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Most unusual phobias

1) Xanthophobia fear of the colour yellow Sufferers of xanthophobia may fear anything yellow, including the sun, daffodils and

yellow paint. In its most aggressive form xanthophobic symptoms may include an

overwhelming fear of even the phrase yellow.

2) Turophobia- fear of cheese Sufferers of Turophobia usually associate cheese with a traumatic memory. From

cheddar to mozzarella turophobes often have to run away if they so much as see a slice of

cheese. Some may fear one type of cheese while others may fear cheese altogether.

3) Somniphobia- fear of falling asleep Somniphobia comprises often irrational and excessive fear of sleep. Somniphobes may

fear falling asleep because they associate going to bed with dying. It may also result from a

feeling of lack of control or from suffering repeated nightmares. Somniphobics may also fear

losing time while sleeping.

4) Coulrophobia fear of clowns Coulrophobia is a relatively common phobia, and usually present in children according

to various surveys. The 'scary clown' has often been used in popular culture, for example in

the form of the Joker in Batman comics and film adaptations. Coulrophobia has some

celebrity sufferers- namely Daniel Radcliffe and Johnny Depp. Depp said of his clown fear:

"its impossible, thanks to their painted -on smiles, to distinguish if they are happy or if they

are about to bite your face off."

5) Hylophobia- fear of trees Hylophobia involves an irrational fear of wood, forest, or trees. It is often caused by

exposure to films and fairy tales which involve scary woods in childhood. Many sufferersdon't grow out of the phobia and any walk in a scenic setting can trigger anxiety. Hylophobes

suffer extreme anxiety when they simply think about a wood.

6) Omphalophobia- fear of the navel Omphalophobia is the fear of bullybuttons. Sufferers are afraid to have their

bellybuttons touched, or to touch another person's belly button. The fear is often linked with

the belly button's association to the umbilical cord and a mother's womb. Omphalophobes can

be repulsed just by seeing or thinking about a belly button

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7) Nomophobia- fear of being without mobile phone coverage The name for the phobia of being without mobile phone coverage was coined five

years ago after researchers discovered the phenomenon. According to recent surveys, more

than half of people in the UK suffer from it. The phobia is brought on by the fear of losing

signal, running out of battery or even losing sight of a mobile phone.

8) Ombrophobia- fear of rain Ombrophobes have an abnormal fear of rain which can cause severe anxiety attacks. It

is thought to be triggered by a number of factors, including the fact that children are often told

not to go out in the rain because it will make them ill. Rain is also often associated with

depression.

9) Papaphobia- fear of the pope The fear of the pope or the papacy is uncommon. It is closely related to Hierophobia

(the fear of holy individuals or sacred things). It is also related to hagiophobia which is an

exaggerated or irrational fear or dislike of saints and holy things. The fear is often triggered

by a trauma associated with the pope.

10) Uranophobia- fear of heaven Sufferers of uranophobia fear the sky and the afterlife. It can be triggered in religious

believers who fear the idea that they will be judged after life.

11) Pogonophobia- fear of beards The term pogonophobia has been used since the 1850s to describe a strong fear of beards.Earlier this month presenter Jeremy Paxman accused the BBC of suffering from

pogonophobia after he was criticised for presenting Newsnight with a beard.

12) Trypophobia- fear of holes Sufferers of trypophobia fear objects with small holes. It is not yet considered an

official phobia, although thousands of people are reported to suffer from it. According to newresearch trypophobics associate holes with danger. Examples of feared objects include

honeycomb, sponges and any plant with small holes in it. Symptoms of Trypophobia range

from nausea and itchy skin to full blown panic attacks.