Which are the most unusual phobias that exist?

Phobias can range from the common—such as fear of flying, heights, public speaking, or spiders—to the rare—such as fear of mirrors, walking, or chickens. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, specific phobias affect around 12.5% of Americans at some point in their lives.

A specific phobia is a very intense fear that is out of proportion to the actual threat that a situation or an object presents. People experience extreme fear and avoidance reactions whenever they come into contact with the source of their fear.

Specific phobias generally fall into one of four different categories, which are related to the natural environment, animals, medical issues or treatments, and specific situations.

We’ve rounded up some of the most unusual phobias that researchers have identified, studied, and described. Because these phobias tend to be pretty rare, there’s little research on their origins, symptoms, and treatments. But we know that they exist.

This being said, get ready to discover some of the most unusual phobias!