Basophobia (fear of falling), which leads to a fear of heights. Whenever people say, "It's not the fall, but the landing that kills ya" when they find out high places make me very nervous, I just have to remind them that it's not the landing I'm afraid of, but the fall. This has gotten less severe over the years, but thoughts of doing things like hiking in the Grand Cayon cause incredible fear rather than enjoyment, though I'm sure the view would be amazing.
Phasmophobia (fear of ghosts) -- I think this is caused partially by strange experiences at night as a child like half-asleep auditory hallucinations and strange perception distortions while trying to cross the hallway in the middle of the night...and stories told to me by others.
Lygophobia (fear of being in a dark place) -- different from just plain fear of the dark/night. I like nighttime and I like darkness, just not
buildings when they are dark.
Apiphobia (fear of bees) -- had a bad experience as a child in which bees were present (I got lost and panicked and there were bees buzzing around the flowers nearby, but in my panic, I thought they were going to "get" me. For some reason this panick and fear got associated with the bees instead of with being lost, and has persisted for a very long time). Though, I was recently stung by a bee and it wasn't that bad of an experience. And I like bees, in general (except wasps), I just don't like to get near them. I'm getting better about it, and at least more tolerant of working in the garden around them.
Telephonophobia (fear of telephones) -- I can't explain this, but calling someone on the phone when I haven't been given explicit permission and assurance that I won't be "bothering them" makes me extremely nervous and avoidant of making the call. It's really embarrassing to deal with and it doesn't make sense and makes my life difficult. (Like if I have to make an appointment, I'll agonise over what will probably be a 2 minute call! I'm trying to overcome this little by little.
Mo said:
Entomophobia. Specifically, cockroaches. We had the massive flying ones in Malaysia and I was glad when I left. A two-incher once landed on my torso while I was in the shower and, another time, a similarly-sized one landed on the nape of my neck. In a word, pandemonium.
Yeah, in the Southeast US we have "Palmetto Bugs" which are basically
big flying cockroaches!!