7 Of The Most Bizarre And Life-Threatening Phobias

Not only are these seven phobias totally strange, but they can also wreak havoc on your daily functioning.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | July 30, 2024

Nobody in the world is truly fearless. Whether it's spiders, clowns, the dark or failure—each of us has a personal kryptonite. However, not all fears are created equally. Many of us can navigate life with minimal disruption, either rarely or never having to face our greatest fears. But for some, this is not the case.

There are certain phobias so profoundly debilitating that they can deeply impact every aspect of an individual's life. The following seven fears are ones you've likely never heard of before, and—based on psychological research—are arguably the most challenging to live with.

7. Ambulophobia

Ambulophobia, according to a 2022 study from Frontiers in Psychology, is the specific phobia involving an intense fear of walking—which primarily affects the elderly. These individuals often avoid walking on uneven surfaces and may prefer to stay in bed or at home to reduce the risk of falling. The fear can become so overwhelming that it significantly restricts their mobility and independence.

According to the authors, "This phobia may arise as a result of a traumatic experience, a past experience—the affected person may have experienced a fall or witnessed another person fall. As a consequence of this incident, they experience a real, but irrational and disproportionate fear of walking due to lack of confidence in their own abilities."

People with ambulophobia experience severe anxiety at the mere thought of walking, especially on uneven or unfamiliar surfaces. This fear manifests through panic attacks, a rapid heartbeat, sweating and an overwhelming desire to avoid situations that require walking. Everyday activities—such as going for a walk, shopping or even moving around the house—become daunting tasks. The fear of falling looms large, making the world outside feel like a dangerous place filled with potential hazards.

6. Decidophobia

Decidophobia, according to a 2021 study from the Journal of Sociology and Ethnology, is an irrational fear of making decisions—which can cripple one's ability to navigate daily life. People with this phobia often experience significant panic even when faced with minor choices.

This overwhelming fear can result in physical symptoms—such as increased heart rate, shortness of breath, elevated blood pressure, sweating, muscle tension and tremors. The fear can leave sufferers feeling helpless; according to a Reddit user with decidophobia, "All I can say is that if you don't decide anything, a decision will be made for you—and you won't like it."

The fear of decision-making can be paralyzing—ranging from what to eat for dinner to significant life choices like career moves or relationships. The fear of making the wrong choice can lead to chronic procrastination, avoidance and reliance on others to make decisions for them. Life becomes a series of stressful dilemmas, where each decision feels like a potential catastrophe waiting to happen.

5. Cibophobia

Cibophobia—also known as sitophobia—involves a persistent and irrational fear of food. Individuals with this phobia experience extreme anxiety about food preparation, contamination and poisoning.

"I'm scared it's gone bad, and I'll get physically ill just thinking about it—as though I've already eaten it and it was bad. But I have to think of it as bad first for that to happen. If it seems fine, then I can eat—no worries. Unfortunately, my criteria for food being fine is drastically different to 'normal' people," explains a Reddit user with cibophobia explains

Cibophobes may obsessively fret over how food is prepared, who prepares it and potential contamination. This intense fear leads to reduced food intake, significant anxiety around meals, sleep disorders and physical illness from constant worry. Daily life becomes a struggle as the fear of food affects nutrition and overall health; each meal becomes a source of stress rather than sustenance.

4. Somniphobia

A 2023 study from Psychology and Education outlines that somniphobia—the fear of sleep—involves intense anxiety related to falling asleep. The symptoms associated with somniphobia include difficulty initiating sleep, increased arousal at bedtime and significant distress. This phobia can lead to sleep deprivation and impaired functioning during waking hours.

The lack of understanding we have regarding what happens to us when we sleep—as well the fact that we never truly know that we will certainly wake up—is deeply distressing to somniphobes. One Reddit user explains, "This is exactly what I've pinpointed to be the reason as to why I fear sleep. We don't know when our brains are gonna shut off. It just happens, and not having the ability to control that is scary since unconsciousness—where we know nothing and don't 'exist'—is scary."

Individuals with somniphobia may dread bedtime—fearing the loss of control that comes with sleep. They might experience insomnia, frequent waking and panic attacks. The resulting sleep deprivation can cause fatigue, irritability and difficulty concentrating, which can severely impact daily life. Nightfall brings about a battle against their own minds, as the fear of falling asleep takes precedence over the body's need for rest.

3. Acousticophobia

Acousticophobia, or fear of noise, often originates in childhood—according to a 2019 study from Jacobs Journal of Neurology and Neuroscience. It's often triggered by particularly loud noises that cause intense fright, but can extend to a variety of startling, strange or overwhelming noises.

Acousticophobes emphasize the wide range of sounds that can be potentially triggering. "I tend to get panic attacks when I'm around too many sounds. I say sounds because it's not necessarily just noise, like a baby crying or people talking. It might just be music playing. I have never been claustrophobic in the sense that small spaces frighten me; I don't mind closed spaces at all. I just sometimes get panic attacks from too much sound. Kind of like a sensory overload," expressed a Reddit user, who likened their experience to claustrophobia.

People with acousticophobia can become majorly panicked in environments with various sounds—such as busy streets, concerts or even household noises. Symptoms include rapid heartbeat, sweating and an overwhelming desire to escape noisy environments. This phobia can lead to social isolation and avoidance of public places—making it difficult for individuals to engage in normal social activities or even leave their homes.

2. Chronophobia

Chronophobia, according to a 2020 study from the Asian Journal of Psychiatry, is the fear of passing time. This strange phobia is often seen in individuals experiencing extended periods of confinement—such as individuals in prison or quarantine—and involves a neurotic fear of time's relentless progression.

However, this fear can affect others too. A 15-year old high-schooler laments over his experience of chronophobia: "In the blink of an eye, the weekend was over. Today is over. What the f*ck. Time is so weird. It makes me want to throw up. I'm not even saying this to be quirky or grasp at straws to say that something is wrong with me. I've had existential crises over this since the ages of 6 or 7."

Symptoms of chronophobia include panic attacks, anxiety and deep, existential dread at the thought of time passing. Individuals may feel trapped by the concept of time, which can make it incredibly difficult to focus on the present moment. This fear can significantly impair daily functioning and mental health, as the awareness of time's passage—and how unstoppable it is—becomes a source of constant distress.

1. Phobophobia

Phobophobia, according to Cleveland Clinic, is the fear of fear itself. It manifests as a fear of experiencing fear—physically or emotionally—or showing it to others. Both ironically and sadly, it is a self-perpetuating condition; the anxiety about potential fear leads to constant vigilance and stress.

A Reddit user explains how truly inescapable and phobophobia can feel, saying, "It basically permeates through your whole existence, and you can't feel safe anywhere anymore—even in previously happy places because of the looming fear that you could freak out at the sight of a desk, or your bed or literally any concept."

Individuals with phobophobia live in a persistent state of heightened anxiety, constantly worried about encountering situations that might trigger fear. This can lead to avoidance behaviors, social isolation and difficulty in daily activities. Fear becomes a pervasive presence, affecting every aspect of life; the individual becomes trapped in a cycle of anxiety and dread, which in turn fuels the fear of fear itself.

A similar version of this article can also be found on Forbes.com, here.