20 Bizarre Real-Life Phobias

12. Arachnophobia

Most people are familiar with arachnophobia, or an intense fear of spiders. In fact, arachnophobia is one of the most common phobias in the world. People who suffer from this phobia cannot stand to be near spiders, or to see them. Sometimes even seeing an image of a spider will cause them to faint or break down. You can expect arachnophobics to avoid environments where spiders are common, and to go out of their way to ensure their own homes are spider free.

13. Agoraphobia

Sadly, agoraphobia is a phobia that is often seen in older people who have become very insular in their old age. Essentially it is a phobia of either open or public spaces. People who suffer from agoraphobia will tend to spend most of their time inside, somewhere they feel safe, and do everything they can to avoid going outdoors where their fear is at its greatest.

Clare Whitfield Chief Editor

Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney, she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work.

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