Phobias, anyone?

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I have a pretty serious Blood/Injury phobia, though I'm getting over it ... gradually ... through de-sensitization. I've read a few books on phobias and there are some weird ones out there. At least I think mine makes sense (most people aren't crazy about the sight of blood or the prospect of being injured.)

So?

― jewelly (jewelly), Sunday, 20 April 2003 20:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I think I got what you got.. or just an extreme sensitivity to anything gory, whether visual or imaginary.

― donut bitch (donut), Sunday, 20 April 2003 21:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I was just about to post that I have a fear of maiming/disfigurment of any sort, and then I realized I don't think that really counts as a 'phobia'.

― Millar (Millar), Sunday, 20 April 2003 21:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Snakes, and getting trapped in tunnels or similar - it's getting the chest trapped so I can't breathe freely that's the scary part. I guess that's probably to do with my asthma nearly killing me several times in my childhood.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 20 April 2003 21:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Cyborgs

― Carey (Carey), Sunday, 20 April 2003 21:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh and I also have a fear of swimming in public pools by myself. I always think that there is going to be a dead body in the deep end or invisible eels.

― Carey (Carey), Sunday, 20 April 2003 21:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Spiders and heights as a child, both pretty much conquered now.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 20 April 2003 21:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Do you fear invisible cyborg eels at all, Carey?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 20 April 2003 21:43 (twenty-two years ago)

BEES. God.

― slutsky (slutsky), Sunday, 20 April 2003 21:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Great Martin, give me something else to fear why don't you? Now the invisible eels will know how to pinpoint my coordinates.

― Carey (Carey), Sunday, 20 April 2003 21:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Phobias, anyone?

Every one. And everyone.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 20 April 2003 21:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't bear to be around any sporting activity as I know I will get hit in the head by a ball. Hearing it makes me so very nervous. Two years ago I was just minding my own business, sitting on a park bench and reading when THWACK I got hit in the back by a frisbee. This has obviously helped my phobia sooooo much.

― rosemary (rosemary), Sunday, 20 April 2003 22:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I was going to use everyone. Actually, no, I wasn't, because I'm phobic about posting on public forums atm too...

(You think this is a joke?)

― ChristineSH (chrissie1068), Sunday, 20 April 2003 22:09 (twenty-two years ago)

confined spaces, pictures of internal organs, big spiders

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 20 April 2003 22:26 (twenty-two years ago)

driving

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Sunday, 20 April 2003 22:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Johnny Vaughn.

― Matt (Matt), Sunday, 20 April 2003 23:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I second driving. The very thought of it scares the shit out of me. Obviously I've lived most of my life in London where driving isn't really essential, but I think this fear is kind of sensible anyway because I *know* myself and I can't even walk down the street without accidentally bumping into things/people, so I know that all it would take would be one cool advert or nice tree or interesting looking building and there'd be one less six year old in the world within seconds.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 20 April 2003 23:26 (twenty-two years ago)

thats re-assuring, i thought i was the only one...

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 20 April 2003 23:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm so insanely cautious about everything else in life that I should be more phobic about driving, but I'm not. It doesn't make sense. I fiddle with the radio, put on make-up, talk on the phone, all the stupid things people shouldn't do when they're driving. It's bad.

― jewelly (jewelly), Sunday, 20 April 2003 23:36 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm slightly car-phobic. i tell people that i never learned how to drive because i grew up in nyc, but the real reason is that I'd never trust myself behind the wheel of a car. plus, all the drunk drivers and other maniacs out there on the road...

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 20 April 2003 23:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I actually have a slight phobia of having someone else drive me around. It's a control and trust thing. Plus it may have something to do with me being a busdriver in college for 4 years and being scared shitless out of driving around with new trainees. I only feel comfortable having someone else drive if I've known them for years. Plus I hate when you are doing a late night drive and everyone in the car falls asleep. No matter how tired I am I will be practicaly yelling my conversation to the driver to keep them awake and I'm like a speed addict with the constant scanning of the road.

― Carey (Carey), Sunday, 20 April 2003 23:48 (twenty-two years ago)

the real reason is that I'd never trust myself behind the wheel of a car

Personally, I sympathize.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 20 April 2003 23:50 (twenty-two years ago)

more phobias

About five six seven years ago I was going through something really difficult and out of nowhere I developed this phobia of the elevated tracks on the Queens end of the N line. I was terrified the tracks/stanchions would collapse or the train would tip over during a sharp S curve and I would freak out and have a panic attack every time I had to go out there.

I got over that. Just some temporary anxiety. But it was probably the most phobia-like phobia I ever had.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 21 April 2003 00:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I hate people watching me eat, when I don't know them. Tonight my parents were away and the neighbours invited me for dinner. I appreciated the offer but (a) I love cooking (b) I love takeaways and (c) I hate eating in someone elses house.

I don't think I spilt anything on myself but nonetheless, it was traumatic.

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 21 April 2003 00:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Once a coworker brought in his pet snake, and was bringing it around to show everyone. Intellectually I knew this guy would not keep a poisonous snake as a pet, but still this thing creeped me out.

― j.lu (j.lu), Monday, 21 April 2003 00:27 (twenty-two years ago)

depths and darkness.

― stephanie t (stephanie), Monday, 21 April 2003 01:57 (twenty-two years ago)

i am agoraphobic. it is not kitschy, cute, or hip. it is terrible,

i also can't STAND the noise of people eating, eerurrrrggh.

― jess (dubplatestyle), Monday, 21 April 2003 01:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I have a fear of anything that fucks up your ability to think, like Alzheimer's, senility, brain damage, and whatnot. I always sort of knew I was uncomfortable with the idea -- I had a high fever as a kid, for about a week, and remember being alarmed by the way my head wasn't working -- but when I had surgery and was on a morphine drip and Percocet for a week, and couldn't even keep track of the days, I just flipped out. Had nightmares about that for months.

― Tep (ktepi), Monday, 21 April 2003 02:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I have a fear of losing my left arm. I'm left handed and I actually practice doing things with my right hand because of this fear.

― Bryan (Bryan), Monday, 21 April 2003 02:08 (twenty-two years ago)

yet more . . . Bizarre Phobias.

― felicity (felicity), Monday, 21 April 2003 02:11 (twenty-two years ago)

(Come to think of it, my phobia might come from earlier than that fever -- from the fact that my younger brother has a learning disability, which was more pronounced as a kid cause the school didn't really have anyone who knew what to do about it, and I don't. So I was all, "Damn, it'd suck if that were me." And the fear is much more pronounced lately, cause my short-term memory is rapidly getting worse, which is lame -- I'm only 27, for Christ's sake. What's this "writing shit down so I don't forget it" shit?)

― Tep (ktepi), Monday, 21 April 2003 02:16 (twenty-two years ago)

(And I'm now dwelling on this cause I read an article this week about a study that says bipolar folks -- like yrs truly -- are at risk for "cognitive impairment" because manic episodes apparently cause minor brain damage. Dwell dwell dwell. Someone say something funny about a monkey.)

― Tep (ktepi), Monday, 21 April 2003 02:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I have mild fear of small places, and a mild fear of spiders (or other creepy crawlys, or rather anything that can get on me without me noticing)

― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 21 April 2003 02:22 (twenty-two years ago)

i am agoraphobic. it is not kitschy, cute, or hip. it is terrible,

I hear ya, Jess. My blood/injury phobia (fainting at the sight of blood or from pain) isn't kitschy or cute or hip either, but all my life most of my friends have reacted to it that way, and since I prefer that to pity or over-protectiveness I'm usually much more glib about it than I actually feel.

I have a fear of anything that fucks up your ability to think, like Alzheimer's, senility, brain damage, and whatnot.

I've only seriously hurt myself fainting once -- bashed my head against the corner of a bathtub and had a really bad concussion when I was 14. I was sure the dizziness and inability to think straight caused by the concussion was a sign of permanent brain damage and I was terrified. But the terror wore off and I became glib and resigned again.

Anyway the other night I cut myself in the kitchen, fainted and cracked my head against the counter. Nothing serious, no trip to the hospital or anything, BUT. It's got to stop.

I have this de-sensitization booklet designed to help me get over the phobia and I've been using it again and it sucks. I'm thinking, Shit man, do people really change something that's this ingrained? Maybe that's what this thread should have been about, changing patterns or reactions to things that have been ingrained in you since your earliest fucking memories. From what I've read, most people with B/I phobia don't get over it, but a small percentage do, I guess. Anyway, it's on my mind -- good to read how other people are basket cases. :)

― jewelly (jewelly), Monday, 21 April 2003 06:03 (twenty-two years ago)

BEES! SNAKES! And if you're thinking of making out with me, don't even think about kissing my neck... i have fear of vampires

― phil-two (phil-two), Monday, 21 April 2003 09:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Flying, and lifts (elevators), I do not go in lifts, it's become a bit of an affectation as I like to proclaim melodramatically that "I don't do lifts" and then disappear at pace to the nearest staircase.

I don't especially like watching people eat either, but I'm not phobic about it. Oh and chewing gum, I hate everything to do with chewing gum.

I used to be scared of spiders, but I kinda like them now. There was a spider living in my yucka, but I rehoused it to the garden as I thought it'd never catch anything but dust in it's web if it stayed in my room.

Oh damn, I'm neurotic.

― jel -- (jel), Monday, 21 April 2003 13:24 (twenty-two years ago)

triskadekaphobia.

― hstencil, Monday, 21 April 2003 13:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Best phobia conversation I ever had was with an ex-girlfriend. She said she was afraid of cats. In flippant tones I said "What, were you attacked by a lion when you were a kid or something?" She said "Yes, but I was already scared of cats before that."

She was lying, of course. It was several lions.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 21 April 2003 16:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Spiders and snakes... the thought of them makes me shudder

― luna (luna.c), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 06:10 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.sfusd.k12.ca.us/schwww/sch710/images/cobra.jpg

yikes!

― phil-two (phil-two), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 06:14 (twenty-two years ago)

ugh - that gave me chills

― luna (luna.c), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 06:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm so glad someone else has a fear of driving/being driven. I never got my licence out of fear, and with some (not all) people I am really panicky being a passenger too. Usually if I'm in the front seat and its either someone I dont know (taxi drivers especially) or someone I know who drives like a crazy person (speeding, cutting lanes or whatever). I dont know where this fear comes from, as I've never had an accident. Must be a control thing. I've fully told friends off in a panic when they were driving perfectly normally. Its really annoying.

I also hate anything going into my ears or my ears being blocked. I hate ear plugs, ear-bud headphones, water, boyfriends being "cute" and blowing air into the ear... ARGH! I'm talking "freak out and punch people on autopilot" kind of loathing. Once I punched a boyfriend because he blew air at my ear. And once I freaked at a doctors when he tried to pour warm water into my ear, and syringes and metal stuff went flying everywhere.

*shudder*

I had middle ear ops as a kid, I guess the pain and weirdness just stayed with me.

Not a big fan of small spaces either, but can cope if I have to.

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 06:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I am scared of snakes, but I did once walk over a mile through a forest in India where there were known to be cobras, and they are the scariest snakes there are. I felt very brave, even though I knew that forest path was used fairly often.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 16:29 (twenty-two years ago)

eleven months pass...

I'm phobic about vomiting or other people vomiting. It is paralyzing and keeps me from going to crowded events, places where people drink excessively, and flying....to name a few. T

Thank God for a bit of cyber anonymity...I can just imagine how wacky I sound.... but I've had this fear since I was old enough to know fear.

― Alexandra, Friday, 2 April 2004 18:23 (twenty-one years ago)

sharks. i have nightmares about them all the time.

― ryan (ryan), Friday, 2 April 2004 18:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Alexandra, a good friend of mine also has a phobia about vomiting, apparently since her brother used to make himself throw up on purpose all the time when they were growing up. She refuses to vomit and claims she hasn't for almost 20 years.

― sgs (sgs), Friday, 2 April 2004 19:32 (twenty-one years ago)

i am also scared of snakes u got closer than i ever will so feel brave

― Emma williams (Emma williams), Friday, 2 April 2004 19:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Butterflies and moths. But only when they're fluttering around me. I have this irrational fear that they'll fly into my face and their wing's will crumble into my eyes.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Saturday, 3 April 2004 04:11 (twenty-one years ago)

three weeks pass...

For years I have suffered from several phobias--the fear of spiders, talking with new people and agoraphobia. I have found, for me, some ways to cope with and deal with these diseases and they are: talking with my husband, doing the best I can to get through them (diet, exercise and relaxation therapies and prayer and Bible reading.)

― Toni Star, Friday, 30 April 2004 13:52 (twenty-one years ago)

despite my moniker, dogs. i can rarely go near them without getting the fear.

― dog latin (dog latin), Friday, 30 April 2004 14:04 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't know if I posted this upthread, but I seem to be getting really phobic the further I get into my twenties. I never really used to have any phobias, but now I seem to have a strange and uncomfortable aptitude for somehow imagining what phobias must be like and inheriting their attributes. I'll be on a train underground and imagine what it must be like to be claustrophobic, and all of a sudden I start freaking out that I am on a packed train UNDER THE GROUND. The coffin scene in Kill Bill was difficult for much the same reason.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 30 April 2004 14:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah. I'm scared of being buried alive, but i think that's fairly normal. Any type of asphyxiation death really. But this is the weird one, I hate listening to messages left on my mobile phones, or re-reading text messages.

― Nellie (nellskies), Friday, 30 April 2004 14:15 (twenty-one years ago)

me too nellie. ..I almost *never* check my msgs. It's like I'm afraid they're bad news.

B/c I have asthma the asphyxiation thing is really quite horrible. It's terrible to wake up in the middle of the night and feel your throat closing up.

― Ask For Samantha (thatgirl), Friday, 30 April 2004 14:51 (twenty-one years ago)

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