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Original poster

Phobias

85 replies

Whatintheworldgirl · 17/09/2023 21:09

If you have a phobia, what is it?

I'm finding that it's frustrating having a phobia and people assuming you can just 'get over it'. Do you believe you can just 'get over it?'

OP posts:
Ykn · 18/09/2023 15:20

Heights, especially where there is a sheer drop, even indoors. Have posted on the other current thread regarding motorway bridges.

This fear also includes long steep escalators, so I take a lift or stairs instead. Some escalators on the London Underground are terrifying, and so are the escalators at the air bridge at Gatwick North Terminal and in Heathrow T5.

As a child I was terrified of thunderstorms at night, and unfortunately this phobia has recently resurfaced...hate hearing rumbles in the distance and seeing lightning in the distance at night, it makes me feel some sort of primal fear in my belly.

Not keen on big spiders either.

Greenberg2 · 18/09/2023 16:46

Shodan · 18/09/2023 15:11

@Greenberg2 I can cross some bridges without any issues at all- mostly wide, low bridges to be fair. Some bridges I can cross sometimes, without any problems. Other times they cause my palms to sweat and my heart to start racing. I have realised that these times coincide with being extra tired, so at least there's something of a pattern.

One particular annoyance is driving over bridges, particularly going round a bend. A few years ago I drove my boys to France and discovered that the ferry port we were sailing to had a large bridge I would have to cross. I had to change ferry crossings- after Googling bridges/France/ferry ports😳

I am, however, totally fine if someone else is in charge of the bridge-crossing/heights. So flying is fine. Being a passenger in a car is fine. The only time that rule didn't apply was when I was persuaded (in the name of 'getting over it') to do a tandem paraglide. That did not go well.

Wow a paraglide! I wouldn't even contemplate that. Cable cars are also a nightmare, especially when they stop and someone starts swinging them!

I've trained myself to drive across the Severn Bridge without palpitations <preens> but it did take a few goes. I also don't mind when other people are driving unless it's one of those narrow clifftop drives.

@Devilsmommy I do suffer from vertigo when up high and also that thing where you think you might jump off.

dressedforcomfort · 18/09/2023 16:58

Lightning. Absolutely petrified - to the point where I go involuntarily foetal when it flashes. All electricity in house has to be switched off in a storm. I can't sit near a window. Generally have to cover my eyes and wait for it to pass. I cannot drive if I know there's going to be a storm because I cannot trust myself not to jump/swerve.

I can't remember what triggered it. Have been like this since very early childhood and it shows no chance of going away any time soon...

afaloren · 18/09/2023 17:00

Deep water. It gives me great pleasure as an adult to know I can never be forced into the sea again.

RoseMartha · 18/09/2023 17:16

I have several and people lack of understanding at how crippling some of them are. Sending a hug

Chattygirl123 · 18/09/2023 17:20

Mice

Original poster
Whatintheworldgirl · 18/09/2023 21:30

whateveryouwantmetosay · 18/09/2023 05:03

Vomit. Me vomiting, others vomiting included. I've come a long way with exposures therapy though!

This is my phobia! Emetophobia! Can you explain exposure therapy to me? I've always wanted to try it but I'm petrified it's like watching people being sick or something

OP posts:
Original poster
Whatintheworldgirl · 18/09/2023 21:32

AceofPentacles · 18/09/2023 06:43

Vomiting - me and others. I have ptsd (diagnosed) from the initial incident then other incidents piled on top of that (child threw up on the back of my head in a line up at school etc). Have had cbt many times, EMDR, regular therapy etc . Morning sickness affected me so badly I was under the psych team as wanted to end my life.
So sadly no I don't think I can just 'deal with it' or 'get over it'. It's ruined my life in so many ways. :(

I have a emetopbia too and I can fully fully empathise. I'm so sorry you're going through this pain. It's so difficult. I remember morning sickness with my twins too and I was exactly the same. I'd rather die then be sick and that sounds so awful but it's how my mind works. You're so strong and you are doing amazing!! Xx

OP posts:
Original poster
Whatintheworldgirl · 18/09/2023 21:33

RoseMartha · 18/09/2023 17:16

I have several and people lack of understanding at how crippling some of them are. Sending a hug

Massive hug to you too! Thank you so much

OP posts:
LabialSpoon · 18/09/2023 21:34

My emetophobia RUINED my life. For so many years.

I'd say I am now 90% 'cured' for want of a better word.

I don't know how or why I'm sorry I can't help.

I spent my 20s in a very dark and humiliating place because of my emetophobia.

I am sending the biggest hug to anyone dealing with any kind of phobia. Social pressure to 'just get over it' is fucking atrocious.

Dahliasrule · 18/09/2023 21:36

DGS has a strange and difficult one, fear of buttons!

XenoBitch · 18/09/2023 21:42

Buttons and beads. Small clear buttons are the worst. They are ok if on clothing, but in the wild... just no. I am not so much scared of them, but am disgusted by them to the point I am almost sick.
I am also horribly needle phobic, but that is pretty common.

XenoBitch · 18/09/2023 21:43

I am sending the biggest hug to anyone dealing with any kind of phobia. Social pressure to 'just get over it' is fucking atrocious

Being a needle phobe when the Covid vaccine started rolling out was hell. So many awful comments, and stupid suggestions.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 18/09/2023 21:46

I wouldn't go as far as to say phobia but I don't like.

Stairs with gaps in. Im terrified of falling through. I don't know how I think that would happen as I'm size 26😂.

Vertical high rises. They look like they've fallen over and they're about to stand up.into a horizontal position.

Paper straws.

Wet cellophane.

weegiemum · 18/09/2023 21:48

I have iatrophobia.

Fear of doctors and health care settings.

Very weird as I'm married to a GP!

modgepodge · 18/09/2023 21:54

Mine is snakes. On the whole it’s not too debilitating, as I don’t often come across them in real life, and avoid things like reptile houses at the zoo and so on. I can’t even watch them on screen or look at pictures, it creeps me out too much.

Biggest issue at the moment is I keep having dreams. I wake up terrified and can’t get back to sleep and can’t get out of bed for fear of treading on a snake. I know at the time I’m being irrational but I can’t control it.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 18/09/2023 22:08

Emetophobia, I think triggered by my mother's migraines when I was a kid. My bedroom was next to the bathroom. I used to jam my fingers into my ears so hard that my nails drew blood, but it was never enough. Now the sound terrifies me.

Heights; they make my feet tense up and hurt, and it gets to the stage where I physically can't move. My dad is the same. Bizarrely, I'm fine with flying.

Trypophobia is my most irrational one, and the hardest to explain to people without sounding like an attention-seeking nutcase. But it's very real.

LadyChilli · 18/09/2023 22:08

I've had 2 two and got over one.

Needles: terrified all my life after a couple of bad experiences at primary school. Learning we were going to have to have IVF to conceive all I could think of was the needles. I was ill with worry, shaking, heart racing constantly, dilated pupils every time I looked in the mirror. First needle went in and my fear disappeared instantly. Did all my own injections and it was easy. Years later I don't love vaccines but don't get the slightest bit nervous.

And spiders. I've had hypnotherapy, CBT, NLP, faced my fear head on with the hoover extension tools. I'm not as bad as I was in that I can force myself to hoover up a smallish medium sized one if I gather my courage. But my child once walked into the hall and started screaming in terror and - this is awful - I instantly knew it was a spider and shouted to come to me. If it had been an intruder I'd have been out there. I must know on some level there's no danger as I'd put myself between him and danger every time no hesitation. But I couldn't put myself between him and (what did indeed turn out to be) and extremely massive spider. I will keep trying to overcome this fear.

whoactuallyreallycares · 18/09/2023 22:10

Emetephobia. It’s ruined a lot of my life and has sucked the enjoyment out of my son’s life as I can’t relax knowing he’s in nursery and can catch things. It’s debilitating x

GLC789 · 18/09/2023 22:13

Giggorata · 18/09/2023 15:17

Mine is spiders, and it doesn't help when every autumn the threads about spiders are started, and then the people who don't understand about phobias start posting about how unreasonable you are, how awful to kill them, how they won't hurt you, how they're much more scared of you, how they catch flies, how you're much bigger than they are, how much they themselves love and adore all spiders, how they have pet ones in their homes, called Doris, Boris and bloody Fred…
… and breathe.

No, you can't just get over it.

Edited

This though!!!

How do they know that spiders are more afraid of me? Did they bend down and ASK THE SPIDER!??? Did he reply?

I'm with you so hard in this one! I cannot just get over them either. Absolutely terrified of them and it will never change

Tg2023 · 18/09/2023 22:14

Loose hair especially loose eyelashes or pubic hair I vomit at the sight of it.
Always had a phobia of loose lashes since I was a child & now it's worse even loose strands of head hair make me retch.

PeggyPiglet · 18/09/2023 22:23

Vomiting.
Had it since I was pregnant with morning sickness.

I'm tolerating it, but it isn't pleasant living every day wondering if today's the day I'll come down with food poisoning or norovirus.

It's debilitating, because you can't avoid it.

I can avoid flying, or climbing a ladder.

XenoBitch · 18/09/2023 22:28

Tg2023 · 18/09/2023 22:14

Loose hair especially loose eyelashes or pubic hair I vomit at the sight of it.
Always had a phobia of loose lashes since I was a child & now it's worse even loose strands of head hair make me retch.

You would have hated my sister. When she lived at home, she would pluck her eyebrows and stick the hairs to the bathroom cabinet. Gross!

eandz13 · 18/09/2023 22:47

Slugs, proper daft, I know. I don't even really have any general fears, just this one really odd phobia. I struggle to even look at a picture of one, it makes my heart race and I feel panicky. I am aware how silly it is, I just can't stop it - so to answer the question, no, you can't just "get over" a phobia 😬

ncforthisthreadd · 18/09/2023 23:02

@Issummernearlyover I have exactly the same phobia as you and I can barely look at those two words without my palms starting to sweat and feeling giddy. It was hard even to read your post! It can make life so difficult. I feel like I'm constantly looking out for one in the street, can't really go for walks in the country, etc. And they pop up so often in films. It's a minefield!