I’ve mentioned it before and I’ll mention it again, I am afraid of moths. Known as Mottephobia (even wrote a scary moth movie script because of it). But only when they’re flying near me. Or at my face – seriously, what light do they see there? Some people have even asked if I’m also afraid of butterflies. I’m not, they flap their wings differently. But this is not a particularly uncommon phobia, there are far more strange, unusual, and unexpected phobias that people suffer from that for them could be a nightmare.
Cheese
Or medically known as Turophobia, sufferers associate cheese with a traumatic memory and whether it’s a particular type of cheese or any and all cheese, sufferers may just need you to keep the fridge firmly closed when they come around for a coffee. It can be the taste, smell, or feel of cheese. Can you imagine pizza without cheese?
Trees
A fear of trees is known as Hylophobia, and I’ve seen some horror movies and some particularly scary trees that this could apply to. And it is suggested that it is movies and fairytales that can be the cause of this fear. Like American Werewolf in London, I can’t walk through a forest on the full moon, especially not if there’s also a low lying ground fog rolling across the forest floor but perhaps this would, in fact, be Nyctohylophobia – a fear of the woods at night. Imagine not being able to go for a walk in the woods on a nice sunny day, or having to check for trees before going places. It can even trigger anxiety if a sufferer only thinks about wood.
Beards
It must be awful for people who suffer from Pogonophobia when beards are the trend. A term coined as far back as the 1850s, beards have some bad press. Like many others, I was often told as a child that men with beards shouldn’t be trusted. But the reason for a fear of beards could be any number of things, both internal or external, and the symptoms of the fear can vary greatly.
Long Words
I feel like Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia was a bad choice for this particular phobia and it is often considered a social phobia. I suspect this kind of phobia could stem from spelling tests in schools as it is often brought on as a result of being laughed at or teased when trying to pronounce long words. It’s also known as Sesquipedalophobia.
The Moon
Fear of the moon is known as Selenophobia, and may (as with other phobias) stem from a traumatic event. In some cases, it’s related to myths and folklore – such as werewolves and vampires. And those with the phobia will try to avoid it. In the case of a natural environment phobia, they are often formed in childhood, slowly over a number of years.
Writing in Public
Imagine being an author with Scriptophobia, that would be no book signings at all – or perhaps hiding under the table and screaming the whole way through. Not to mention how difficult this would make school and exams for a sufferer.
Books
I wonder if this extends to eBooks? Known as Bibliophobia the fear of books can be limiting. Often stemming from a fear of how books can affect a society and can also include the fear or reading or reading out loud. In some individuals with this particular phobia
Do you have any phobias?
There is a school of thought that suggests irrational phobias could be passed down through your family genes. If, for example, your great-grandmother was afraid of water perhaps due to a traumatic event in her lifetime she could pass that fear through her DNA to you. And you could spend your life with a seemingly irrational fear of water too.
If you’re in the UK and want to learn more about phobias or support and treatments available you can find more information from Mind here.
Download STARS by KT McQueen for free. The first in the Noctisbellum Inc. series which begins my Monster Universe. And sample the first few chapters of Moon which is now available from most eBook sellers.
Horror and Fantasy Author – Also writing as K.T. McQueen. Love Western Horror, cowboy boots, my cactus Collin, & my Demon Cat.
Moths – I hate moths, the way they flutter at your face!
