Everyone is scared of something, whether it’s common, like heights, or something way out there, like a fear of flowers (anthophobia). No matter what you may be afraid of, you can always find something a little weirder to fear. Here are eight peculiar phobias that are real. (I apologize if you suddenly find yourself suffering with one of these fears.) To find more strange phobias, go here.

Alektorophobia– Fear of chickens.

I totally get it; chickens are frightening. They flap all over the place, they peck, and they screech at everyone.

Arachibutyrophobia– Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth.

I’m pretty sure there are plenty of people who find this uncomfortable, but I don’t know of anyone who is afraid of it.

Genuphobia– Fear of knees.

This makes me wonder…what is it about knees? Why not elbows, or toes? They are pretty strange looking…

Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia– Fear of long words.

This is pretty ironic; you would think that whoever writes these words would be a little more considerate.

Linonophobia– Fear of string.

The way it blows in the wind, what it looks like tied up in a bow, and worst of all… a ball!

Phobophobia– Fear of phobias.

How does this work? If you are scared of phobias, you have a phobia of phobias. This seems to be a never-ending cycle!

Vestiphobia– Fear of clothing.

Please, if this is you: power through! You can do it! Put that shirt on; I know you can do it!

Zemmiphobia– Fear of the great mole rat.

Okay, prepare yourself, this is probably the most frightening of all:

I know. I was shocked. There I was, thinking innocently that the great mole rat would be more like Ron’s pet on Kim Possible. Sadly, no.