Phobias?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Phobias?
10
Fri, 03-31-2006 - 7:50am

Seems like we mostly just talk about anxiety and panic attacks, and I was wondering if anyone had any specific phobias they would be willing to share.


I am completely terrified of snakes (original, I know! LOL). I have been ever since I was a child. Because of this, I refuse to go to a lake, river, or woods because I might see one. I have a hard time going to zoos because even though I steer clear of the reptile section, I know they are there. I can't look at a still picture of one or one on TV or in a movie without going into panic mode.


Laura

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
In reply to: asc2001
Fri, 03-31-2006 - 8:12am

Good morning, Laura;) I have to say that I have too many fears to mention. That's the truth. However, I face alot of them even though it's uncomfortable. There are a few that I am truly terrified of & will go to great lengths to avoid. Heights, large dogs that I'm not familiar with & tunnels. I cannot go to lookouts, towers

 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
In reply to: asc2001
Fri, 03-31-2006 - 11:26am

I have many phobias, but I can pinpoint why they started - something that happened to trigger them.

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: asc2001
Fri, 03-31-2006 - 12:07pm

Oh my God, where do you live that you have lots of snakes outside??


My dad is also phobic about snakes. I know I learned in psychology classes that phobias are learned, but still. I cannot remember a time when I wasn't afraid of snakes. And it's not like I ever had a bad experience with snakes to trigger a phobia. Being afraid of snakes is as much a part of me as the fact that I have blue eyes.


I moved into a new place last month. It's an apartment within a house, and it's fabulous to the point where I chose to overlook the fact that there is a creek nearby and that the lot is somewhat woodsy. A few weeks ago I came home from work and was walking up the brick driveway to the mailbox and saw what I thought was a small worm. Nope! Turns out it was a small snake--tongue out and all. It was enjoying the sun. I managed not to scream as I very quickly made my way to the mailbox where--wouldn't you know it--I didn't even have any mail! But, yeah, inwardly I was shrieking. But I held it together and managed not to develop a panic attack.


So as a fellow snake phobic, be a nice grandma and don't make your grandson play in the yard if he's afraid.


Laura

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2005
In reply to: asc2001
Fri, 03-31-2006 - 12:45pm

ok ladies this will probably take the cake.BRIGHT LIGHTS.The reason I have never really talked about it on here,is because just talking about it bothers me.Ok iam starting to shake.I can handle outside light.its just those really bright lights that blind ya.it totally freaks me out or the flouresent lighting in stores.I know what triggers this also.


 

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
In reply to: asc2001
Fri, 03-31-2006 - 12:48pm
What? Please tell me, Jeanie. They really throw me off, too. jan




 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 04-21-2004
In reply to: asc2001
Fri, 03-31-2006 - 1:05pm
I'm scared of clowns, porcelain dolls and birds (mostly chickens). The fear of clowns comes from when I was 7 and my dad let me watch the movie It. I have no idea where the fear of those freaky dolls comes from but I don't like them one bit. I really don't know why I'm scared of chickens but it's horrible when we visit my in-laws because they sell them so they have thousands of them. They always tease me about it and DH gets them all riled up to scare me. It's funny but still scares the crap out of me. I know they are pointless fears so I can laugh at myself. They don't promote my anxiety. I'm just plain scared of those things.
Mommy to Lukas Lee
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
In reply to: asc2001
Fri, 03-31-2006 - 4:06pm
Back in the day, Laura, Saturday Night Live used to have vignettes they'd play between skits. One was *Deep Thoughts* by Jack Handy. There's a ton of them floating around out there. In fact, I have a book of postcards containing some funnies. If you want a good laugh, I will post one appropriate to your fears. I would do it now, but don't want to get anyone riled up. Let me know. (((hugs))) jan




 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
In reply to: asc2001
Sat, 04-01-2006 - 7:05am

Don't worry, I don't make him play in the back yard, Laura.

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2003
In reply to: asc2001
Fri, 04-07-2006 - 10:32pm

My phobias and origin hypotheses:

1. BEES. Bees, bees, bees. THis is the one consistently paralyzing phobia I have left. Aside from deliberately getting stung to prove I'm not allergic, I don't know how to confront this one. I have only been stung once (when I was 8, bee flew down back of dress and I leaned back on it), and actual have a hypothesis that I have some sort of pheremones that dissuade bees from stinging me. It's not the pain I'm afraid of...I no problem with needles. ORIGIN: "Taste of Blackberries" Stupid kids' book about a boy whose best friend dies from a bee sting cuz he nobody knew he was allergic.

2. Dogs. I think mostly lack of exposure. We had dogs when I was a kid, and they weren't mean but they were wild because they weren't let in the house. I just don't understand them...why do they growl and wag their tails at the same time???? I'm working on this one, reading about dog behavior when I can and trying to squelch the panic response when a strange dog comes near me. Living in Manhattan will help with this as there are TONS of dogs on that island.

3. Escalators (down only). When I was 14 I suddenly developed a paralyzing phobia of going down escalators. Simply could not do it. In the past 5 or so years I have been able to work through it. I still feel a twinge of anxiety when getting on an escalator, and will avoid them if I am in unsteady high heels, my blood sugar is low, or my hands are both full. ORIGIN: When I was about ten I was wearing flip flops at the mall. One slipped off as I was getting on the escalator and I almost fell. Why it took four years to develop the phobia is beyond me.

4. Heights. This one has had a reverse path. Was always afraid of heights when I was a kid, and it has been fading since.

Other semi-phobias...electricity, deep water, rodents larger than mice. The first two, I think, stem from my mother's anxieties when I was a kid. Rodents...whenever I try to pet a hamster or ferret, I get bit.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-16-2005
In reply to: asc2001
Sat, 04-08-2006 - 11:18am

Jeanie don't feel to bad about those lights that's one of the reasons I have so much trouble going into certain stores and won't go unless i absolutly have to. I'm also terrified of large crowds of people and have been since high school. I'm a rather small person and would walk against the walls as I was always scared I would get knocked down and trampled to death.

Keitha