Did you know… it would appear that any given situation or object can turn into a fear, inherit a descriptive medical name and result in what we all know as a phobia? It’s no joke. Phobias have been classed as mental illnesses, a medical diagnosis of sorts.

I mean absolutely no disrespect to those who suffer from phobias, but I have to admit that I found myself rather appalled by what society has allowed to become a diagnosis, a defect, a debilitating disease and even a stigma. It literally confines an individual to the limitations of the expectation set by society.

However, I did catch myself laughing on a few occasions, totally taken back by how descriptive these phobias are! If you would allow me this opportunity to enlighten you with just a few of the lesser known and rather unpronounceable phobias out there, I’m sure you will mirror my sentiments.

Here goes:

• Arachibutyrophobia: the fear of peanut butter sticking to the top of your mouth
• Omphalophobia: the fear of belly buttons (I’m guessing the ones that stick out have the biggest reaction from someone who suffers with this phobia!)
• Barophobia: the fear of gravity (I just cannot get grounded with this one!)
• Amaxophobia: the fear of riding in a car
• Anthrophobia: the fear of flowers (maybe this one is from watching ‘Horton Hears a Who‘ too much!)
• Atelophohia: the fear of imperfection (I’m guessing 99% of the population suffers from this one)
• Cacophobia: the fear of ugliness
• Gamophobia: the fear of marriage (sounds like it’s a gamble?)
• Podophobia: the fear of feet (I find myself wondering what type of thriller this may turn out to be?!)
• Venustraphobia: the fear of beautiful woman (secretly all woman wish their men suffered from this one!)
• Gynophobia: the fear of woman
• Androphobia: the fear of men
• Scolionophobia: the fear of school
• Mageirocophobia: the fear of cooking (pasta is clearly exempt from this one!)
• Phobophobia: the fear of phobias

And my favourite:

• Hippopomonstrosesquipedaliophobia: how ironic, the longest written phobia is the fear of long words! No jokes!

I have to wonder about the people who actually name these so-called medical conditions. What do they study? What do they do with their lives in order to provide such descriptive terminology? Maybe they all have a condition! Then again, most of the names are Greek in origin, maybe that explains why?! I’m afraid to find out!