I was recently disturbed to read it has been raining tiny spiders in Australia. Literally.
Let me just repeat that: RAINING. TINY. SPIDERS.
Now, spiders are quite a common phobia, whether they be the falling-from-the-sky type or just your garden variety, wall-dwelling daddy long legs. It's considered quite rational to have a fear of them.
What isn't rational though - in fact, what's apparently considered downright weird - is to have a fear of is cornflour. Well, consider me odd then because I am fucking terrified of it. I cannot touch it in a packet or in a bowl or, if I'm honest, AT ALL. Ever. Even looking at this picture below gives me the heebee jeebees.
Same goes for hand dryers, the ones you find in public bathrooms. They are just too loud and too useless and for the love of god, just wipe your hands with a paper towels before I have a breakdown already. *Ahem*.
And yes, I am completely aware that these are sensory issues, that both of these things overload my senses and that's why I can't deal with them and they frighten and/or sicken me. But hey, at least I'm not the only one.
In fact, it turns out we're all a bit freaky in our own special and unique ways. In just one workplace alone I was able to identify at least 15 different weird phobias (which, just quietly, make mine look completely sane).
See if you can recognise your own personal fears in the any of the following weird phobias...
Bananas (Bananaphobia)
Bananaphobia is real thing (and a real term, we checked). Whilst there is no "cure", self relaxation and visualisation can gradually help sufferers become desensitised and overcome Bananaphobia once and for all.
Buttons (Koumpounophobia)
Koumpounophobia is, simply explained, an irrational and persistent fear of buttons whether they are standalone ones or those on clothing. Even though this is considered rare, we found 3 people in one workplace who held this fear. Ways to over come Koumpounophobia include hypnosis and talk therapy (discussions around the button fear).