Fact: Everyone is afraid of something. Also a fact: There's a fancy term for whatever you're afraid of. Scared of balloons? You have globophobia. Fear the color orange? You're chrysophobic. Dread long words? Then you might not even want to say hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia.
Like all good citizens of the Internet, we tend to self-diagnose our conditions, and fears are no exception. Which are the most perused phobias causing people's skin to crawl?
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Yahoo shared with Mashable the top most searched-for anxieties and their technical terms for August. To save you valuable search time and minimize the risk of scary imagery, here's a quick look at these most-queried fears.
1. Agoraphobia
Definition: Fear of large, crowded or open spaces; can be associated with the fear of leaving home.
With the Internet and the ability to have everything delivered, there's no reason to go outside anyway.
Image: Flickr, slworking2
2. Xenophobia
Definition: Fear of the foreign.
Live in any metropolitan area long enough and the thought of tourists will fill you with dread.
Image: Flickr, ilmari hyvönen
3. Trypophobia
Definition: Fear of holes or clusters of holes.
Warts, pores and even some vegetation can trigger this phobia. Face masks, stat!
Image: Flickr, Eileen Braybrook
4. Claustrophobia
Definition: Fear of tight, enclosed or crowded spaces.
What do elevators, crowded public transportation and airplanes have in common? The feeling of entrapment and suffocation.
Image: Flickr, aLdo&mich
5. Arachnophobia
Definition: Fear of spiders.
One body, eight legs, and a whole lot of terrifying. Someone else can kill it while you cower in the other room.
Image: Flickr, Pascal
6. Photophobia
Definition: Fear or intolerance of light.
Or how it feels waking up every morning.
Image: Tumblr, whoopswasthatme
7. Homophobia
Definition: "Fear" or hatred of homosexuals or individuals who identify as LGBTQ.
How can anyone be afraid of this? Even LGBTQ zombies are adorable!
Image: Tumblr, rubyrevolt
8. Glossophobia
Definition: Fear of public speaking.
Because being in front of a room full of strangers is a great way to showcase how awkward and inarticulate you are.
9. Acrophobia
Definition: Fear of heights.
Though, if you really think about it, it's the gravity that would actually kill you.
Image: YouTube, Rutlesjef
10. Hobophobia
Definition: Not technically a real term, but it refers to an irrational fear of homeless people.
Though, shouldn't hobophobics' real fear be becoming homeless themselves?
Image: Tumblr, lunamalfoy7