What's Your Secret Phobia?

We're betting that creepy-crawly, eight-legged critters make you scream! We're also guessing you're a lady. How'd we know? Women are four times more likely than men to be scared of spiders. Is it those hairy legs? Who knows! Our recommendation: Keep away from dark, dusty corners and abandoned buildings, don't vacation in the jungle or go exploring desert caves, and definitely don't go on a date with anyone named Peter Parker!

This impossible-to-pronounce phobia is the second most common in the world. 'Ophidio' comes from the Greek 'ophis,' which means 'snake.' Ssssssscared yet? You're not alone. Almost one-third of the human race shares your fear of serpents and snakes, which experts theorize is based on the very real danger that the poisonous members of this slithery species posed to our ancestors.

Acrophobia is the complicated name for the fear of heights and comes from the Greek 'acron,' which means 'heights,' and 'phobia,' which means 'fear of.' If the thought of climbing a ladder or standing on the edge of the Eiffel Tower makes you shiver and shake, then you are one of the 375 million people in the world who share the fear of being above it all. People with this fear shouldn't be invited to ride the Ferris wheel, admire the view from the Top o' Texas Tower revolving ride at the State Fairgrounds in Dallas, or zip up and down in China's Hundred Dragons glass elevator!

Agoraphobia is the fear of open or crowded spaces, and is the fourth most common fear in the general population. Contrary to most people's assumption, agoraphobics do not always hide at home. The common underlying fear to this phobia is anxiety based, and as an agoraphobic, you may feel uneasy about either being exposed in an open space or being trapped in a crowd. This can lead you to prefer the safety of your own house to being in public, and it is important for people with more severe agoraphobia to seek treatment and learn how to calm themselves and control their fears, as they are at risk for depression.

Woof, woof! The surprising subject of the fifth most common phobia is man's supposed best friend: the dog. I guess whoever called them that wasn't a cynophobe, because who is terrified of their bestie? Psychologists explain that the irrational fear so many people have for dogs is due to an ancestral fear of their wild cousin, the wolf, or possibly a childhood trauma. As a cynophobe, you are forced to face your fear on a regular basis, which is great, as the treatment for the phobia is to gradually expose yourself through photos, videos, and eventually petting a calm and good-natured dog. Interesting fact: Fear of cats is way down the phobia list at number 32, which may explain why cats are beating dogs, paws down, in the Internet dominance battle!

Other names for this cool-sounding phobia are brontophobia, tonitrophobia, and ceraunophobia. It is a fear of thunder and lightning, and is the sixth most common fear shared by mankind. It is more common in children, but adults with severe astraphobia have been known to obsessively monitor the weather for signs of a storm. Sound like you? Experts recommend that astraphobes are around other people during bad weather, possibly in a public place, such as a library or a mall. Don't be afraid to share your fear with your friends and family. Even non-astraphobes will admit to feeling a little uneasy when thunder roars, and staying home and safe inside with a pet or loved ones is a great way to weather the storm.