Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Fears - what everyday things are people scared of

212 replies

FairViewRosie25 · 15/06/2025 22:45

I’ll start - sounds stupid but I am scared of the top stair. As soon as I have started down the stairs I’m fine but it’s just that first step.

OP posts:
RaraRachael · 16/06/2025 06:33

EmeraldDreams73 · 16/06/2025 02:14

Birds. Dh is a birdwatcher so that's fun. I'm fine with them in pictures or outside a good distance away but not near me. And when one gets into the house it's breakdown territory.

My lovely cat once brought me a gift of a half dead bird. I got it into the living room away from him where it proceeded to fly madly around pooping everywhere.
I had to call the SSPCA to remove it.i can't hold a bird or live fish in my hands. Not keen on birds full stop.

Hihihello193 · 16/06/2025 02:59

Money on the floor. Specifically copper coins on a carpet. Bleugh. I'm not sure why.
It's not exactly 'fear' but makes my blood run freezing cold, sets off a horrible reaction, and I have to immediately deal with it.
I'm fine with soks / pants, toys, on the floor, these are all fine, no problem, I just tidy them away.
But coins - urgh. No. Its like an emergency.
I grew up extremely poor and we had various piggy banks etc. Small change would sometimes end up on the carpet and be left there. Or we'd count it out on the floor. Not sure why it makes me shudder though!!
Ppl are weird. Myself included. Lol

GhostInTheWashingMachine · 16/06/2025 02:36

People.

Being looked at.

Dentists.

Driving.

EmeraldDreams73 · 16/06/2025 02:14

Birds. Dh is a birdwatcher so that's fun. I'm fine with them in pictures or outside a good distance away but not near me. And when one gets into the house it's breakdown territory.

2021x · 16/06/2025 02:02

VoltaireMittyDream · 15/06/2025 23:58

Cows!
They’re just so much bigger than I expect.
It’s not even that I worry they’ll stampede, it’s more that they could just decide to lie down and crush me.

Also hugely fearful of cows... and geese... and swans.

Actually terrified of swans.

Jollyjollyjollygoodie · 16/06/2025 01:50

Moths. A friend of mine is scared of custard.

Devianinc · 16/06/2025 01:46

Comedyusername · 15/06/2025 23:07

Stray hairs

I get this, I also hate to see stray human hair on others sweaters and shirts.

Devianinc · 16/06/2025 01:44

TokyoSushi · 15/06/2025 22:51

DD has a tiny hamster, he is lovely, I absolutely cannot pick him up, no way, gives me the absolute heebie jeebies!

They bite and they bite hard. I was very happy when my children lost interest in that pet ownership

Devianinc · 16/06/2025 01:43

FairViewRosie25 · 15/06/2025 22:45

I’ll start - sounds stupid but I am scared of the top stair. As soon as I have started down the stairs I’m fine but it’s just that first step.

I’m with you on that. Especially the first step. It’s scary

JHound · 16/06/2025 01:40

monktasmic · 15/06/2025 23:11

Rats and mice (it’s their tails) I can’t even look at photos of them.

Same!

We had a mouse get into our house share. My housemates agreed to deal with issue if I bought the traps. Which I agreed but then could not purchase it because of the image on the box! Could not look at it or touch it.

JHound · 16/06/2025 01:37

Rodents. Although it’s more of a phobia than a fear.

ReignOfError · 16/06/2025 01:28

Water: seas, rivers, canals, waterfalls, swimming pools, all terrifying.

Balloons. Evil bastard things that make me feel sick to think of

Velvet, touching it genuinely makes my skin crawl

blueshoes · 16/06/2025 01:27

Gotback · 16/06/2025 00:39

Anyone following me walking downstairs. I always think they're going to push me to my certain death.

This reminds me. Standing on the platform at the London underground as a train approaches. I am aware of who is behind so as to take evasive action in case someone pushes me in front of the train.

Lilyhatesjaz · 16/06/2025 01:15

Jewellery, I am not exactly scared of it but it makes me want to be sick.
Also heights, and wasps.

Mazzika · 16/06/2025 01:15

@FergusTheBogeyman that sounds horrible, I'm so sorry.

I find sleep music or something like "whale sounds for sleep" good with intrusive anxious thoughts. I use Spotify olaylists. Avoid forest or rain sounds though.

NewNameBridget · 16/06/2025 01:07

Anything too large... statues, monuments, towers, trees, ships, whales, they turn my stomach.

And, like several PPs, looking in the mirror in the dark and seeing something that isn't there, specifically my face move, when I haven't moved.

DeSoleil · 16/06/2025 01:07

Slugs.

Disposeable nappies after they have been used and are folded up.

Heavily tattooed skin. I hate tattoos but if someone has bare arms and they are covered in tattoos it makes me feeL queasy.

The underneath of fake nails, all that trapped dirt!

Unsqueezed spots.

Hairy legs on women.

Those plug hole ear stretch holes.

AlwaysTheRenegade · 16/06/2025 00:53

Bats Envy no, they're not a cute pippi thing. They are so gross, what kinda creature is furry and webbed?! Bleurgh

ThatDaringEagle · 16/06/2025 00:47

Mothers in Law.... overly protective, experienced & very precious predators, really scary creatures tbh ,;)

GlitteryUnicornSparkles · 16/06/2025 00:47

Insects - especially spiders & moths.

Being touched by a live fish - I Enjoy watching them through a tank, its quite therapeutic, I manage ok-ish with dead ones, and I like fish to eat! But the thought of a live one touching me really freaks me out. It makes water changes stressful! I’m also a scared about the possibility of something live (fish / jellyfish / crabs) touching me in the sea.

Being bitten by rodents / small mammals - hazard of my job and hurts like hell.

Heights

Dying

Being sick.

Driving on narrow lanes.

"Mirrors in a dark room. I cannot look into them. I am convinced I will see something reflected in there that is not in the physical world. I will not be able to sleep in a bed that faces a mirror."

I used to be afraid of mirrors full stop, it didn’t need to be dark but for exactly the same reason. The last few years I seem to have somewhat gotten over this and now own quite a few!

FergusTheBogeyman · 16/06/2025 00:39

My house. House fire 6 months ago and have been back home for a week. Have barely slept since moving back in, in case the house catches fire at night (the original fire was in the daytime but I can’t tell my stupid, terrified brain 🙄 )

Gotback · 16/06/2025 00:39

Anyone following me walking downstairs. I always think they're going to push me to my certain death.

blueshoes · 16/06/2025 00:34

GoodbyeErinsborough · 16/06/2025 00:30

I am also terrified of butterflies and moths… butterflies more so, they look all pretty to reel you in

Show quote history

... but when you look at their underside, eeks.

PlutoCat · 16/06/2025 00:32

Mud.

I would have liked to have gone to Glastonbury in my youth, but the danger of it being a mudfest made it impossible.

GoodbyeErinsborough · 16/06/2025 00:30

BeckyBloom · 15/06/2025 23:10

Stairs massive fear of falling down, fluff, hair, moths, butterflies.. I hide my anxiety well!

I am also terrified of butterflies and moths… butterflies more so, they look all pretty to reel you in

Swipe left for the next trending thread