The Most Bizarre Phobias You Have Ever Heard

A phobia is not a simple concern. It is an irrational fear that causes people to go to extreme lengths to avoid something they are afraid of. Although the feared object or situation may not pose any danger, people who have a phobia perceive it to be a real threat. A normal fear turns into a phobia when people start organizing their life around avoiding the object or situation they are afraid of. Although some phobias, such as dentophobia (fear of the dentist) and arachnophobia (fear of spiders) are common, others are unusual. Here are twenty of the most bizarre phobias every documented.

Papaphobia Or The Fear Of The Pope

Papaphobes fear the pope and, sometimes, other saints or holy people. This phobia may also be related to ecclesiophobia or the fear of the church. It may prevent sufferers from going to church or attending weddings and funerals. Papaphobia may not be as disruptive to daily life as some other phobias are, but just thinking about the pope or seeing him on the news can trigger a panic attack and such symptoms as dizziness, nausea, and a racing heart.