Most people are afraid of something in life — be it spiders, heights, or flying.
However, you may be surprised to learn of the fears that are most common among Americans, according to a new online analysis.
Investigators looked at the volume of Google searches for 10 different phobias over the course of a month.
According to the data, the most commonly Googled phobia is a little-known fear called trypophobia — being afraid of small holes or bumps clustered together.
Sufferers may find themselves revolted by foods like honeycomb and swiss cheese, and objects like sponges.
The term comes from the Greek words for ‘hole’ and ‘fear,’ but the condition was only first described and named in 2005.
Several celebrities have admitted to suffering trypophobia, including Sarah Paulson and Kendall Jenner.
Previous studies suggest it is surprisingly prevalent, affecting as many as 17 percent of children and adults – about one in six people, most of whom are female.
Symptoms of trypophobia are similar to that of other phobias and anxiety disorders, including sweating, nausea, shortness of breath and dry mouth when faced with the fear.
Still, other studies suggest that the most common fears are in fact public speaking, with a quarter of Americans suffering the problem. Fear of clowns is also common, affecting around one in 15.
It is possible that the high volume of searches for trypophobia may be more indicative of the intrigue it strikes among Americans, rather than how common it is.
Model Kendall Jenner has said she has an extreme aversion to the sight of small holes clustered together in a pattern, known as trypophobia
The second most common phobia revealed by data, collected by digital firm QR Code Generator, the was agoraphobia, or a fear of leaving an environment known to be safe, often resulting in people not leaving their homes.
Studies have estimated this to affect between 0.9 percent and 1.7 percent of the US population.
People with agoraphobia often become homebound, with crippling anxiety about being in crowded spaces like airports, public transportation, and shopping centers, according to the NIH.
Zac Efron has said he fears going out – a symptom of agoraphobia
Most cases of agoraphobia emerge before the age of 35, with an increased risk during late adolescence and early adulthood.
Actor Zac Efron has said he fears going out to crowded places, saying in 2022, ‘I just don’t go out.’ Famed movie director Woody Allen is also said to be agoraphobic.
Anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants can help people who live with agoraphobia.
They’re also recommended to prioritize relaxation to regain some semblance of control when they leave the house, as agoraphobics are often afraid that they will have a panic attack in public.
Marc Porcar, the CEO of QR Code Generator, said: ‘It’s important to recognize that phobias can often have life-altering impacts and can significantly affect what a person can and can’t do in everyday life.
‘It’s encouraging to see people turning to the internet to seek support and online resources about overcoming phobias.’
Misophonia was named the third most searched-for phobia. It causes severe aversion to chewing, swallowing, and heavy breathing sounds. People with this phobia often describe these sounds as ‘driving them crazy’.
Usually, the sounds some people find repulsive are not noticeable to others. They can be as innocuous as a child’s yawn, rain falling, or the sounds of other restaurant diners.
According to Dr James Cartreine of Harvard University: ‘It affects some worse than others and can lead to isolation, as people suffering from this condition try to avoid these trigger sounds.
‘People who have misophonia often feel embarrassed and don’t mention it to healthcare providers — and often healthcare providers haven’t heard of it anyway.’
He added: ‘Misophonia usually appears around age 12, and likely affects more people than we realize.’
People with thalassophobia fear deep water such as oceans and lakes. People are not exactly afraid of the water but more so of what lurks beneath the surface
The fourth most common phobia searched for was thalassophobia. The condition is characterized by a fear of large, deep bodies of water, including oceans and lakes.
People are not exactly afraid of the water but more so of what lurks beneath the surface.
Those who have had traumatic experiences around oceans or lakes are especially likely to experience thalassophobia, though one does not need to even be near the water to experience anxiety. Simply imagining the ocean can send someone into a cold sweat.
Emetophobia is the fifth-most commonly searched phobia, and is defined as an extreme disgust and aversion to vomiting.
Some celebrities who have said they deal with this phobia include Bella Ramsey, of The Last of Us fame, English singer Franke Bridge, and actress Denise Richards.
It’s not just a fear of vomit. It’s anxiety about not being able to get to a bathroom quickly, fear of embarrassment, not being able to stop vomiting, or choking on one’s own vomit.
Actor Bella Ramsey, star of The Last of Us, has said they have emetophobia, extreme disgust and aversion to vomiting
People with emetophobia often restrict their food intake with a focus on ‘safe’ foods, often avoiding logical patterns such as shunning bread over mold fears while tolerating fried, fatty foods.
Avoidance extends to alcohol, medications with nausea warnings, and social settings with perceived vomiting risks.
Daily routines like eating quickly or late are altered, and social and work activities can suffer, impacting career and personal goals. Pregnancy may be avoided due to fear of morning sickness.
The sixth most common was claustrophobia — an irrational fear of enclosed spaces such as elevators, closets, tunnels, and cars.
About 12.5 percent of the population have this fear, with the majority of them being females.
Various celebrities, including Ryan Reynolds and Uma Thurman, have spoken out about suffering from claustrophobia.
For someone with acrophobia, the zenith of the roller coast is especially terrifying
In seventh place came acrophobia, or fear of heights. Acrophobia can be extremely disorienting, causing someone to struggle to think straight, panic, feel paralyzed, and shake.
Approximately two to six percent of the general population has acrophobia, with twice as many women affected as men.
Traditionally, actual exposure to heights is a solution to the phobia, but this can be daunting for anyone who lives with it.
Rupert Grint has arachnophobia, much like his character in the Harry Potter franchise, Ron Weasley
Arachnophobia, or fear of spiders, took eighth place, with a search volume 72,934.
Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter franchise, suffers from the phobia just like his character in the films.
Ninth place went to hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, an ironic fear of long words, with a search volume 69,323. It often extends to the fear of mispronouncing long words when reading aloud.
It may stop a child from reading, especially in class, and cause severe anxiety in educational settings.
People with this phobia might try to avoid long words, but that’s not always possible. They may say ‘fridge’ instead of refrigerator, for instance.
The number 10 spot went to thanatophobia, an intense fear of death or dying. This may present itself as feelings of dread or distress when thinking of your death or a loved one’s.
The least searched-for phobia, meanwhile, was sociophobia, an anxiety condition marked by fear of social situations.
The search volume is highly suggestive, but some of the searches could be from curious internet users, not necessarily people who believe they have a specific phobia.
Those who do, though, likely suffer some level of debilitating effects, such as fear of flying in a plane or inability to eat certain foods.
Mr Porcar said: ‘It’s important to recognize that phobias can often have life-altering impacts and can significantly affect what a person can and can’t do in everyday life. It’s encouraging to see people turning to the internet to seek support and online resources about overcoming phobias.’
