DailyMail graphic details the most common phobias in the US

Most people are afraid of something in life, be it spiders, heights, or flying.

But the most common fear among Americans, according to a new online analysis, might surprise you.

The researchers looked at the volume of Google searches related to 10 different phobias over a one-month period.

According to the data, the most commonly Googled phobia is a little-known one called trypophobia. It is a collection of small holes and bumps.

Patients may have an aversion to foods such as honeycomb or Swiss cheese, or to objects such as sponges.

The term comes from Greek words meaning “hole” and “fear,” but it wasn’t until 2005 that the condition was first described and named.

Several celebrities, including Sarah Paulson and Kendall Jenner, have admitted to suffering from trypophobia.

Previous studies have shown that the disease is alarmingly widespread, affecting 17 percent of children and adults, or roughly one in six, most of whom are women.

Symptoms of trypophobia are similar to those of other phobias and anxiety disorders, such as sweating, nausea, shortness of breath, and dry mouth when faced with a fear.

still, Other studies The most common fear is actually public speaking, affecting a quarter of Americans. Clownphobia is also common, affecting one in 15 people.

The high number of searches for trypophobia may indicate how intriguing it is among Americans, rather than how common the condition is.

The second most common phobia revealed by data collected by digital company QR Code Generator is agoraphobia – the fear of leaving environments you know are safe, which often results in people being unable to leave their homes.

Studies estimate that it affects between 0.9% and 1.7% of the U.S. population.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), people with agoraphobia feel so much anxiety about being in crowded places like airports, public transportation, and shopping centers that they often remain confined to their homes.

Most cases of agoraphobia begin by age 35, with risk increasing during late adolescence and early adulthood.

Actor Zac Efron said he’s afraid to go out in crowded places and that he “won’t go out at all” in 2022. Famed film director Woody Allen is also said to be agoraphobic.

Anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants can help people with agoraphobia.

And because people with agoraphobia often fear having a panic attack in public, they are encouraged to prioritize relaxing and regaining some control when out and about.

Mark Poker, CEO of QR Code Generator, said: “It’s important to recognise that phobias can have a life-changing impact and significantly affect what you can and can’t do in your daily life.”

“It’s encouraging to see people taking to the internet to find support and online resources to overcome their phobias.”

Misophonia was listed as the third most commonly searched phobia. It causes an intense aversion to the sounds of chewing, swallowing, and heavy breathing. People with this phobia often say that these sounds “drive them crazy.”

Sounds that some people find annoying usually go unnoticed by others and can be harmless, like a child yawning, the sound of rain falling, or other diners in a restaurant.

“People suffering from the condition try to avoid trigger sounds, which can make it worse for some than others and lead to isolation,” said Dr James Carterin of Harvard University.

“People with misophonia often feel embarrassed and don’t talk about it with their healthcare professionals, and healthcare professionals often have never heard of it in the first place.”

he Added“Misophonia usually begins around the age of 12 and may affect more people than we realise.”

The fourth most commonly searched phobia is ocelotophobia, a condition characterized by a fear of large, deep bodies of water, including oceans and lakes.

People aren’t afraid of the water itself, but rather what lurks beneath the surface.

People who have had traumatic experiences around the ocean or lakes are particularly susceptible to pacing phobia, but you don’t have to be near water to feel anxious — even the thought of the ocean can send you into a cold sweat.

Emetophobia is the fifth most commonly searched phobia and is defined as an extreme dislike and aversion to vomiting.

Celebrities who say they suffer from this phobia include Bella Ramsey of The Last of Us fame, British singer Franke Bridge and actress Denise Richards.

It’s not just the fear of vomiting – it’s the fear of not being able to get to the toilet quickly, the embarrassment, not being able to stop vomiting, or choking on your own vomit.

People with emetophobia often Restricting food intake Their emphasis on “safe” foods often eschews logical patterns such as avoiding bread for fear of mold, while tolerating fried and greasy foods.

Avoidance also includes alcohol, medications with nausea warnings, and social situations where there is a perceived risk of vomiting.

It can cause changes to daily life, such as eating quickly or late, disrupt social and professional activities, and affect career and personal goals. Women may avoid pregnancy for fear of morning sickness.

The sixth most common was claustrophobia, an irrational fear of enclosed spaces such as elevators, closets, tunnels and cars.

Approximately 12.5% ​​of the population has this fear, the majority of whom are women.

Various celebrities, including Ryan Reynolds and Uma Thurman, have spoken publicly about suffering from claustrophobia.

Coming in at number seven is the fear of heights. A fear of heights can be extremely disorienting, make it difficult to think straight, cause panic, immobility and trembling.

Approximately 2-6 percent of the general population suffers from a fear of heights, and women are twice as likely as men to suffer from a fear of heights.

Traditionally, the solution to a fear of heights is to actually step up into a high place, but for those who live with a fear of heights, this can be a challenge.

Arachnophobia came in eighth with 72,934 searches.

Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter series, suffers from this phobia, just like his character in the films.

Coming in at number 9 was “hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia,” an ironic fear of long words, with 69,323 searches. This often extends to the fear of mispronouncing long words when reading them out loud.

It can discourage children from reading, especially during class time, and cause serious anxiety in educational settings.

Someone with this phobia may try to avoid long words, but that isn’t always possible – for example, they might say “fridge” instead of “reridge.”

Coming in at number 10 was thanatophobia, an intense fear of death or dying, which can manifest as feelings of dread or distress when thinking about your own death or the death of a loved one.

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Meanwhile, the least searched for phobia was social phobia, an anxiety disorder characterized by fear of social situations.

While the search volume is highly suggestive, some of the searches may not necessarily be from people who believe they have a specific phobia, but rather from curious internet users.

But those who do are likely to suffer some debilitating effects, such as a fear of flying or an inability to eat certain foods.

Mr Pauker said: “It’s important to recognise that phobias can often have life-changing effects and significantly impact on what you can and can’t do in your daily life. It’s encouraging to see people taking to the internet to find support and online resources around overcoming their phobias.”