Abstract and unusual phobias
Uncommon, informal, or culturally popular fear terms explained carefully.
Arithmophobia
Arithmophobia is an intense fear of numbers, either all of them or unlucky ones like 4, 13, and 666. Learn how it differs from math anxiety and what can help.
Common informal termAutomatonophobia
Automatonophobia is a fear of humanlike figures like mannequins, wax figures, dummies, and robots. Learn why they unsettle people and what can help.
Common informal termCherophobia
Cherophobia is a name for fearing or avoiding happiness. Learn what research on fear of happiness shows, how culture shapes it, and when it may need support.
Rare or disputed termChronophobia
Chronophobia is an intense fear of time passing. It can follow prison, illness, trauma, or lockdown, and birthdays may set it off. Learn the signs and what helps.
Common informal termCoulrophobia
Why do clowns unsettle so many people? Explore coulrophobia, what research says about clown fear, and when it becomes a phobia.
Common informal termDecidophobia
Decidophobia is the fear of making decisions, a term coined by philosopher Walter Kaufmann in 1973. See how it shows up in daily life and what helps you decide.
Rare or disputed termKinemortophobia
Kinemortophobia is an informal name for fear of zombies, not a diagnosis. Learn where the word comes from, why zombies scare people, and what can help.
Common informal termPediophobia
Why do dolls unsettle so many people? Explore pediophobia, the fear of dolls, from the uncanny valley to horror movies.
Common informal termPhasmophobia
Phasmophobia is an intense fear of ghosts. Learn what it can feel like, why it often shows up at night, and how it differs from enjoying a good scare.
Common informal termPhilophobia
Philophobia is the fear of falling in love or emotional attachment. Learn what drives it, how it differs from caution, and what can help.
Rare or disputed termSamhainophobia
Samhainophobia is a fear of Halloween. Learn where the name comes from, why some people dread October, and how to cope when spooky season arrives.
Rare or disputed termTaphophobia
Taphophobia is the fear of being buried alive. Learn how it shaped the 1800s, why safety coffins existed, and what can help if the fear lingers today.
Common informal termTetraphobia
Tetraphobia is the avoidance of the number 4, common in parts of East Asia because four sounds like death. Learn where it comes from and when it becomes a fear.
Common informal termThanatophobia
When thoughts about death keep taking over, support is available. Understand thanatophobia, everyday impact, grief, and how to explain the fear.
Common informal termTriskaidekaphobia
Why do buildings skip the 13th floor? Explore triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13, its history, and Friday the 13th.