Do you have a phobia?

Phobias, defined as “extreme or irrational fears,” are common occurrences in the modern human brain. Some can be understandable (such as “acrophobia,” the fear of heights) but others are stranger (“pogonophobia,” the fear of beards).

Students at Lake Mary High School are not immune to such fears. We interviewed several people to find out what exactly everyone’s so afraid of!

Sea Snakes

“…For me, it’s sea snakes. I hate that they exist in water. Like, humans are already vulnerable in water and the act that sea snakes are highly venomous just makes us that more vulnerable- it’s unbearable to me. I once got close to a sea snake when I was in the Philippines. It was a black and white striped one and I was so frozen by fear that I started bawling my eyes out. Now I never go in the ocean beyond the waist.”

– Catherine Bonar, Grade 12

Bald Men

“I can’t even begin to explain it, I’ve just always feared bald men. The way their heads glisten in the sun. It’s unnatural. Inhuman. Their foreheads…where do they end? I can’t handle that kind of uncertainty. I’ll tell you right here right now, I see a bald man? I’m running for the hills. That’s all there is to it.”

– Del Acosta, Grade 12

Small Holes

“Trypophobia is its formal name, the fear of small holes, and it’s more common than you’d think. Anyone you know could have it, like Mr. Southworth, the drama teacher, he has it. Seeing a series of small holes just ignites this horrible feeling inside of me. I don’t know, maybe it’s some sort of brain thing, but I know I’ve had it forever and it shows no signs of stopping.”

– Angel Raslowsky, Grade 12