Phobias

I posted a prompt in my writing group yesterday that suggested you choose a phobia and plop your phobic character right in the middle of it. It got me to thinking -- my characters don't (any of them) have serious phobias. At least not my heroines. And that is certainly not realistic, is it?

I'm scared of several things, a couple to the point of being incapacitated. I'm scared of heights -- really, really scared of heights. Some friends wanted to climb up onto the roof of their little house to watch fireworks once, and I got as far as the top of the ladder and froze. No one, including myself, thought we'd get me back down. I really was frozen in place.

I hate those drainage grates (Pam reminded me of this with her prompt response). It's second nature now to step over or around them. If, for some reason I have to walk on them, I freeze, break into a sweat and inch across. But I'd cross the street in heavy traffic to avoid doing that.

So, I need phobia's. Camilla can't be afraid of critters -- that's her job. And I know she's not afraid of heights, because that comes up in the story.

Tish... Geez, I haven't thought about her in a long time. But, nope, no phobia.

Liv... well, she may be phobic about being poor, and she's moderately afraid of dogs (but overcomes it). Nothing serious.

So -- any suggestions? What are some funky phobias I can use? Some unusual ones that your typical person wouldn't think about?

And, what about your characters? What are their fears?