What Are People Most Afraid Of In North Carolina And South Carolina?
When Halloween creeps up on us each year, our collective sense of fear seems to heighten. It’s not called “spooky season” for nothing. All the grotesque lawn decorations certainly aren’t helping. However, chainsaw-wielding ghouls aside, it turns out that Americans are afraid of a wide variety of things.
Fox 5 Atlanta reports that new research commissioned by Customer Service Number looked into the most-Googled phobias in every state across the U.S. for 2023. The study gives us a glimpse into the fears that keep us up at night, especially during this time of year.
The research team examined 41 common phobias and uncovered specific searches for each. They calculated the total number of searches in each state to determine the phobia with the highest number of inquiries. For example, for the fear of heights (acrophobia), they collected keywords such as “afraid of heights,” “scared of heights,” “fear of heights symptoms,” “I’m afraid of heights,” and “acrophobia treatment.”
The Carolinas are afraid of…
According to the study of the most common phobias in the U.S. based on Google searches, the fear of heights is number one in five states, but it did not top the list. This year’s most-searched phobia was trypophobia, or the fear of holes, which is the most common fear in 11 states, including Georgia, Virginia, and North Carolina. It’s not so much about falling into holes as it is the sight of clusters of holes. A study from 2013 indicates it may be related to an ancient survival response against poisonous animals.
While North Carolina’s number one hang-up may sound a bit out there, especially if you’re a golfer, America’s list of fears gets even more unusual. Believe it or not, some people searched for emetophobia, which is the fear of vomiting. In fact, it’s the most-Googled phobia in Arizona and South Carolina. I don’t know anyone who enjoys throwing up, but who knew that there is an actual phobia dedicated to it?
Other oft-searched phobias in the U.S. include the fear of failure (atychiphobia) and the fear of blood (hemophobia). But I think my favorite has to be hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia. Not only is it the longest-named phobia, it’s literally the fear of long words — and it sends shivers down the spines of folks in Arkansas and Kentucky.
5 Unusual Superstitions Shared by Redditors
Shoes on Furniture Equals Bad Luck!
Someone on Reddit shared this quirky belief that putting shoes on furniture is a surefire way to invite bad luck. They added, “I’m sure it started as a thing parents told their children to avoid getting the furniture dirty, but I’m still afraid to do it, just in case.” But really, who would even think of putting their shoes, which have been all over town, on any piece of furniture?
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No Congratulations For You
Someone with a performing arts background jumped into the conversation and said they have this thing about not congratulating anyone on their performance or achievements until it’s all done. They explained, “Saying ‘congratulations on your big show’ the day before the show opens is basically asking for like, a lighting fixture to fall on stage and kill a performer or something.” They even added that saying a simple “good luck” can feel a bit iffy.
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Fingernail Cutting on Sundays
Someone mentioned that if you trim your fingernails on a Sunday, you might somehow end up turning into a thief. We’re not exactly sure how this superstition got started, but there’s definitely at least one person out there who’s sticking to it.
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Super-Specific Routines
Some people shared their very specific routines. One person chimed in, saying, “If my right hand itches, I must rub it on wood; scratching it with my hand will signal bad luck and I’ll lose money soon.” They added that they heard this old wives’ tale as a kid and never really bothered to question it.
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Cautious of Souls
Someone in the thread shared a funeral-related superstition. They said, “When you visit a funeral, don’t go home directly, go somewhere else before heading home so that the soul of that dead person won’t follow you home.” they wrote. They also mentioned that if you get sick after attending a funeral, it’s seen as a sign that the spirit of the departed has made contact with you.
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