1. Emetophobia

The first entry on our list of the most unusual phobias is emetophobia, which is an intense and persistent fear of vomiting. While studies suggest that a mild fear of emptying one’s stomach is more common, affecting up to 8.8% of people, emetophobia is considered pretty rare, affecting about 0.1% of the population.

Symptoms can include anxiety that causes stomach upset and feelings of nausea. These distressing physical symptoms exacerbate the fear of vomiting, leading to a self-perpetuating cycle.

Some people with anxiety about vomiting may develop additional phobias, such as cibophobia, which is when one fears food, especially those that may lead to stomach upset or illness.