Everyone is afraid of something, even if all that they fear is fear itself. Certain people are inexplicably terrified of a few specific things, even if it seems irrational or obscure. I mean, apparently, the fear of peanut butter sticking to your mouth is a universal enough phobia to have a name ("Arachibutyrophobia"). So, in light of an obscure fear of mine making itself known, I decided to ask the Rowan University Odyssey community, as well as some of my close friends, about any irrational fears they have.
1. People Touching Your Throat
"In dance one time, we were doing this evil queen dance. This partner part ended with one girl putting her hand near the other girl's throat. The girl I was with actually put her hand on my throat, and I don't think my eyes ever bugged out so hard. I thought my heart was going to leap out of my chest. That partner part never made it into the dance (thank God)." -- Angelina Sakkestad
2. Jack-O-Lanterns
"I AM ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED OF JACKOLANTERNS. My mom put a whole bunch in my room in the middle of the night because she thought it would be funny, but it terrified me instead. Now I'm scarred for life." -- Tori Crowley
3. Being Underwater
"I'm scared of being underwater. I'm afraid because I had two brothers, and naturally they tortured me. So they would pretend to drown me when I was little, and I actually thought they were trying to kill me." -- Brooke Albright
4. Sleeping Without A Blanket
"I'm scared of sleeping without a blanket or sheet over me. It can be a thousand degrees, but you will not catch me sleeping on top of my blankets. I feel too vulnerable." --Olivia Matko
5. Feet
"Basically, feet are nasty and I don't want to see anyone's feet. It's inappropriate." --Amanda Hoarell
6. Certain Films
"It's kind of depressing, but it was after my Grandpa died; so anything that had people dying in it gave me anxiety." --Taylor Adams
7. Clouds
"I'm scared they're going to take me away. Like even when you do fireworks and a cloud of smoke forms, it still scares the sh*t out of me." --Amanda Hoarell (and her mother)
8. Bellybuttons
"Whenever I start to trust someone, I'll tell them about my secret bellybutton fear because I had surgery [there] and I hate getting it touched. So, then they proceed to touch my bellybutton and that is one of the many reasons I have trust issues." --Nina Smith
9. Baby Corn
"I saw this thing on a kids' cartoon channel when I was little, and it was about a kid not eating his veggies or something. When the mom left the kitchen, the vegetables on his plate (baby corn) jumped off and ate him because he didn't eat his veggies like he was supposed to. Also they're just so small and gross!"-- Elizabeth Darrell
10. Hearing People Eat
"It's not all the time, it's only some of the time. Like, when it's quiet and there's nothing going on and the other person is eating really loud, it freaks me out." --Hannah Klaproth
11. Basements
"They just creep me out and I've had recurring nightmares about them forever." --Tory Talaga
12. Birds
"Really no rational reason why, like no past experiences. I frankly just think their eyes look soulless. Just generally creepy." --Chelsea Sharp
"I hate birds because they are disgusting, their beaks and talons are sharp, and they have the advantage of flying above you and coming from the air. On four separate occasions, I have been attacked by birds. I've also been sh*t on my birds. I HATE THEM SO MUCH." -- Abby Leyh
13. Returning Things
"My dad and I are both terrified of returning things, but I think it's just because we hate human interaction, and we both don't really like to ask for help while we're shopping. We always make my mom return stuff for us. I have to return a textbook tomorrow and I'm nervous." --Molly Moore
14. Sticking Your Hand Between Cushions
"I have a fear of sticking my hand in between cushions. Reaching into a couch, in between a car seat, or the thing in the middle makes me wanna cry. My heart literally starts racing and my hands shake. I think it's from the scene in 'National Treasure' when he sticks his hand in between rocks and screams, or I have no idea why." --Gabi Franciosa
15. Large Bodies of Water
"I'm afraid of big bodies of water because we only know about 10% of the oceans and all of that sea life, so we really have no idea what's down there. There are creatures bigger than anything we have [on land]. Also, when I was younger, my dad would throw me into [deep ocean water] until I learned how to go underwater without holding my nose so I could swim." --Eduardo Delgado
16. The Friends Theme Song
Personally, I can't help but be absolutely terrified by the recurring image in the "Friends" theme song in which they come close to the camera in stop-motion holding umbrellas. There's something just disconcerting about the image, like it belongs in the "AHS" credits instead of a sitcom. I don't know how to describe it, other than I can't ever look at the screen when it comes on.
As you can see, many people have fears that others likely find strange or bizarre, but that doesn't make them any less legitimate. Do you have a weird fear? Let me know in the com -- wait, what's that? See, no one told you life was gonna be this way --
NOOOOOOOOO!
