The phobias that you probably hear about are common like arachnophobia, but it can sometimes be strange and very irrational. Some of these strange phobias actually have a reason, and others really have no justification. Here are, in my personal opinion, the top 10 strangest phobias.

 10. Barophobia (the fear of gravity) – It is confusing why someone is scared of gravity, as it is always present. This usually comes from the fear of falling, or if gravity just somehow fails one day.

9. Geniophobia (the fear of chins) – People who have geniophobia usually cannot stop looking at someone’s chin. They may become resentful and hateful  to someone whose chin is deformed or unusual.

8. Phobophobia (the fear of fear) – Phobophobia usually occurs when a person is scared of developing a phobia, which actually leads to one.

7.  Arachibutyrophobia (the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth) – This fear usually stems from the idea of not being able to open your mouth or the idea of choking.

6. Aerophobia (the fear of fresh air) – People with aerophobia are usually afraid of wind, or even small drafts. This phobia could be a sign of rabies.

5. Nomophobia (the fear of being without a smartphone) – This one is usually linked with FOMO (fear of missing out). This to me feels ridiculous as some even go to lengths of getting anxiety when there is no service or the battery power goes down just a little. This is a new phobia linked with people spending too much time on their phones.

4. Paraskevidekatriaphobia (the fear of Friday the 13th) – People with paraskevidekatriaphobia usually get it from the movie “Friday the 13th.” They have the fear that they will be attacked by a serial killer on that day or it is just a superstition.

3. Ephebiphobia (the fear of teenagers) – People with this phobia may see teens as misbehaving and rude, and they want to have nothing to do with them.

2. Pogonophobia (the fear of beards) – People with this phobia usually get it from not liking the fact that the beard is hiding a person’s face.

1. Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (the fear of long words) – People with Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia gain this phobia by being afraid of new words and the embarrassment of mispronouncing them. In Latin this word even means “long word.” It makes me wonder who would name the fear of long words a very long word.