Some people are afraid of “normal” stuff: dying, war, rejection. Some people are afraid of “weirder” things: dust, meteors, sushi. Whether your fear is odd or not, it may have a weird name. Mamapedia rounds up “25 Fears You Never Knew Existed,” and some of the names for phobias are as weird as the fears they describe. Take, for example, hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia. It means you’re afraid of ... long words. Peladophobia is the opposite of this—a fear of bald dudes. If you’re an arachibutyrophobiac, you’re afraid of peanut butter (which is understandable if you’re allergic). And phobophobes? They’re afraid of phobias. What strange things give you anxiety attacks? Tell us in the comments! [Mamapedia]

Are you a woman who is pretty successful in most parts of your life—good job, great friends, nice apartment—but you can’t seem to get it together when it comes to meeting guys and dating? We used to think this was normal, but now there’s a name for the “disorder”: Modern Female Dating Anxiety. Ryan and Jessica Cassady, a husband and wife duo who work (respectively) as a life coach and a clinical psychologist/sex therapist, introduce the term in Stop Wondering If You’ll Ever Meet Him. Apparently, MFDA is when normally self-assured women struggle with dating, developing symptoms like sweaty palms, shallow breathing, and obsessive behavior as a result of modern dating practices. The shift from more formal courtships to casual dating, booty calling, and hookups seem to have stripped some successful women of their confidence. Yes, dating in this day and age is complicated with no clear rules, but we feel a little torn. While it’s nice to know we’re not alone in being short of confidence in the romantic relationships part of our lives, we’re not so sure we have a disorder that requires a name. [Sydney Morning Herald]

After months and months of a heated, nail-biting, historic presidential race, Election Day is finally upon us, and if you’re like a lot of us who are passionately invested in the outcome, chances are the pressure and anxiety at this point is downright overwhelming. So after the jump, ten tips for overcoming Election Day anxiety (or, ten tips to at least survive the day, regardless of who wins)...

Last week I wrote a blog post about the 10 Ways To Survive The First Week Of Heartbreak. Just to be clear, these tips referenced the things that helped me personally during that rough week and certainly should not be taken as gospel for every single person reading The Frisky. I mean, that would be kind of unfair to those of you who are not within driving distance of an amusement park that throws a Gay Night party every year! Jokes aside, I also did not intend to imply that “popping pills” was something everyone should run out and do. In the interest of full-disclosure, I’ve been on anti-d’s (as we call ‘em) for the last year and a half (for a variety of reasons, in conjunction with talk therapy), so I didn’t just start taking them because my lame-o fiance dumped me. That said, I do know that being on them helped me get through that first week (and continue to help me get through the second and third).

The comments and emails we received that were concerned I was too flippantly recommending that the heartbroken should pop pills (truthfully, just a shout out to Jacqueline Susann!) made me think we should address the issue in depth. So, after the jump, two women in their 20’s who have taken psychiatric medication and can report on their positive and negative experiences.