9 of the rarest phobias in the world, from fear of walking to mirrors

JAKARTA - We are usually familiar with common phobias, such as fear of spiders, heights, flying, or public speaking.

However, there are also phobias that are rarely encountered, such as fear of chickens, fear of walking, or fear of looking in the mirror. Although rare, these phobias can be very disruptive to daily activities.

Specific phobias are very strong fears that are disproportionate to the real threat of a particular object or situation. People with these phobias will usually avoid the feared thing.

Specific phobias are usually divided into four categories, namely fear of animals, fear of nature or the environment, fear related to medical problems or treatment, and fear of certain situations.

Someone is said to suffer from a specific phobia if they experience severe fear or anxiety, have a direct fear response, feel the fear is far excessive compared to the real risk, the symptoms last for at least six months, interfere with daily activities, and are not caused by other mental health conditions.

Fobia langka biasanya diberi nama dari bahasa Yunani ditambah akhiran "-phobia". Berikut beberapa fobia langka, seperti dilansir dari laman Verywell Mind.

1. Alektrophobia – Fear of Chicken

Alektrophobia is the fear of chickens or hens. In one case, an 18-year-old woman suffered from a severe fear of chickens. The cause is related to a traumatic experience in childhood. This phobia was successfully treated with exposure therapy (exposure therapy), a cognitive behavioral therapy that involves gradual exposure to the source of fear.

2. Gerascophobia – Fear of Getting Old

Fear of the aging process can trigger severe stress or dangerous behaviors such as restricting food. Symptoms can include anxiety, depression, and fear of adult responsibilities. In one case report, a 14-year-old boy reduced his food intake, hunched over to look shorter, and spoke in a higher voice to look younger.

3. Ambulophobia – Fear of Walking

Fear of walking, often occurs in the elderly due to the risk of falling. Sufferers tend to avoid walking, making it difficult to leave the house. Studies show that 30.1% of nursing home residents show symptoms of ambulophobia, especially women and people over 70 years old.

4. Emetophobia – Fear of Vomiting

Fear of vomiting, more often experienced by women. This phobia is more common in women than men (7% vs 2%). Symptoms include anxiety and nausea. Additional phobias can appear, such as cibophobia (fear of certain foods).

5. Arachibutyrophobia - Fear of peanut butter sticking to the mouth

Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth can be related to trauma or fear of choking. People who have experienced a severe allergic reaction may still feel anxious after the incident.

6. Spectrophobia – Fear of Mirrors

Spectrophobia is the fear of mirrors or reflections in mirrors. Sufferers may be afraid to see themselves or others in the mirror. This phobia can make people avoid places with mirrors, disrupting daily activities.

7. Decidophobia – Fear of Making Decisions

Decidophobia is a very strong fear of making decisions, from small things to big decisions in life. Symptoms include delaying decisions, panicking when having to choose, and depending on others to make decisions.

8. Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia - Fear of Long Words

This phobia is a fear of long words. Sufferers may be anxious when reading, spelling, or saying long words, to the point of having panic attacks.

9. Chiclephobia - Fear of Chewing Gum

Chiclephobia is the fear of chewing gum. Symptoms of anxiety can appear just by looking at chewing gum or someone else chewing it. The cause is not entirely clear, but previous negative experiences can be a trigger.

Phobia Treatment

Although rare, specific phobias can be treated well. Psychological therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy, has proven effective. Technology, such as virtual exposure therapy, can also help in overcoming phobias.