won't bring themselves to touch any belly buttons.

29. Anthopbobia - Fear Of Flowers

Normal people might think everyone appreciates a lovely bouquet of flowers. However, in one of the strangest phobias ever, some people consider seeing a flower the worst thing that can happen to them.

30. Eleutherophobia - Fear Of Freedom

These people have a problem doing anything without consulting anyone. They prefer to follow rather than lead. The fear is usually caused by concerns that more freedom means more responsibilities.

31. Xanthophobia - Fear Of The Color Yellow

This fear also comes with a fear of anything yellow, such as ripe bananas and school buses. Since yellow is such a commonplace color, life must be a nightmare for people with xanthophobia.

32. Telephonophobia - Fear Of Making/Taking Phone Calls

People with this fear are afraid to answer phones or make calls. They typically prefer to have the answering machine take their calls for them. This has to be one of the strangest phobias ever, considering how standard phone technology is today.

33. Kathisophobia - Fear Of Sitting Down

After an exhausting activity, many people look forward to sitting down. However, those with a fear of sitting down feel differently. Although sitting for too long is never a good idea, these people can suffer substantial unhealthy disruptions to their social or professional lives due to their fear of sitting down.

34. Alektorophobia - Fear Of Chickens

It turns out that some people are as afraid of chicken as they are often scared of us, which makes this one of the strangest phobias in existence. This fear is common among people who have had a traumatic experience involving chicken. It can also be inherited from family members.

35. Onomatophobia - Fear Of Names

As strange as this fear sounds, it's genuine. Usually, fear relates to certain words because they mean certain things to the person.