Welcome back to National Face Your Fears Week! Yesterday we kicked things off with peanut butter, mirrors, and string-induced terror. Today, we're moving into the phobias that are just bizarrely relatable - the ones that make you think, "Huh... I kind of get that."

Here's Part 2 of the 21 most rare and irrational fears humans actually have. Brace yourself - some of these are going to make you laugh, cringe, or both.

8. Nomophobia - Fear of Being Without Your Phone

This one is painfully modern. Nomophobia isn't just "I hate losing my phone." It's the full-blown panic that sets in when your battery dips below 20% or you forget it at home. People with this phobia check their phones obsessively and may experience anxiety at the mere thought of being disconnected. Half the world might relate - just admit it.

9. Arithmophobia - Fear of Numbers

Math class trauma, but make it a phobia. People with arithmophobia panic at numbers themselves, not just calculations. From paying bills to reading a receipt, numbers become monsters. If you've ever frozen at a tip calculator or avoided Excel like the plague, you might just be brushing up against this one.

10. Plutophobia - Fear of Money

Everyone wants it, but some people are straight-up terrified of it. Plutophobia can mean fear of having money or even interacting with wealthy people. This can lead to career sabotage, avoidance of financial decisions, and a general "I'd rather be poor and safe" mindset. Money can't buy happiness... but apparently it can buy panic attacks.

11. Ergophobia - Fear of Work

Yes, it's real. Ergophobia isn't just the Monday blues - it's full on anxiety over employment, workplaces, or manual labor. Some avoid jobs entirely, while others dread even showing up. Occupational burnout, bad bosses, or toxic work cultures often contribute. Basically, it's fear of the daily grind taken to its extreme.

12. Decidophobia - Fear of Making Decisions

Ever wish someone else would just pick your lunch for you? Now imagine every decision triggering panic. Decidophobia makes people excessively rely on others or even turn to horoscopes to choose what to wear. It's a mental trap that makes "just pick one" the most terrifying phrase in existence.

13. Octophobia - Fear of the Number Eight

Weirdly specific, but incredibly real. Octophobia can trigger anxiety around anything connected to the number eight - addresses, receipts, or even a group of eight objects. Some think it's linked to the number's resemblance to infinity. Others... maybe they just had a bad experience on the 8th of the month. Either way, it's a number you don't want to accidentally write down.

14. Xanthophobia - Fear of the Color Yellow

Yellow - like sunshine, bananas, school buses - can terrify people with xanthophobia. From flowers to caution signs, anything yellow can trigger anxiety. Imagine dodging half the natural world just because of color. Yellow might be cheerful... but not if you're living in fear of it.

15. Ephebiphobia - Fear of Teenagers

Yes, adults are terrified of teens. People with ephebiphobia see teenagers as unpredictable, rude, and dangerous - thanks, partly, to media stereotypes. Avoiding schools, malls, or skateparks becomes a lifestyle choice. Essentially, if you hate loud music and awkward eye contact, congratulations - you might be halfway there.




These five (well, technically eight if you count yesterday) illustrate how human fear can be simultaneously ridiculous and relatable. Some of them make you chuckle. Others make you grateful your brain doesn't work that way.

This Friday, in Part 3, we'll wrap up the list with the phobias that hit closest to home: bathing, hair, belly buttons, dining with others... and the ultimate terror: fear of fear itself.

Got an idea for a future article? Shoot me an email here and if it passes my 'random-worthy' test, it just might show up in a future article!

Until next time,
Randy at Random Facts
Always Random. Never Boring