A phobia is an irrational, intense, persistent fear of certain situations, activities, things,
or people.  According to the American Psychological Association, phobias are one of
the most common mental disorders, affecting over 11% of men and women in the
world.  They can extremely diminish an individual’s social, economic, and personal life.
Phobias are the most common form of anxiety disorders.  There are thousands of
bizarre and unusual disorders in the world.  Here is a list of 10 bizarre and unusual, but
serious world phobias. 

10. Ablutophobia - The Fear of Washing, Bathing, or Cleaning.

Ablutophobia is a phobia that results in a persistent, abnormal, and unwarranted fear of
washing yourself.  It is most commonly found in women and children.  Most patients
don't fear water, just when there is intent to clean.  It is important to note that many
children dislike baths, so ablutophobia is generally not diagnosed in children unless it
persists for more than six months.  Like all phobias, ablutophobia is often linked to a
traumatic past event.  It can be serious, as a lack of hygiene can lead to social
displacement and disease.  It is a situational specific phobia and common treatment
methods are exposure and various cognitive behavioral therapy techniques. 

Caligynephobia is a form of gynophobia, which is the fear of all women.  However,
caligynephobia is directed towards good looking females.  It can be an extremely
disruptive social phobia, depending on the level of damage.  The symptoms include
rapid breathing, shortness of breath, irregular heart beat, nausea, sweating, panic attacks,
and feelings of dread.  There can also be individualized specific responses to this
phobia.  Caligynephobia can manifest itself in adolescent children, adult men, and
women, but is most often viewed in men.  Some common approaches to treating the
disorder are systematic desensitization and cognitive behavioral therapies.  

8. Anglophobia - The Fear of the England or the English Culture.

Anglophobia is a phobia that includes the fear of the English.  The term is also
inaccurately used to discriminate against English people.  Anglophobia is a true disorder
that has historic routes.  A 2005 study by Hussain and Millar of the Department of
Politics at the University of Glasgow found that the condition has decreased in
prevalence since the introduction of devolution.  Having an English friend or direct
contact with the English greatly reduces the chances of suffering from Anglophobia.
Anglophobia has existed in Wales since the Laws in Wales Acts of 1535–1542 was
passed by the Parliament of England, which annexed Wales to the Kingdom of England.
It is a rare phobia, however in August 2008 a pipefitter based in Dublin was awarded
€20,000 for receiving abuse and discrimination because he was English.          

Spectrophobia is a specific phobia that involves an intense fear of ghosts and aspirations
known as specters.  Most adults will admit to being a bit afraid of ghosts, but people
with spectrophobia feel that ghosts and specters are powerful black magic phantoms
who can steal souls and even lives.  Like most phobias, people who suffer from
spectrophobia usually have experienced some sort of mental or physical trauma in their
life.  This experience then becomes associated with specters, ghosts, or apparitions.  The
symptoms of this phobia can range from a mild uncomfortable feeling to full blown
anxiety or panic attacks.  It is a rare disorder that is usually self-diagnosed, as the
individual realizes the fear is interfering with their ability to function.  Some treatments
include traditional talk therapy, self-help techniques, exposure therapy, support groups,
and various relaxation techniques.

Dendrophobia is a very common phobia surrounding the fear of trees or the forest.  One
of the most complicated factors when dealing with dendrophobia is that the patients
often times don’t reveal the disorder, in fear of ridicule and joking.  Individuals with
this phobia become occupied with the thought that a "dead fear" is linked to the dense
trees.  They might feel trapped or experience a sense of strangulation.  Dendrophobia
causes anxiety and intense panic attacks.  Avoiding trees can often be a difficult task.
Some other symptoms of the disorder are rapid breathing, shortness of breath, sweating,
irregular heartbeat, nausea, sweating, and strong feelings of dread.  Many documented
cases have patients referring to forests and tree land as “the darkness” and “evil.”  It is a
disabling phobia that can be treated with exposure programs, talk therapy, medication,
and other cognitive behavioral therapies.  

Chorophobia is defined as the irrational fear of dancing.  It is often times based around
the individual’s unwillingness to become aroused or excited.  This phobia surrounds
social problems, such as the fear of embarrassment or large crowds.  Symptoms include
shortness of breath, rapid breathing, irregular heartbeat, sweating, nausea, panic, and
avoidance of places where dancing would take place.  The disorder can become
disabling.  The real problem ensues when the individual is forced into a dancing
situation.  A good treatment method is personal therapy and some people use hypnosis.
Many sufferers take to hiring a personal trainer to improve their dancing skills.                             

Homichlophobia is an exaggerated or irrational fear of fog.  This disorder causes
extreme panic in all patients.  Individuals will take extreme avoidance measures towards
fog, locating themselves in geographical areas that don’t receive much precipitation.
They have extreme imaginations and create horrible visions surrounding the mist and
fog.  One commonly reported symptom is tunnel vision and crazy feelings of dread.  It is
a widespread phobia and has been reported in over 67 countries.  This condition is
treated with various cognitive development techniques.  Direct exposure has been tested
and performed extremely well in helping these patients cope.  People suffering from
homichlophobia greatly benefit from behavioral therapy.  

Cypridophobia is an irrational fear of venereal disease.  The phobia has been around for
generations and the name originates from Cyprus and is a Greek word for Venus.  It
surrounds the fear of gaining a deadly venereal disease.  It is a serious disorder and the
patients often experience feelings of panic, terror, dread, rapid heart beat, trembling,
anxiety, and can become ill and often faint.  The phobia helps fuel bipolar personalities.
Patients often suffer from sleep disorders and depression as the phobia expands and
greatly damages social behavior.  Cypridophobia can often lead to a complete
withdrawal from sexual intercourse and isolation from the opposite sex.  It is a serious
disorder that is commonly seen all over the world. 

2. Nyctophobia - The Fear of the Dark.

Nyctophobia is a disabling disease characterized by a frenzied fear of the
darkness.  The phobia is generally related to children, but many adults experience
it.  It is extremely disruptive and incapacitating in adults and almost always leads
to hospitalization. Patients experience an uncontrollable fear triggered by the
mind’s perception of what could happen and is waiting in the dark.  It seems to be
based around mental-recall of past horrifying events.  There is little known about
the pathological background and emotional aspects of nyctophobia.  However,
scary movies, television shows, and ghost stories can manifest the phobia in
children.
 
Patients suffer from various physical, emotional, and mental reactions to the
phobia, including chest pain, discomfort, choking, smothering sensations, vertigo,
and feelings of unreality, sweating, and shaking.  Individuals suffering from
nyctophobia have a hard time sleeping.  Psychotherapy is one way to treat the
disorder, while other methods include desensitization and exposure to the panic
stimulant.       

Methyphobia is an intense and irrational fear of alcohol.  People suffering from this
phobia fear the consequences of alcohol consumption and in many instances they avoid
everyone who drinks.  They will also avoid any situation where alcohol is present,
including weddings, holidays, and family gatherings.  Methyphobia can directly lead to
many social disorders.  People suffering from this phobia often times have experienced
a real life trauma related to alcohol consumption.  It could be parental abuse, personal
damage, or many other causes.  There is a wide spectrum of symptoms when dealing
with methyphobia. 

Some individuals might lightly perspire and feel uncomfortable around alcohol, while
others might have serious anxiety and panic attacks.  Some other symptoms include dry
mouth, numbness, dizziness, trembling, rapid heartbeat, feeling out of control, trapped,
or utter doom.  The disorder is usually self diagnosed and can be treated with various
behavioral and cognitive therapy techniques.  Basically, helping to teach the patient that
they don’t have to drink alcohol, but others are allowed.