Logophobia: Fear of reading (or learning how)

Logophobia: Fear of reading (or learning how)
Getty Images

People with the fear of words function fine in conversation, but when shown written words, they could become breathless, shaky or paranoid. Most people with logophobia don’t know how to read, and they may refuse to try to learn.

Here are 15 sneaky things in your home that can cause anxiety. 

Advertisement

Plutophobia: Fear of money

Plutophobia: Fear of money
Getty Images

This is one of those unusual phobias that can manifest as dread around money itself, the chance of getting rich, or wealthy people.

If you’re not anxious around money, then be sure to learn these ways to make more of it in 2020. 

Ideophobia: Fear of reason or ideas

Ideophobia: Fear of reason or ideas
Getty Images

Those with extreme distrust or fear of reason or ideas have ideophobia.

Geliophobia: Fear of laughter

Geliophobia: Fear of laughter
Getty Images

People with the fear of laughter – not to be confused with gelotophobia, the fear of being laughed at – might hate chuckling or the sound of others’ giggles if they have one of these unusual phobias. Some just feel slightly uncomfortable, but others could start to hyperventilate.

Omphalophobia: Fear of belly buttons

Omphalophobia: Fear of belly buttons
Getty Images

People with the fear of belly buttons try to avoid touching their own, even in the bath, and might cover their belly buttons with a bandage or avoid going to places full of exposed navels, like the beach.

Xanthophobia: Fear of the colour yellow

Xanthophobia: Fear of the colour yellow
Getty Images

A rubber duck could be deeply uncomfortable for someone with xanthophobia, the fear of the colour yellow or the word itself.

Eleutherophobia: Fear of freedom

Eleutherophobia: Fear of freedom
Shutterstock

People with the fear of freedom generally can’t do anything without taking an order from someone else, making them much more inclined to be followers than leaders. They might be scared of the increased responsibilities that come with more freedom.

Chaetophobia: Fear of hair

Chaetophobia: Fear of hair
Shutterstock

Whether their own or other people’s tresses, those with chaetophobia have the fear of hair. They might hate running their fingers through their locks, or even be immobilised by a clump of hair on the floor.

Here are 36 secrets your hair stylist won’t tell you. 

Octophobia: Fear of the number eight

Octophobia: Fear of the number eight
Shutterstock

Experts think the fear of the number eight it could be rooted in superstition, with octophobics afraid of the inescapable – flip the number on its side and it looks like an infinity sign. This unusual phobia could translate to fear of the symbol for eight, or objects in groups of eight.

Learn more about the origins of superstitions and lucky charms. 

Symmetrophobia: Fear of symmetry

Symmetrophobia: Fear of symmetry
Shutterstock

A perfect circle is not the friend of someone who’s afraid of symmetry. They might think of symmetry as perfection or extreme beauty that they aren’t worthy of being around. People with asymmetriphobia, on the other hand, have the fear of asymmetrical things.

Never miss a deal again - sign up now!

Connect with us: