Hello Great Bend High School, some of you may be wondering, What are some of the strangest phobias? Well, I’m wondering the same thing, so, lets get into the story.

A phobia is an anxiety disorder defined by a persistent and excessive fear of an object or situation. Phobias can develop through childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. One of the main reasons that can cause a phobia is experiencing a frightening traumatic event, such as being trapped in an elevator or attacked by an animal. Although, it is not always clear as to why some phobias occur.

About 19 million Americans have one or more phobias that range from mild to severe. Phobias are often first seen between ages 15 and 20. They affect both men and women equally. But men are more likely to seek treatment for phobias.

Phobias can limit your daily activities and may cause severe anxiety and depression. Depending on how severe and complex a phobia is it can make your life even more difficult. People with phobias often purposely avoid coming into contact with the thing that causes them fear and anxiety. One reason phobias develop is a result of having a negative experience or panic attack related to a specific object or situation.

“I think Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the strangest. It’s the fear of long words, and it’s a really long word!” said Great Bend High School senior August Siefkes, “My mom is terrified of spiders. She leaped out of the car when she saw one on the floor mat. I am terrified of toads and frogs. It’s a weird thing to be afraid of, but they just really freak me out.”

Hear are a list of some phobias and what they mean:

Arachibutyrophobia- is actually not the fear of peanut butter as an object, but the situation of having it stick to the roof of your mouth.

Alliumphobia- the fear of garlic.

Phobophobia-  the extreme fear of being afraid.

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia or Sesquipedalophobia- Fear of long words. (Which I find ironic because sesquipedalophobia is in fact a long word)

Ablutophobia- A fear of bathing and water. This is a very common toddler phobia, and usually shows up around ages 1-2.

Dextrophobia- the irrational fear of having objects at the right side of the body.

Arithmophobia- the extreme fear of numbers.

Logophobia- an irrational or disproportionate fear of words

Ideophobia- the fear or distrust of ideas or of reason.

Kakorrhaphiophobia- the fear of failure