There really is an app for everything. My kids were playing with my phone the other day asking me things like, “Do you know what Astrophobia is? Or what about Didaskaleinophobia? Katasaridaphobia?” They found an app that listed all known phobias. A smorgasbord of all of the crazy—and not so crazy—things people are afraid of. Did you know there are over 500 identified and named phobias? Here’s a small sample:
- Astrophobia– Fear of stars or celestial space.
- Katsaridaphobia– Fear of cockroaches (Who isn’t?).
- Didaskaleinophobia– Fear of going to school (I had this one in 6th grade).
- Amnesiphobia—Fear of amnesia (Wouldn’t you just forget you were afraid of it?).
- Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia—Fear of the number “666.”
- Mageirocophobia—Fear of cooking (This is a current one for me!).
- Alektorophobia—Fear of chickens.
- Osmophobia or Osphresiophobia—Fear of body odors.
- Consecotaleophobia—Fear of chopsticks.
- Vestiphobia—Fear of clothing.
- Disposophobia—Fear of hoarding (Now I NEED this one).
- Gymnophobia or Nudophobia—Fear of nudity (I’m thinking the Gymnophogiac wouldn’t get along too well with the Vestiphobiac)
- Asymmetriphobia—Fear of assymetrical things (If you ever saw the show “Monk,” you know it was one of his top fears). In fact….
Enjoy this clip from “Monk,” one of my faves 😉
Now some phobias are a little easier to understand:
- Thanatophobia—Fear of dying or death.
- Ochophobia—Fear of being in a moving Automobile.
- Ichthyophobia—Fear of fish (Miranda has this one).
- Hadephobia, Stygiophobia or Stigiophobia—Fear of Hell.
- Dementophobia or Maniaphobia—Fear of insanity. (I experienced this once when I had a drug interaction. I thought I was going to end up in a straight jacket staring at four white walls!)
- Aviophobia or Aviatophobia or Pteromerhanophobia—Fear of flying. (I recently overcame this one!)
If you are fascinated, amazed, or just want to find the name of your phobia, they are ALL listed on The Phobia Index for your convenience 😉
I’m thinking there are a LOT of people scared of a LOT of things for there to actually be crazy names for this many fears.
Why?
If we say we believe in an almighty God, the creator of the earth and everything in it, can we not take him at his word? One of my life verses is John 16:33:
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart, I have overcome the world.
And in today’s prescription verse from Philippians, Paul (who experience trouble and persecution around every corner) tells us not to be anxious or afraid of anything. Just let God handle it. He has it all under control, even though it’s beyond our understanding.
That’s where our faith comes in.
I know I have quite a few blogs about fear, but I didn’t realize the prison of fear I lived in until God showed me that He has it under control. I had to learn the hard way, and I’m hoping I can take what I learned and make things a little easier for someone else.
So today’s {tip to a happier you} is to let go of fear. I realize that’s easier said than done. Just think of the song we sang in Sunday school when we were little…
It’s a good video, I promise…these guys must have created it?
He’s got this! All of it!
We just have to let Him have it…
From my heart,
Celeste
Speak Your Mind