Do You Know That Your Fear Reveals Something About Your Personality?

What are you afraid of? What scares you? What makes you cry all of a sudden? We all have something that we feared the most and if you ask mine, well, I am afraid of frogs, geckos, and clowns (yes, I know). Seeing these things scares me so much and I know you felt the same thing.

Phobias, as according to Professor of psychology Dr. Graham C. L. Dave, are extremely common and affect a clear majority of the population. You have your phobias and I have mine too; but do even know that your phobia can actually reveal your personality type? Yes. I couldn’t even believe it at once but when I read the details, I was speechless.

It was all true and I know I should share it for you to know what’s in it for you. Scroll down and face your fears!

Are You Afraid Of The Dark?

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If this image scares you, you may suffer from nyctophobia, or a fear of the dark!

You are a joyful and positive person with an active imagination. You love playing pretend and using your creative mind at home and at work.

Your fear of the dark is a result of your overactive imagination. Your brain creates scary scenarios when the lights go out. You may think that keeping the light on is the answer, but this may just keep you awake longer. Dr. Dennis Rosen writes, “As demonstrated in clinical studies, light directly affects the brain’s inner clock, and delays sleep onset.” Try a low-watt nightlight instead.

Attempt to use your imagination for good. Now would be a good time to take on a creative project. Maybe start that book you’ve been meaning to write or sign up for an art class. Let your brain put a positive spin on your creative nature.

Are You Afraid Of Public Speaking?

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If this image scares you, you may suffer from glossophobia, or a fear of public speaking!

You are an introvert in the truest sense of the word. You love being alone with your thoughts. That isn’t to say you don’t have friends. You simply prefer having a few solid relationships as opposed to being a social butterfly.

Psychology professor Dr. Sian Beilock writes that, for twenty years, researchers have been trying to figure out “why some people thrive when all eyes are on them while others can barely make it to the podium.”

While being in front of large crowds may not be your thing, that doesn’t mean you have to be a shrinking violet. Coming out of your shell a bit could open up a whole new world for you. When your coworkers ask you to happy hour after a long day, now might be a great time to tag along. You don’t have to be the center of attention in the conversation, but letting people get to know you can go a long way to forming new, meaningful relationships.

Are You Afraid Of Snakes?

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If this image scares you, you may suffer from ophidiophobia, or a fear of snakes!

You are a loving and devoted friend and family member. You value people and your relationships above all else. You are willing to go to the mat for a friend and you’ll be the first one to defend them in an argument.

Your fear of snakes is a fear of your loved ones being threatened.Psychology Today writes that one scientific theory is that “humans and other primates are predisposed to acquire fears of critters that once threatened our ancestors’ lives.” Your snake phobia is simply your mind’s way of instinctually looking out for those you love.

While being a devoted friend is a great thing, make sure you also look out for yourself. Striking a balance in your relationships is key. Rather than giving a loved one everything they want, try seeking out compromises that leave you both satisfied. In the long run, balanced friendships will last longer and be much more meaningful.

Are You Afraid of Blood?

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If this image scares you, you may suffer from hemophobia, or a fear of blood!

Among your friends, you are the calm, centered one. Always trying to be zen and collected, you have an appreciation for your body and view it as a temple. You strive to take care of your body and mind with proper diet and meditation.

Your fear of blood, however, stems from your fear that injury or harm may come to your “temple”. And you definitely aren’t alone in this fear. Ph.D. neuroscience candidate Jordan Gaines Lewis writes, “Do you get woozy when you see blood? As it turns out, fainting at the sight of blood may be a primitive reflex buried deep in our brain.” Your body-conscious mind is trying to protect you by letting you know that something is wrong when you see blood.

Your centered nature and your focus on taking care of yourself can be inspirational to others. Try to use your calm nature to help out friends and family members who may be a little more frenetic. Take a friend to a yoga class. Teach your stressed out coworker some calming breathing techniques. Creating calm around you will only increase your sense of inner peace.

Are You Afraid Of Germs?

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If this image scares you, you may suffer from mysophobia or a fear of germs!

You are a little more nervous and uptight than some of your friends. You like to keep things tidy and you don’t enjoy when your life appears to be “messy.” You pride yourself on your meticulous work, but this is sometimes coupled with high anxiety.

Dr. Graham C. L. Davey writes, “One thing we know about fear of contamination is that it can be driven by the individual’s level of what we call disgust sensitivity.” In other words, you become anxious by things that are disgusting or messy. You much prefer to keep things in order.

While your attention to detail and organization at work can be admired by your bosses, your high anxiety levels are not good for your long-term health. Relaxing would do you a world of good. This may be hard when you are around things that you perceive to be “messy” or “out of order”. Perhaps experimenting with creativity in your work will be an easy way to add some much needed “mess” to your usual “order.”

Are You Afraid Of Spiders?

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If this image scares you, you may suffer from arachnophobia, or a fear of spiders!

You are a strong individual and an even stronger leader. People flock to you and find inspiration in your methods. Your leadership skills have helped you to advance quickly at work and have made you the true head of your household at home.

Your fear of spiders is not something to fret over. In fact, arachnophobia is incredibly common. A U.K. study of 261 adults showed that 32% of women and 18% of men shared your fear. Similar to germophobes, your fear of spiders comes from a “disgust response,” but yours has more to do with not wanting to be common or “a follower.”

Your ability to lead is admirable, but your fear of following may actually be a hinderance. No one can be in charge 100% of the time. It may be good practice to let someone else take the reins for a change. Let a coworker lead a project. Try focusing more on contributing to the team than running the show.

Are You Afraid Of Heights?

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If this image scares you, you may suffer from acrophobia, or a fear of heights!

You are a complex person. Your fear of heights makes you a true paradox. On the one hand, you enjoy meeting new people, having new experiences, and visiting new places. On the other hand, you are deeply afraid of the unknown. How can both of these be true? Well, just take a closer look at your phobia.

You often find yourself in situations where you experience a fear of heights. How did you get there? You were trying something new. But now that you are there, you are afraid of the uncertainty of it all. And many people share this fear and complexity with you. Dr. Glenn Geher writes, “Fear of heights is a human universal.”

While being complex may seem like a good thing, it can sometimes be hard for people to figure you out, which can be frustrating for both parties in some situations. You also may have trouble making decisions and you are often torn between both sides of an argument. Without giving up your complicated nature, you can practice decisiveness and keeping things simple for a change. You can be complicated without making your whole life complicated.

Are You Afraid Of Being Alone?

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If this image scares you, you may suffer from monophobia, or a fear of being alone!

You are outgoing and quite often the life of the party. You love being the center of attention and you love being with friends. You jump at any chance to go out and have fun. And you certainly always want to be in a relationship. Being single terrifies you.

But what is really so bad about being alone? Social psychologist Dr. Theresa DiDonato writes, “In American culture, not only do we promote the idea that romantic relationships are central to our well-being, but we often stigmatize single individuals, falsely equating being single with failure or a personality problem.” But this fear of being on your own or being single can be detrimental to your long-term mental health.

If you are in a healthy relationship, now may be a good time to seek out some personal time. Carve out time in the day to read, meditate, or be alone with your thoughts. If you are single, this may be the perfect time to enjoy your individuality a bit. What is the rush to return to a relationship? Working on yourself will make you a better catch in the long run anyway.

Are You Afraid Of Crowds?

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If this image scares you, you may suffer from agoraphobia, or a fear of crowded spaces!

Not to be confused with claustrophobia, you are not necessarily afraid of enclosed spaces. You are a people person, but you also like your space. You don’t let anyone get too close to you too quickly. You prefer keeping your distance from conflict and if you could have your way, you’d live on your own.

Psychology Today defines agoraphobia as “intense fear and anxiety of any place or situation where escape might be difficult.” As a result, you prefer keeping physical and emotional space between you and loved ones.

While looking out for yourself is certainly a good quality, you may be missing out on some meaningful relationships by not letting people into your world. Opening yourself up to others is an easy way to allow someone to become closer to you without creating that need for “escape.” Take the time to get to really know your friends, and give them the chance to truly know you in return.

Are You Afraid of Clowns?

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If this image scares you, you may suffer from coulrophobia, or a fear of clowns!

You are a no-nonsense person who prides themselves on telling the truth. You expect others to be honest and straightforward, just as you are.

And not to worry, you aren’t alone with your fear. In fact, nearly 1 in 10 adults are afraid of clowns. Carlin Flora writes in Psychology Today, “Because reading facial expressions has long been a key to survival, our inability to discern a clown’s expressions (and true intentions) underneath the accoutrements raises automatic suspicions.”

Your need to be straightforward and truthful are amazing qualities, but your no-nonsense nature may prevent you from cutting loose and having fun. Now may be a good time to explore your sillier side. Don’t be afraid to “clown around” with your friends — just as long as you steer clear of the circus.

H/T: LittleThings

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