Is there something completely “normal” and everyday that gives you the chills for no apparent reason?

[Dontate]

Whenever I hear the jingle from an ice cream van I get that horrible swoosh of anxiety but I just got a particularly bad one!

I was upstairs, with all the windows open, when I heard a jingle which sounded extraordinarily loud and sort of echoey. It really sent shivers down my spine and made me feel very on edge.

Is there anything relatively “everyday” which sets you off?

High bridges, I have an irrational fear that I'll swerve and crash off.

There's a high canal aqueduct, somewhere in England that's often on telly (Rob Bell/Tony Robinson type programmes) that only seems to have a railing on one side, it freaks me out just to see it on telly, never mind cross it.

Similar with concrete crash barriers, I find myself slowing right down to maybe 40mph on a 70 road. There's a new bypass where I live that has them and I'd rather drive through town than use it.

I forgot to mention my fear of downwards escalators. It's not that they give me the chills, it's more like a full-blown phobia. It started a few years ago when I witnessed someone fall down a downwards escalator. It wasn't even a very high one and they were not badly hurt, but it really shook me, and now I can't go on them at all.

Up is fine, but when I think of going towards the top step of a down one, my stomach flips over, and I feel like I'm falling already, even before I've got on. I just can't bring myself to do it. It's actually quite debilitating, as I always have to then look for stairs or lifts. And if I use the lifts I feel bad because I am taking up space that should really be for people with buggies, or wheelchair users. I don't know how to overcome it.

I hate getting anywhere near smoke alarms or water sprinklers. My friend had to put up a smoke alarm for me because I was too scared to touch it!

Also, showers. I have to really hype myself up to shower in someone else's house. I don't know what it is about them, especially the big huge waterfall-y type showerheads

Balloons. Hate them.

wooden cuttlery
the feeling on my teeth gives me goosebumps and makes me queazy

I hate them because I’m scared of getting splinters in my mouth... maybe it reminds me of when our old dog used to chew sticks and we’d have to retrieve bits of twig from her gums.

@MotherofPearl

I forgot to mention my fear of downwards escalators. It's not that they give me the chills, it's more like a full-blown phobia. It started a few years ago when I witnessed someone fall down a downwards escalator. It wasn't even a very high one and they were not badly hurt, but it really shook me, and now I can't go on them at all.

Up is fine, but when I think of going towards the top step of a down one, my stomach flips over, and I feel like I'm falling already, even before I've got on. I just can't bring myself to do it. It's actually quite debilitating, as I always have to then look for stairs or lifts. And if I use the lifts I feel bad because I am taking up space that should really be for people with buggies, or wheelchair users. I don't know how to overcome it.

@MotherofPearl I'm glad I'm not the only one with this fear. Probably to do with my overall fear of heights, but as you say, can be quite debilitating and would like to be able to overcome it.

Another vote for pylons. When we drive up to Scotland there's a really flat area of Leicestershire (I think) and there are miles and miles of pylons striding across the countryside and I can't look at them.

Small electricity substations beside a house. I don't know why but they just freak me out.

Coffee. The smell of it makes me feel ill. I hate it when I've been in a cafe and come out stinking of coffee. I know that is totally illogical but I just hate the smell.

Having to walk under scaffolding.

The noise of plates scraping off each other when DH unloads the dishwasher.

Some people find windmills freaky (especially the modern ones) but I like them - loads on the drive up to Scotland.

Time40 can you put Chinese Dragon dance in please?!

time40. Oh please do.
You’ve got to put zombie pylons in there. though

OK. A story with lots of ordinary things that are horrors, plus zombie pylons and the Chinese Dragon dance. I'll see what I can do.

Touching velvet.
Those music organ things you get at the fair, that music makes me so angry!
DH has a particular shade of blue paint that he hates but doesn't know why the reason is too buried in his psyche!
A wet crisp packet at the side of the road near weeds/dandelions can make me cry.

Melon/squash seeds, loads of little holes, terracotta and fingernails, the string inside banana peel, the smell of hot hair, balloons, gah!!!

Fairgrounds and amusement arcades - both make me feel sad (even depressed). No idea why although the idea of "forced fun" leaves me cold. Circuses are scary...
I also cringe when my DH has washed rice in the sieve and there are lots of bits of raw rice poking through the holes afterwards. Awful! 😬

When I was a small child (in the 70’s), Black Beauty used to be on TV on Sunday mornings. I could not stand the music, it would make me cry. Still hate it now.

When loading the dishwasher, if I accidentally touch any food remains from the plates. I usually wear my rubber gloves to load the dishwasher.

Dry docks, sunken ships, drained canals, locks. I have been on many canal holidays but descending to the lower level in the lock in the boat when you’re faced with the wet walls knowing the water was there just seconds before, eugh.

Agreeing with a PP but …Mick Hucknall. My late mum couldn’t bear him either. Sorry Mick.

Backyard Sheds
Ancient Egyptian History
Oprah Winfrey

Definitely the heartbeat / where the heart is theme song. Flashbacks to Sunday nights on mum ironing and school the next day.

Belly buttons - I can’t look at them or touch them.

seaside town buildings right by the water/on top of the cliff.
or those canal side houses in amsterdam/delft
I find that really unsettling

I don't like houses built on steep hills

Glasses that are squeaky from the dishwasher, the feeling of ice lolly sticks if they are slightly rough, wooden spoons ditto.

Being out in the streets early evening and smelling people's dinners cooking makes me feel incredibly melancholy, always has. Can't quite unpick that one!

The velcro noise of a Blood pressure machine.
Woodlice on walls
Split milk mixed with cereal, especially rice pops .

Hearing someone eat. I absolutely can't bear it and have to move somewhere else.

Can't look at a picture of a shipwreck, they make me feel unbelievably sad and scared.

Spiders make me pass out with fear, and vomit which has weird considering I see a lot in my job.

@GiantGoose

Empty swimming pools 😱

This! Also full swimming pools with nobody in them and completely calm, flat water and swimming pools with the cover over them. They all make me go cold and panicky.

Driving or stopping behind a scaffold lorry. The poles just lying there, I'm sure they're going to slide off and through my windscreen.

Kites high in the air, they give me the same fear as if I'm up there with them. DC love them so I usually stand there pretending I'm OK when I'm panicking inside.