Sunday, November 1, 2009

Do you have a phobia?

Almost everyone is afraid of something and most of the time these fears keep us safe. However, some fears are stronger than usual and become phobias. The word phobia comes from a Greek word meaning "to be frightened." Arachnophobia, or fear of spiders, is one of the more common phobias. Here are some others:

Agoraphobia—the fear being in open spaces
Coulrophobia—the fear of clowns
Glossophobia—the fear of speaking in public
Nosophobia—the fear of catching a disease
Acrophobia—the fear of heights
Phasmophobia—the fear of ghosts

Some people are afraid of things that seem very unusual.

Triskaidekaphobia—the fear of the number 13
Zoophobia—the fear of animals
Amathophobia—the fear of dust
Macrophobia—the fear of long waits
Chromophobia—the fear of colors

Do you have any phobias?