RANIDAPHOBIA: Here’s Why Some Kentuckians and Hoosiers Are Afraid of Frogs

Ranidaphobia- The intense fear of frogs and toads.

Yes. That's a real thing and there are people in this world who have a paralyzing fear of frogs. Some of them (the people and the frogs that mortify them) live right here in western Kentucky and southern Indiana. A handful have bravely agreed to share their experiences and work through their personal toad traumas for the sake of this story.

Mary Ramsey doesn't know exactly why she's afraid of frogs, but she admits she is "phobia-level terrified."

She says, "I get super anxious- almost panic attack when near one! I run away from them as if the frog has a gun and is about to shoot! I have no idea where it came from but it's been this way my whole life! Might be because my parents told me they will give you warts."

Sheri Lynn Bailey of Owensboro has been afraid of frogs since she was a child too and may have good reason.

According to Sheri, "My dad would chase me with them. Terrified me!"

Amy Smith, whose parents used to own Diamond Lake Campground and Resort in West Louisville, admits she never saw a frog 'in the wild' until her family moved from Burbank, California to Daviess County, Kentucky. At the campground, Amy says "she was haunted by them."

For instance, one night a frog "ended up in her bedroom in the middle of the night and she doesn't know how." She woke her dad Brian up and made him get the frog out of the room.

Another night, she had a close encounter of the amphibious kind while she was driving a golf cart around the campground. She was "coming back from the pool and a frog jumped onto the golf cart and smacked her in the leg while she was driving." To this day, she has not idea how the frog pulled that off.

Here's Amy sharing those stories and more!

Toni Howe shares Amy's disdain for frogs. She's been scared of frogs "pretty much my entire life." That said, Toni's not even really sure what it is about frogs that scares her so much. She also admits "It's the most ridiculous thing. I scream. I run. Sometimes I even cry. But, I can't control myself."

Of course, Toni isn't really getting much support from her loved ones either.

She says, "My kids find it hilarious (especially my youngest) and chase me with them. I just CAN'T handle them."

Here's Toni with her son, Thomas- who likes to terrorize his mother by picking them up.

The YouTube channel Testapedia gathered some rather triggering images and video of frogs so you can test yourself to see if YOU have ranidaphobia. I'm guessing if you're already afraid of frogs, you're probably NOT going to watch this.

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YouTube personalities and podcast hosts Rhett & Link actually wrote a song about ranidaphobia for their YouTube channel. Here's their "Fear of Frogs" original.

So, what about you? Are you afraid of frogs?