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Tell Me: What are your phobias?

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Posted 10/4/2013 8:34 AM (GMT 0)
I was just thinking about these irrational fears that can really be a serious problem, hindering our lives. Then there are also some phobias that can seem kind of humorous, unless you are the one living with them! yeah
So to get this ball rolling, here are some of mine, in no particular order:
1) Working a secular job. shakehead
2) Traveling out of town. sad
3) Romantic relationships. cry
4) Losing my Mom. cry sad
5) TREE FROGS!! smhair

As to the tree frogs, I will literally burst into tears if startled by one. I will run screaming if it seems like one is hopping towards me. Then when I am safely away, then I cry like a baby! I don't know how I got so afraid of them. I have no bad memories from my childhood regarding them. I just know that I'd literally wade through briars to get away from one!

Okay. Your turn, please!
janet
Posted 10/4/2013 9:20 AM (GMT 0)
Great topic. :) I just registered here and love the humor that you all are somehow able to find in this frightening disorder.

Some of my phobias:
- Wasps/bees/hornets (I am in a constant state of horror over them in the summer and often won't go outside for fear that they will suddenly appear and swarm me)
- Driving for more than 10 minutes or so at a time
- Driving in Dallas
- Driving on very high bridges or overpasses (they feel like roller coasters and I always feel like they will collapse under my car or I will just sail off the side spontaneously)
- Deep water
- Having "small talk" - being unable to think of something to say
- Rabies (and I'm a vet tech and adore animals, hahaha)
Posted 10/4/2013 1:16 PM (GMT 0)
Great topic!

My #1 phobia - I'm talking about crippling fear - 100% scared to death - is vomiting. I have had this phobia (called emetophobia) for as long as I can remember, but it has really gotten worse since my anxiety was diagnosed in 2010.

Needless to say, with norovirus season upon us, from September to April, my phobia is in overdrive.

My other fears are:

1. My own death
2. My husband dying
3. My parent's dying
4. Getting abducted (I used to make my husband take me to school when I was going at night)
5. Choking
6. Driving on the highway (I live in RI where at least 3 or 4 people died recently because people were driving on the highway in the wrong direction!!)

Keep them coming!
Posted 10/4/2013 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

Great topic and thanks for starting it.

I have Aspergers Syndrome so my main phobia is people and social situations which can make life difficult.

Hibee
Posted 10/4/2013 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
I feel for you, Hibee!
I am very outgoing in general, but put me in a job and watch me crumble before your eyes! :(
jl
Posted 10/4/2013 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
Good topic!

Let's see,--in no particular order:

--Worms! (HATE them! I'm fine with snakes, but worms send me running and screaming)

--City driving, any city

--Driving to new, unfamiliar places, getting in the wrong lanes,...and I get lost very easily

--Drowning (I have had recurrent nightmares since childhood, and I'm a water-baby, a strong swimmer,
a former diver, was on the swim team, enjoy swimming in the ocean, and love water)

--Falling. I have permanent nerve damage with paralysis in my left leg and trip easily, and have had
both hips replaced, 4-level spinal fusion, compression spinal fractures, and broke my left foot 3 times
from falling...but I avoid doing things BECAUSE my fear of falling overwhelms me.

--Heights. Not so great with heights.



....that's a start anyway!


Merrida
Posted 10/4/2013 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
For me it is these...in sort of a naturally occuring order now that I think of it...

*Illness/disease/disorders
*Doctors/medical procedures/dentists/hospitals
*Loss of control/death

...going to go hide under the covers now...JK!! ;p

S.C.
Posted 10/4/2013 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
This is why I love this place to me a great healing place.

For me mine would be:

1.Death&dead things

2.Hospitals(because they stink and smell like death)

3.Not being/having a chance to be all that Iam call to be

4. Not finding/are it find me true love(my husband)
Posted 10/4/2013 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
Also terrified of stomach viruses (vomiting). OMG, I am petrified and developed severe OCD because of the phobia. Trying to keep everything 'clean' has taken over my entire life. It's hard to even function like a 'normal' person.
Posted 10/4/2013 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
Aside from health anxiety worries, here are mine:

I have locophobia- fear of trains. I've gotten much better about this, but I still have a knee jerk reaction to hyperventilate when I hear railroad crossing bells.

Heights--I can face them when need be, but I definitely get a little vertigo and a whole lot of discomfort.
Posted 10/5/2013 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
*Health anxiety is at the top of the list

*Fear of me dying and leaving my twin sister alone

*Fear of my parents dying

I also have an unusually horrible fear of moths.  If I see one within 10 feet I run.  LOL.  Seriously, I almost had a car accident one time when me and my brother were driving down a country road and there was a moth in my car.  I swerved to the nearest shoulder and wouldn't get back in the car until my brother got that darn moth out.

Posted 10/5/2013 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
Good idea for a topic :)

errr....fear of people finding out the things which I feel guilty about,

fear of some people finding out that I have gone out drinking/do sometimes, on my own.

fear of living on my own forever, and never finding the person that I want to be with as a partner.

fear of people coming over if the house is a mess and the washing up hasn't been done (irrational as people rarely come over) but sometimes on a particular day, then I have to go and clear up tidy as much as possible.

Fear of people finding notes i've written about myself, or that I haven't discarded the notes that I've written, so there are still ones around that people will find.

Fear of making mistakes at work.

Fear of aksing people at work to help me, if I know they don't want to, or if they are funny with me.

Fear of driving large roundabouts, fear of knocking someone over when driving or crashing, scraping past someone.

Driving to new places if I don't know how to get there.
Posted 10/5/2013 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
fear of people finding out who I am, from what I write on the forum
Posted 10/5/2013 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
fear of what I write on the forum, impacting on anyone else in a negative way
Posted 10/5/2013 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe I should stop now :D
Posted 10/5/2013 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
My biggest fear is death and how I would be remembered when i'm gone and anything that had to do with it lol my anxiety loves to play off this fear and heights other than that health anxiety lol
Posted 10/5/2013 4:26 AM (GMT 0)

HappyBean said...
fear of people finding out who I am, from what I write on the forum


What's wrong with who you are? :-)
Don't tell me that you're secretly a celeb, pretending to be an average joe/jane like the rest of us? scool
If so, that's okay...we'll get to turn you into whomever we
wish! wink
JUST KIDDIN'! tongue
But seriously, just be yourself! No one here is judging you, ya know!
If so, they could say I'm a dried-up old maid, living with her Mama, that never amounted to anything much...OR they could say I'm a nice funny gal that loves her Mom and tries to be the best person she can be despite her failings! LOL!
It's all in the eyes of the beholder!
To me, you are a nice legume doing the best you can! Be proud!
jl
Posted 10/5/2013 4:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Janet,

Thanks for message :) Hope you are well. (the cool glasses dude, made me laugh :)

Yeah, I kind of meant, fear of people I know (outside of the forum), recognising me posting on here.

I know there is nothing wrong with that and nothing to be ashamed of, but there are things which I am talking about on here, which I don't want certain people (outside of the forum) to recognise that it is me talking about these things. (if that makes sense) :)

Best Wishes! :)
Posted 10/5/2013 5:09 AM (GMT 0)
*side notes*

Janetlee....that was lovely and absolutely true! You are a wise woman! (and funny and loving and lives her life to the fullest and best she can!)

H.B....you have come so far in conquering your specified fear! I am amazed at the progress I see in this respect. Well done. I have much respect for your courage at reaching out.:)

S.C.

S.C.
Posted 10/5/2013 11:49 AM (GMT 0)

HappyBean said...
Hi Janet,

Thanks for message :) Hope you are well. (the cool glasses dude, made me laugh :)

Yeah, I kind of meant, fear of people I know (outside of the forum), recognising me posting on here.

I know there is nothing wrong with that and nothing to be ashamed of, but there are things which I am talking about on here, which I don't want certain people (outside of the forum) to recognise that it is me talking about these things. (if that makes sense) :)

Best Wishes! :)

Hi!
i know exactly what you mean! that's why I don't share HW site with anyone! smilewinkgrin
It's like when you go to therapist or doctor...it's personal! yeah
We won't tell anyone you're here, so post away and keep up the good work! :-)
jl
Posted 10/5/2013 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Janet :D
Posted 10/5/2013 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you S.C. :D
Posted 10/5/2013 3:07 PM (GMT 0)

HappyBean said...
Thank you Janet :D


you are welcome, E.L.!
E.L.? "Elated Legume"! Love your nickname! LOL! smilewinkgrin
jl
Posted 10/5/2013 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Here we go:
Cancer
General health anxiety
Losing my mom
Being alone for the rest of my life with no one special at my side
Clowns!
Dying
Not having enough faith in God

I'm sure there are more! These are just today's phobias!!!
Posted 10/5/2013 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Ahh, you beat me to it! I was going to make a comment about the "legume!" That was indubitably clever!

Okay, since we're crossing over between "phobias" and "fears"....here's one:

--Uncomfortable silence. I get so nervous and anxious, especially at doctor's appointments (of which I have many), that if there's what "I" view as "too much silence," I feel this incessant need to keep talking and talking, and yap away, while the doctors sit there patiently listening to me yammering....

And deep inside I know that makes my presentation worse for my cause. Sometimes the best answers are simply "yes" or "no" but I have this feeling where I need to elaborate on every single detail and element of every aspect of what's going on, and why, and why "I" think it's happening,....

In my experience I've learned this does more harm than good. But the whole "taking a breath" or "counting to five" before answering,....Well I've practiced it and can occasionally do it and can tell there's a difference.

But my natural state is to dig and dig. As my Mother would say, "beat a dead horse." Often times, I end up repeating myself, trying to drive my point home, so afraid I won't be heard or understood that I'm intent on doing whatever to drive my point, feelings, concerns,....home in their head.

Instead, I believe, it has the exact opposite effect, and reduces the seriousness with which I am perceived.



Merrida
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