What is your greatest fear? Data shows biggest phobias in North Carolina

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According to Fox8news, the report sought to uncover the deepest fears of North Carolina residents by analyzing the top 10 phobias in the state based on Google search data. BetCarolina.com conducted the study, tracking the most searched phobias over the past year.

Topping the list is trypophobia—the fear of clustered small holes—with a staggering 177,600 yearly searches. This phobia, though lesser-known, clearly resonates with many in North Carolina.

Thalassophobia, the fear of deep water, claimed second place with 52,800 searches, while emetophobia, the fear of vomiting, ranked third with 43,200 searches. Claustrophobia (the fear of confined spaces) and arachnophobia (the fear of spiders) rounded out the top five.

Other fears making the list include acrophobia (heights), megalophobia (large objects), mysophobia (germs), scopophobia (being stared at), and coulrophobia (clowns).

The researchers compiled this data by analyzing the 50 most common phobias across America and calculating the frequency of Google searches related to each phobia over the last 12 months.

Here’s the full list of the most-searched phobias in North Carolina:

1. Trypophobia (Small holes): 177,600 searches
2. Thalassophobia (Deep water): 52,800 searches
3. Emetophobia (Vomiting): 43,200 searches
4. Claustrophobia (Confined spaces): 34,800 searches
5. Arachnophobia (Spiders): 19,200 searches
6. Acrophobia (Heights): 15,600 searches
7. Megalophobia (Large objects): 15,250 searches
8. Mysophobia (Germs): 8,640 searches
9. Scopophobia (Being stared at): 8,450 searches
10. Coulrophobia (Clowns): 4,680 searches

This list provides a fascinating glimpse into the fears that most commonly occupy the minds of North Carolinians.