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Bored Panda

Mantas Kačerauskas

77 Creepy Images That Might Be Your Tonight’s Nightmare Fuel

Bored Panda

There are plenty of things that can be considered scary. Along with the classics like heights, clowns, snakes, and spiders, there are plenty of seemingly harmless things that people might fear as well. Some are terrified of the color yellow (xanthophobia), and others can’t stand looking at clusters of small holes (trypophobia). Sometimes there’s no rhyme or reason why something gives us the heebie-jeebies. And this article might be the perfect example of that. Bored Panda has compiled a list of oddly terrifying images that you might find inexplicably unsettling. So good luck scrolling through these pics that might keep you up at night, and be sure to upvote the ones that sent chills down your spine!

#1 The Dark Forest, Northern Ireland

#2 Statue Of Neptune, Spain

#3 The Angle Of These Trees In Amsterdam

There are many different types of scary. Not everything that’s considered frightening would actually give you nightmares or send you running out of the room screaming. Some things will simply give you an unsettling, ominous feeling. And others might make your mind start to spin, as you wonder if it’s safe to turn the corner or walk home alone at night.

The photos on this list may not be jump scares, but there’s something oddly terrifying about all of them. The longer you look, the more unsettled you might begin to feel. And as far as why we feel fear in general, psychologist Dr. Warren Mansell told the BBC that it’s “biological and essentially, it’s about survival.”

#4 I Ordered Delivery And The Driver's Name Makes This Sound Ominous As Hell

#5 These Are The Feet Of An Ostrich Just In Case Anyone Was Wondering Where The Dinosaurs Went

#6 Tasselled Wobbegong Carpet Shark

"Our bodies need a way of getting ourselves prepared to either escape or defend ourselves against some kind of threat,” Dr. Mansell explains. It would be a problem if we had no way of detecting that we were in danger. It’s just that sometimes, our bodies and brains aren’t exactly on the same page about whatever threat (or lack thereof) we’re facing.

“Being able to recognize and respond to a threat quickly and to get away is essential," sociologist Dr. Margee Kerr, who specializes in the study of fear, told the BBC. "It's definitely kept us humans alive."

#7 Seaweeds In Waves

#8 Cathulhu The Destroyer

#9 Stygian Owl Known For Red Reflection Of Their Eyes That Are Often Associated With The Devil

When it comes to what exactly scares humans, there are plenty of fears to choose from. There are some intangible fears that many people struggle with, such as the fear of being alone, the fear of the unknown, the fear of failure, and the fear of disappointing someone. Then there are ones that might be triggered in a specific environment, such as the fear of heights or the fear of the dark. And of course, there are phobias, which are specific, intense, and often irrational fears.

#10 Police In Brazil Use Water Buffalo To Keep Up With Criminals Trying To Escape In Rivers And Swamps

#11 Back To The Earth From Whence You Came! Or Something

#12 Chinese Panda Keepers Wear Panda Costumes To Prevent Human Attachment

According to the Archives of General Psychiatry, about 12.5% of the population will experience a specific phobia at some point in their lifetime. But there are some that are much more common than others. Verywell Mind reports that some of the most prevalent phobias include arachnophobia (fear of spiders), ophidiophobia (fear of snakes), acrophobia (fear of heights), and cynophobia (fear of dogs).

#13 This Dog With A Pinecone

#14 This Halloween Decoration

#15 Shadow Of The Moon Seen From Iss During Total Solar Eclipse In 2024

While being scared might be something you do everything in your power to avoid, some people actually seek out situations where they become terrified. Horror films, haunted houses, telling scary stories around a campfire… So why do people enjoy these things? According to the American Brain Foundation, there are several reasons. But one is that overcoming a terrifying situation can provide people with a satisfying sense of accomplishment. Once you get off that rollercoaster, you’ll feel proud of yourself. And you might want to get right back on again.

#16 2010 Sinkhole In Guatemala City

#17 🔥 A Pacific Stargazer Fish Buried In The Indo-Pacific Seabed, Lying In Wait With Only Its Eyes And Mouth Exposed To Ambush Prey

#18 “Let’s Go Play In The Forest Hole”

Another reason why many people seem to seek out fear is that fear is also a socially acceptable way to express extreme emotions. In most situations, people would be concerned if they heard you scream. But while visiting a haunted house or watching a bone-chilling film, you can get away with that. And the catharsis that comes after might feel incredible. Plus, having that experience with a friend or loved one is a great way to bond.

#19 Astronaut Bruce Mccandless II Floats Untethered Away From The Safety Of The Space Shuttle, With Nothing But His Manned Maneuvering Unit Keeping Him Alive. The First Person In History To Do So

#20 A Bicycle Covered In Spider Webs

#21 There Is A Genetic Mutation (Macromutation) That Makes Frog Eyes Grow Inside Of Their Mouths, Possible Causes Could Be A Parasitic Nematode Infestation Changing The Frogs Regulatory And Structural Genes!

Now, there are limits when it comes to experiencing fear in a healthy way. If you’re in a controlled environment where you know you’re safe, it’s probably not going to be an issue. However, if you are a person who struggles with anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other psychological conditions, you might not enjoy the thrill of being scared. It might trigger you and negatively impact your mental state. In which case, you might want to skip the rest of this list too.

#22 We've All Have That One Photo Where We Blinked At The Exact Wrong Moment

#23 This Statue In Ireland

#24 Lion's Mane Jellyfish Off The Coast Of Ireland

Are you enjoying these seemingly harmless yet oddly terrifying photos, pandas? Keep upvoting the ones that you find particularly disturbing, and let us know in the comments below what you consider to be way scarier than it should be. Then, if you’d like to check out another article from Bored Panda featuring photos of things that are surprisingly unsettling, we recommend reading this one next!