h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I think lots of people struggle with using the telephone. For me it's not a huge problem, but I don't like telephones - I *always* try every other form of communication available first... Email is great, and I'd even (within reason) try walking to someone's house rather than speak to them on the phone.

I can well believe that some people are really scared of the things.

I just found a new phobia and had to share

New Scientist says that aibohphobia is the "abnormal and persistent fear of palindromes"

http://www.aboutphobias.com/phobia/aibohphobia.html

I have a fear that I really don't think is irrational, but everyone I tell it to says it is - bridges. Especially the ones that sway in the wind. My worst is near my college (Sydney Parade DART station, for those who know Dublin). It's made of corrugated iron, rusted through in places, and welded in others. I honestly don't understand how that's not terrifying...

I also dislike internal parasites, stairs without backs (the ones that just have the bit you step on), unstable buildings, bugs, and the eyes on potatoes. I have no idea why.

On the plus side, I'm very good about not thinking about things. *sings la la la la la in head*

Great to see I'm not the only one afraid of butterflies. There could be 20 peopls standing around and it will invariably pick me to try to land on, causing me to run about wildly with flailing arms and screaming like a banshee. That's not my silly fear however, it's yellow mustard. That's right, yellow mustard. The dark mustards like Grey Poupon etc. don't freak me out, just that bright yellow American stuff. My brother accepts resposibility for that one, he vaguely remembers making me eat it or smearing it in my hair or something. In fact, he's the cause of most of my phobias.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's got a fear of butterflies

I can imagine someone might have a "Fear of Brothers"... It sounds all very plausible.

Slimy things. Worms, frogs, snails, slugs.........they all make me scream. I have no objection to spiders and beetles though.

Fears are only considered silly by people that dont understand what the sufferers are going through. Trust me if you have a phobia no matter how obscure it seems it isn't very nice.

To see how many unusual phobias there are around take a look at this list on this phobia forum http://www.ofear.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=3144 Note they are called unusual phobias and not silly!!

Hopefully from reading information on this site more people can understand how it affects peoples lives and also ways to overcome them.