We all get afraid sometimes, and usually there's a pretty good reason. Being afraid of a huge scary dog who barks all the time or of taking a science test you didn't study for makes sense. Phobias, though, usually don't make much sense. They are extreme fears of particular things, situations, animals, and so on.
If you have a small fear or a big phobia, talk to an adult you trust about it, and ask God for help too. Also, remember that being a good friend means helping other people through their fears, not making fun of them for being afraid.
Okay that's enough of that. Here's a list of some of the most common and most interesting phobias.
Common fears
Agoraphobia: Fear of open spaces or crowded, public places.
Claustrophobia: Fear of tight, enclosed spaces.
Achluophobia: Fear of darkness.
Aviophobia: Fear of flying.
Glossophobia: Fear of speaking in public.
Astraphobia: Fear of thunder and lightning.
Dentophobia: Fear of dentists.
Acrophobia: Fear of heights.
Aichmophobia: Fear of needles and pointy objects.
Fears your teachers don't want you to have
Arithmophobia: Fear of numbers.
Bibliophobia: Fear of books.
Sophophobia: Fear of learning.
Gnosiophobia: Fear of knowledge.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia: Fear of long words.
Metrophobia: Fear of poetry.
Didaskaleinophobia: Fear of going to school.
Testophobia: Fear of taking tests.
Creature fears
Arachnophobia: Fear of spiders.
Scoleciphobia: Fear of worms.
Ranidaphobia: Fear of frogs.
Ophidiophobia: Fear of snakes.
Ichthyophobia: Fear of fish.
Other fears
Blennophobia: Fear of slime.
Logizomechanophobia: Fear of computers.
Phobophobia: Fear of fears.
Coulrophobia: Fear of clowns.
Pupaphobia: Fear of puppets.
Omphalophobia: Fear of belly buttons.
Porphyrophobia: Fear of the color purple.
Trichophobia: Fear of hair.
Ickystickyophobia: Fear of icky sticky things.
Triskaidekaphobia: Fear of the number 13.
Arachibutyrophobia: Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth.
Lachanophobia: Fear of vegetables.
Oompaloompaphobia: Fear of Oompa-Loompas.
Note: This page may be reprinted for personal and classroom use. The phobia list may be considered public domain.