Did you know that about 40 Million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders? And out of that number, approximately 15 million adults and children suffer from social phobias, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
The most common phobias in psychology include irrational fears of spiders, heights phobia, confined spaces, lightning and strangers. Fear of public speaking and fear of flying are also common phobias.
Millions remain affected by their fears. While others, BUT the ten below, have learn to live with their phobias and continue to live, work and rise above all.
Agoraphobia
Marilyn Monroe
Voted 4th Greatest Movie Star of all time and sexiest woman of the century and sexiest female movie stat of all time. She is ranked #8 in “The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time” list.During her career, Marilyn Monroe owned her own production company and stared in dozens of films – an acclaimed recording star. She was Agoraphobic – afraid of open spaces.
Your phobia causing you panic attacks? Get rid of panic attacks today.
Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia by Phill Davison
Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton is a well known for her five seasons starring in “The Simple Life,” performed in more than a dozen movies and television shows and sought after model. Has her own line of perfume and author of two books.
Paris Hilton is a well-recognized socialite and paparazzi magnet. Paris Hilton is claustrophobic – she is afraid of confined spaces.
Acrophobia
Sheryl Crow
Winner of 9 Grammy Awards and accomplished songwriter with songs performed by such notable artists as Wynonna Judd and Celine Dion. Sold 35 Million albums worldwide and performed on record with Rolling Stones Tina Turner, Kenny Loggins, Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, John Mellencamp, Luciano Pavarotti, Kid Rock, Don Henley, and Michelle Branch. Sheryl Crow has gained a positive reputation for acting, and if that’s not enough, she is also a cancer survivor. Sheryl Crow is acrophobic – she is afraid of heights.
Mysophobia
Howie Mandel
A successful stand-up comedian and accomplished actor staring in both television and movies (i.e. St. Elsewhere). Howie is highly sought after game show and reality TV host (i.e. Deal or No Deal, America’s Got Talent). He is also a best-selling author and successful Producer (i.e. Bobby’s World). Howie is mysophobic – extremely afraid of being contaminated.
Necrophobia
She’s won six Teen Choice Awards and the Saturn Award for Best Genre TV Actress and received a Golden Globe Award nomination for her work in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Sarah Michelle Gellar received a Daytime Emmy Award for her work in All My Children. She grew up being a successful child model. Gellar’s films have grossed more than $627 million. Featured in Maxim “Hot 100″ list in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2008. Sarah Michelle Gellar is necrophobic – afraid of the dead.
Arachnophobia
Justin Timberlake
Justin performed in more than a dozen movies and was one of the founding members of the highly successful pop group N’Sync. Timberlake’s first two solo albums made him one of the most commercially successful singers in the world. Business ventures include record label Tennman Records, fashion label William Rast, and the restaurants Destino and Southern Hospitality. The Justin Timberlake Foundation has supplied hundreds of thousands of dollars to charitable organizations. Justin Timberlake is arachnophobic – he has a fear of spiders.
Aviophobia
John Madden
Professional Football player and coach in the NFL is an inductee in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for coaching. Madden appeared as television personality providing color commentary for NFL games. He is also a successful author, sought after pitchman for products, and anked number two on David J. Halberstam’s list of Top 50 All Time Network. John Madden is also a popular character on Madden NFL video games. John Madden is aveophobic – he is afraid of flying.
Carcinophobia
Woody Allen
Highly acclaimed screenwriter, producer and director.
Woody Allen developed a distinctive niche as an actor and also highly celebrated as a jazz clarinetist. He is the comedy writer for The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show as well as specials for Sid Caesar.
As a successful stand-up comedian Allen was the recipient of multiple awards including Academy Awards, and O. Henry Award, César Awards, Golden Globe Awards, a Career Golden Lion Award, and a lifetime achievement award from the Directors Guild of America among others. Woody Allen is carcinophobia – he is afraid of cancer.
Brontophobia
Madonna
A Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her role in Evita. Madonna signed a $120 million contract with Live Nation, sold 300 million records worldwide, and generated over $1.2 billion in sales within the first decade of her career.
Billboard magazine ranked Madonna at number two, behind only The Beatles, on the Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists in 2008. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Madonna is bontophobic – she is afraid of thunder and lightning.
Xenophobia
Barbra Streisand
A collection of awards includes Two Academy Awards, Nine Grammy Awards, Four Emmy Awards, a special Tony Award, An American Film Institute award, and a Peabody Award. Streisand sold 140 million albums worldwide. She is a Best-selling female artist on the Recording Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) Top Selling Artists list. The only female recording artist in the top ten with 51 Gold albums, 30 Platinum albums, and 13 Multi-Platinum career albums. Barbra Streisand is xenophobic – she is uncomfortable around strangers.
These famous people face the same fears we do – flying, death, heights, etc – but they have each managed to focus on what they love to do and do it well. You may not sell millions of albums or get inducted into the Hall of Fame, but like those individuals, you must overcome your phobias to succeed in life and career.
Did you overcome your fear and live your life to the fullest? We want to know. Let’s encourage each other and make the most out of this life we live.
