We know having a phobia is a real thing. That sweaty fear induced panic that has us gripped on the edge of our seats and checking over our shoulders.
In a round-up of all things spooky and ghoulish for Halloween, Yahoo examined the things that send shivers down our spine.
So what the top 10 fears according to our browser history…
10. Nyctophobia
Are you afraid of the dark?! Apparently, it’s more than just a TV show.
Otherwise known as nyctophobia, sometimes the bedside lamp is your trusty best friend against the unknown. The phobia went straight in at number 10…
9. Hydrophobia
Yes, people have a fear of water. Not of drowning, or of large bodies of water, but actual water itself. We were a little surprised to see this on the list too…
8. Claustrophobia
For anyone who has been trapped in a lift, or suffered a packed tube in rush hour, claustrophobia is a real fear and not quite as uncommon as people may think. Claustrophobia is a fear of tight or enclosed spaces or constricting situations with no perceived method of escape.
7. Emetophobia
The fear of vomit is alive and well and meant there was always one kid who got sick when you had to puke. Emetophobia not only means people have a fear of vomit, but they can’t see it either without feeling uncomfortable.
Best avoid Harcourt Street on a Sunday morning so…
6. Acrophobia
Some people can jump from planes and bridges. Others choose to respectfully stay away from any ledge that means we feel we’re plummeting to our death.
A fear of heights is real, and ranks in at number 6 on the list.
5. Coulrophobia
That friendly dress-up outfit at a child’s birthday party?! It’s a terrifying clown for a large percentage of people. Forget Krusty the clown and think garish red noses and white painted mask make-up. We’re shuddering as we type…
4. Arachnophobia
A fear of spiders. We think that says it all really.
We’ll be busy screaming and pointing when you’re ready to come catch it from our bedroom, thanks very much.
3. Xenophobia
Unfortunately, the fear of foreign people or backgrounds to one’s self, community or citizenship actually made the list. Xenophobia can often result in aggression toward people of different races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations and more.
We really wish this wasn’t on the list.
2. Trypophobia
Defined as a pathological fear of objects with irregular patterns of holes, such as beehives, ant hills and lotus seed heads, trypophobia is a real thing. So real in fact, that 16% of people experience an uneasiness around hole patterns according to the Journal of Psychological Science.
Swiftly moving on to the number one fear…
1.Agoraphobia
Probably the most crippling of all phobias listed is a fear of wide, open spaces. People with agoraphobia often have a hard time feeling safe in any public place due to a lack of control.
