Just what is a phobia? Well, Wikipedia says that “a phobia is an irrational, persistent fear of certain situations, objects, activities, or persons. The main symptom of this disorder is the excessive, unreasonable desire to avoid the feared subject. When the fear is beyond one’s control, or if the fear is interfering with daily life, then a diagnosis under one of the anxiety disorders can be made.” We’ve prepared a list of top 10 awkward phobias and we’re not afraid to use it.

10. Ergasiophobia – Fear of Work

This tipe of phobia cand be asociated to individuals that may actually be suffering from an underlying mental health problem such as depression or Attention Deficit Disorder. Nevertheless, this can be used as a good excuse to get out from work once in while.

9. Neophobia – Fear of New things

Neophobia is the fear of new things or experiences. Also known as Cainotophobia, it is defined as the persistent and abnormal fear of anything new. In its milder form, it can manifest as the unwillingness to try new things or break from routine. This is not a laughing matter! Some of my ex-girfriends are neophobic.

8. Gamophobia – Fear of marriage.

Read it out loud boys, Gamophobia is the fear of getting married or being in a relationship. This phobia refers to a person who’s afraid of commitment, whereas the opposite of it, anuptophobia, could be what those overly-attached girlfriends have.

7. Taphophobia – Fear of being Buried Alive

Before the advent of modern medicine there have been numerous cases of people being accidentally buried alive, so this fear hasn’t been invented by a phronemophobic. The fear of being buried alive is basically the fear of being placed in a grave while still alive as a result of being incorrectly pronounced dead.

6 Phronemophobia- Fear of thinking.

I can’t think of a better paradox than this. From the description, Phronemophobia resembles Mnemophobia which is basically the fear of memories. As with any phobia, the symptoms may vary by person depending on their level of fear. The symptoms typically include extreme anxiety, dread, the inability to articulate words or sentences, dry mouth and shaking.

5. Coulrophobia – Fear of Clowns

Have you ever heard of the movie 100 tears? If you haven’t, then you should probably know that Coulrophobia is an exaggerated fear of clowns. It is not uncommon among children, but is also sometimes found in teenagers and adults as well. Sufferers sometimes acquire a fear of clowns after having a bad experience with one personally, or seeing a sinister portrayal of one in the media.

4. Gymnophobia – Fear of Nudity

As you might have guessed, Gymnophobia is the fear of being seen naked, and/or seeing others naked, even in situations where it is socially acceptable. This phobia often arises from a feeling of inadequacy that one’s body is physically inferior, particularly due to comparison with idealized images portrayed in the media.

3. Panphobia – Fear of Everything

Also known as Omniphobia, Pantophobia or Panophobia, it is a medical condition known as a “non-specific fear”. The the sufferer finds themselves in a state of fear but with no known target, and therefore no easy remedy. It has been described as “a vague and persistent dread of some unknown evil”. This fear is often seen as a secondary condition to schizophrenia.

2. Cibophobia- Fear of food.

This one really sucks… Cibophobia is a relatively complicated phobia that usually gets mistaken with anorexia. As a major difference between the two, those with anorexia fear the effects of food on body image, while those with cibophobia are actually afraid of the food itself.

1. Ithyphallophobia – Fear of seeing, thinking about or having an erect penis.

Also know as Medorthophobia, Phallophobia, Ithyphallophobia, and Fear of an Erect Penis being the most common, this persistent, problem often takes months or even years to treat and sometimes it even requires the patient to be exposed repeatedly to their fear.