12 Unusual Phobias That Sound Made-Up But Aren’t

1. Arachibutyrophobia – Fear of Peanut Butter Sticking to the Roof of Your Mouth

It’s not just a quirky dislike—this phobia is legit. Sufferers genuinely panic at the thought of peanut butter turning into mouth glue. Forget creamy or chunky debates; they’re just trying to survive snack time.

2. Nomophobia – Fear of Being Without Your Phone

This one’s too real. Forget ghosts; the idea of 0% battery or no signal sends nomophobes into a full-blown meltdown. Imagine camping—shudders.

3. Xanthophobia – Fear of the Color Yellow

Sunshine? Bananas? Even SpongeBob? Hard pass for xanthophobes. They can’t handle anything remotely golden-hued. Yellow’s great for “energy” unless it makes you hyperventilate.

Fun fact: Some sufferers carry tinted glasses to block out yellows. Stylish, right?

4. Pogonophobia – Fear of Beards

Ever wanted to scream at Santa Claus? Pogonophobes can’t stand the sight of facial hair. Movember must be their annual nightmare.

5. Anatidaephobia – Fear of Being Watched by Ducks

This one sounds made-up, but The Far Side comic strip made it famous. Though not officially recognized, sufferers swear they feel ducks’ judgmental stares.

6. Heliophobia – Fear of the Sun

These folks aren’t vampires but might as well be. Heliophobia makes beach vacations or a simple stroll unbearable. SPF 1000, anyone?

7. Optophobia – Fear of Opening One’s Eyes

Life’s easier when you don’t look, right? Wrong. For optophobes, even a peek outside their eyelids is terrifying. It’s the “ostrich head in the sand” approach to anxiety.

8. Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia – Fear of Long Words

Yes, it’s cruelly ironic. Whoever named this phobia deserves some serious side-eye. Imagine fearing the word for the thing you fear—meta.

9. Plutophobia – Fear of Wealth

Dreaming of winning the lottery? Not these folks. The idea of being rich brings stress, guilt, or fear of being targeted. Minimalism to the max.

Fun fact: The term pluto comes from the Greek god of wealth, Pluto. So, essentially, this fear is like being scared of your rich uncle who’s always handing out cash at family reunions. If you have plutophobia, you might want to start avoiding Monopoly games, too!

10. Ombrophobia – Fear of Rain

Rain is relaxing? Not for these folks. They’re not just avoiding getting wet—they feel outright terror during a drizzle.

11. Chaetophobia – Fear of Hair

No bad hair days here; just no hair days at all. Sufferers can’t deal with strands, whether it’s theirs, someone else’s, or even wigs. Rapunzel? More like nope-unzel.

12. Geniophobia – Fear of Chins

Yes, people really fear chins. Pointy, dimpled, or cleft—they’re all equally horrifying to those with geniophobia. Imagine sitting across from someone with a prominent chin, and all you can think about is getting up and leaving. For sufferers, even looking in the mirror might trigger discomfort or dread.

This phobia often stems from a traumatic experience, such as being teased about a chin-related feature or associating chins with something unsettling from their past. Psychologists suggest that sufferers could benefit from exposure therapy or cognitive-behavioral techniques to reduce their fear.

Fun chin fact: Did you know that the human chin is unique among all primates? It’s true—gorillas, chimpanzees, and other species don’t have chins like ours. Scientists still debate why humans evolved this distinct feature, with theories ranging from speech mechanics to romantic attraction. For someone with geniophobia, though, this tidbit might not make chins any more lovable.

If you think chins are harmless, consider pop culture’s obsession with them. Superhero characters like the Crimson Chin from The Fairly OddParents were designed to poke fun at exaggerated features, but for a geniophobe, they might just be the stuff of nightmares.