We looked at the 24 biggest fears and phobias and mapped them by state. Many of the most common fears this year are the usual suspects. People just do not like scary heights, for example. As long as there were steep cliffs and two-story homes of mud, wood, or stone; men and women probably displayed symptoms of Acrophobia.
Where our results get exciting is the differences between states. (See below for our study methodology).
Fear of love is #1 on our list for Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri. Perhaps guys in these parts should not play the lovey-dovey side of their southern gentlemen persona lest they scare people.
“Flying” is similar to “heights,” and no less than seven states share #1 for one of these (Arkansas, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, and South Carolina).
Some topics garner massive short-term vs. long-term fearful concerns. Clowns scare the be-Jesus out of most small children at some point in their youth. Every parent wants to understand better why a funny-faced clown evokes more terror than Dad’s expensive vampire Halloween costume.
Pennsylvania’s biggest fear this year is “being touched.” Four years ago, a Pennsylvania grand jury released a report showing 1,000 were victims of sexual abuse as children by priests or other Catholic leaders in Pennsylvania.
If you are out on Halloween in Michigan or Indiana, folks are more afraid of “blood” than anything else. A 16 oz bottle of Liquid Latex Blood may be just what you need.
Looking for a specialist to manage and treat fears and phobias? Match with a therapist.
Animals and Mother Nature’s Fearsome Power
Many of the common fears stem from weather events. With “severe” weather on the rise, Ohioans went to their keyboards to learn about “fear of the dark” more than any other phobia in 2023. Tornados in the dark, especially with a loss of power, anyone? No thanks. Tied for first in Ohio was the term “leaving the house.”
Utah citizens’ biggest fear was a tie between “water” and “the rain.”
People in California want to know more about “open water” and, in Colorado, “the outdoors” more than any other fear. Perhaps this speaks to the fact that not everyone shares the passions of the majority and their next-door neighbors.
Imagine telling people you are from Los Angeles but would rather have dental surgery than go out in deep water on a surfboard, small boat, or paddleboard. For many, that would not go over well. Thus the need to figure out why deep water is frightening and to help explain or evade the subject when speaking to others.
Seven states are afraid of one or another animal (Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin). If we include a fear of “men,” which seems highly unfair, then there are nine states that most fear animals since Georgia and Arizona’s biggest phobia is “men.”
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Methodology
Our data comes from researching the top 24 phobias on a state level via Google Trends. These top 24 were taken from a database of keyword search terms and their monthly volume in the USA.
We did not include fears that are not named phobias. For example, “fear of God” is not a phobia (although some may take issue with that assessment), but is one of the most highly searched fears. There are more than 500 fears recognized by the DSM-5, most with a corresponding Greek or Latin name.
State with no fear listed did not have enough data for Google to find the relative interest between fears. These were all small states which also didn’t have many searches relative to others in Google Search.
Glossary Of Biggest Fears and Phobias in USA
The Fear of Failure: Atychiphobia
People with Atyhciphobia can become highly anxious or upset when there is a possibility of failing. This can cause problems in daily life as the person may avoid challenging themselves and trying anything new. It can be caused by a previous experience of failure or by witnessing someone else fail.
Atychiphobia can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy, as it challenges people to consider their negative thoughts about failure.
The Fear of Men: Androphobia
Androphobia is the fear of men. It can be incredibly debilitating for both women and men. Androphobia can also make leaving the house difficult, as the person may feel they need to avoid all contact with men.
Androphobia often develops due to a previous negative experience with a man, such as being harassed or assaulted. It can also be caused by witnessing someone else’s negative experience with a man.
Androphobia can also be treated with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
The Fear of Heights: Acrophobia
People with acrophobia can become very anxious or panicked when in high places. This can make it challenging to go upstairs or ride in elevators. Director Renny Harlin played upon this fear in his 1993 blockbuster ‘Cliffhanger’ starring Sylvester Stallone.
Acrophobia often develops due to a negative experience with heights, such as falling off a ladder. It can also be caused by witnessing someone else having a negative experience.
Acrophobia can be treated with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Exposure therapy is often used as part of the treatment, gradually exposing the person to the things they are afraid of. This helps them to overcome their fear and to learn new coping strategies.
The Fear of Open Water: Thalassophobia
Not to be confused with Aquaphobia, which is the fear of water itself, Thalassophobia is the fear of open water or the ocean.
After the release of Jaws in 1975, many people feared water. Besides movies, its also often caused by a previous negative experience with water, such as nearly drowning.
People with Thalassophobia can become very anxious or panicked when in bodies of water like oceans or lakes. This can make swimming or bathing difficult.
Cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy can help treat thalassophobia. Exposure therapy starts at a pool and works up to the ocean.
The Fear of Outside & Open Spaces: Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is the fear of outside or open spaces. If you’re dealing with Agoraphobia, you can become very anxious or panicked in open areas like parks or shopping malls. It can be challenging to leave the house or even go to work.
Agoraphobia often develops due to a previous negative experience in an open space, such as getting lost or being attacked. It can also be caused by witnessing someone else’s negative experience in an open space.
Gradual exposure can help them learn new coping strategies for overcoming the fear.
The Fear of Flying: Aviophobia
People with Aviophobia can become very anxious or panicked when in an airplane. It can make it difficult to travel, visit family, attend meetings, or take a vacation.
Aviophobia often develops due to being in turbulence or other stressful situations while on a plane. Peter Thorwath explored this in Blood Red Sky (2021), set on a long-haul flight from Germany to New York, where a violent hi-jacking occurs.
Aviophobia can also be treated with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and exposure therapy. Exposure therapy for flying phobia includes gradually viewing videos of takeoffs and landings.
The Fear of Holes: Trypophobia
Trypophobia is the unusual fear of holes. Those dealing with Trypophobia can become very anxious or panicked when seeing small holes patterns. It can make it uncomfortable to look at things like honeycombs or strawberries.
Close up-pictures of holes have become viral online in recent years. Most people find these pictures uncomfortable, so it’s easy to understand people living with Trypophobia.
Trypophobia can also be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. Exposure therapy for this phobia usually involves gradually exposing the person to pictures or objects with small holes.
The Fear of Crowds: Ochlophobia
Ochlophobia is the fear of crowds. People with Ochlophobia can become very anxious or panicked in large groups. This phobia can make going to places like concerts or sporting events difficult.
Ochlophobia often co-occurs with claustrophobia and can stem from a bad experience in a crowd, fear of suffocation, or fear of being overwhelmed.
Ochlophobia can also be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. Exposure therapy for this phobia usually involves gradually exposing the person to different types of crowds, starting with small groups of people and working up to large crowds.
The Fear of Blood: Hemophobia
Hemophobia (Hematophobia) is a fear of blood that can bring on anxiety or panic. This makes medical careers difficult for those with this phobia, which can stem from an unpleasant experience involving blood, fear of needles, or fear of illness.
The Fear of Long Words: Sesquipedalophobia
Sesquipedalophobia is an intense fear of long words. It can affect reading and conversations and be caused by negative experiences with long words, a fear of sounding foolish, or both. Treatment includes cognitive-behavioral approaches like gradual exposure via text or conversation.
The Fear of Love: Philophobia
Philophobia is a fear of love with debilitating effects. It can be caused by past negative experiences, fear of intimacy, or both. Treatment usually involves cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure to aspects of love, such as hugs and compliments from friends.
The Fear of Spiders: Arachnophobia
Arachnophobia is the fear of spiders. People who have Arachnophobia can become anxious or panicky when seeing spiders. This fear can make it difficult to go outside or even be in your home if you live in an area with large spiders.
This phobia became well-known following the release of the movie Arachnophobia in 1990. The film features a species of spider that can kill people. The movie made many people afraid of spiders, even if they had never been afraid of them.
Arachnophobia can also be treated with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and exposure therapy. Exposure therapy for this phobia usually involves gradually exposing the person to pictures or objects with spiders.
The Fear of The Unknown: Xenophobia
Xenophobia is the fear of the unknown (in modern usage, it’s used to mean fear of foreigners, but here we’re looking at the psychological term). People with Xenophobia can become very anxious or panicky when in new and unfamiliar situations. This can make it difficult to travel or even meet new people.
Xenophobia can be triggered by something as simple as hearing a new word or seeing a new place.
People living with xenophobia can find relief using cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. Exposure therapy for this phobia usually involves gradually exposing the person to new and unfamiliar situations. People looking to deal with the phobia can try traveling to new places or meeting new people.
The Fear of Clowns: Coulrophobia
Coulrophobia is the fear of clowns. People with Coulrophobia can become terrified, anxious, or panicky when they see clowns. Being scared of clowns makes it difficult to go to places like the circus or watch a movie with a clown in it.
Popular movies and books explore this theme, including I.T. by Stephen King and American Horror Story: Freak Show. These stories often feature clowns that are evil or murderous. Like the movie Arachnophobia, these kinds of movies can make people afraid of clowns, even if they had never been before.
Coulrophobia can also be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. Exposure therapy for this phobia usually involves gradually exposing the person to pictures or objects with clowns.
The Fear of Insects: Entomophobia
Entomophobia is the fear of insects. People who have Entomophobia may have serious problems when they encounter bugs or insects. The phobia can make it difficult to go outside or even be in your own home if an insect is inside.
This fear is often caused by a negative experience with insects, such as being bitten or stung.
Exposure therapy for this phobia usually involves gradually exposing the person to different aspects of insects, starting with things like pictures or videos. Later, being introduced to real-life insects may be possible.
The Fear of Cats: Ailurophobia
Ailurophobia is the fear of cats and is a widespread phobia in America. Cats are a regular feature in horror movies, perhaps one of the most infamous horror cats being Winston Church from Pet Sematary.
People who have Ailurophobia can become very anxious or panicked when they see cats. This can make it difficult to go to places like the zoo or even have a pet cat.
Ailurophobia is often caused by a previous negative experience with cats, such as being scratched or bitten.
Ailurophobia can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. Exposure therapy for this phobia usually involves gradually exposing the person to different aspects of cats, starting with pictures or videos. Later, being introduced to kittens and adult cats may be possible.
The Fear of Darkness: Nyctophobia
Nyctophobia is the fear of darkness. This phobia was immortalized in song by Bruce Dickinson on ‘Fear of the Dark,’ the title track of Iron Maiden’s ninth studio album.
People who have Nyctophobia have an irrational fear of the dark. Being scared of the dark can make it difficult to go outside at night or even sleep in a dark room. Fear of the dark is common in young children, but they usually get over it well before their teenage years.
Treatment for fear of the dark includes gradually exposing the person to dark places. This can be done by going outside at sunset and gradually getting used to the darkness.
The Fear of Being Touched: Haphephobia
Haphephobia is the fear of being touched. People dealing with Haphephobia can become very anxious or panicked when another person touches or attempts to touch them. This can make it challenging to be in a relationship, have friends, or visit a doctor.
Haphephobia is often caused by a previous negative experience with being touched, such as being sexually assaulted.
The Fear of Animals: Zoophobia
Zoophobia is the fear of animals, making it difficult to go to places like the zoo or even have a pet.
Zoophobia is often caused by a previous negative experience with animals, such as being bitten or attacked.
Zoophobia can be treated with exposure therapy. Exposure therapy for this phobia usually involves gradually exposing the person to different aspects of animals, starting with things like pictures or videos.
The Fear of Water: Aquaphobia
Aquaphobia is the fear of water. People who have Aquaphobia can become very anxious or panicked when in or near water. A fear of water can make simple daily activities like drinking, showering, or going outside in the rain difficult.
Aquaphobia is a general fear of water and isn’t the same as Thalassophobia, which is the fear of lakes, rivers and oceans.
Aquaphobia can be treated with exposure therapy. Exposure therapy for this phobia usually involves gradually exposing the person to water. Starting with small drops of water, moving up to taking baths and showers as the person becomes more comfortable.
The Fear of Snakes: Ophidiophobia
“I’ve had it with these ***** snakes, on this ***** plane” is probably Samuel L Jackson’s most famous line. Snakes on a Plane (2006) combined the fear of snakes, Ophidiophobia, with the fear of flying.
People with Ophidiophobia experience anxiety and dread the mere thought of snakes. The fear can be so debilitating that people will go to great lengths to avoid them. In some cases, the phobia can cause panic attacks and severe anxiety.
To treat Ophidiophobia, many people undergo exposure therapy. This involves gradually exposing the person to snakes in a safe and controlled environment. The goal is to help the person confront their fear and learn to manage their anxiety.
The Fear of Bees: Apiphobia
Apiphobia is the fear of bees. People who have Apiphobia can become panicked by the sight or even sound of bees. Sufferers can have a tough time leaving the house, particularly during the spring and summer.
Apiphobia can be treated with exposure therapy. This involves gradually exposing the person to bees in a safe and controlled environment. The goal is to help the person confront their fear and learn to manage their anxiety.
