To ask what your phobias are?

[squishymamma]

I have emetophobia - it's the irrational fear of vomit. It's not so severe as others have it, but it means that I get mild panic attacks when others throw up, and even worse when people feel nauseous and might be sick (it's the anticipation that's the worst). As you can imagine with 2 young DC in the middle of tummy bug season I'm quite the nervous wreck atm! Luckily DH takes our DC when they're ill...

My family know about this as I've had it ever since being really young, but I was talking to DM the other day and she mentioned she had a phobia of bees and wasps. I was amazed I didn't know that already, and it got me thinking that maybe more people have phobias than I realise.

So does anyone out there have a phobia they want to share? As serious or as lighthearted as you want (this thread is one of my ways of coping!)

PS yes, I am seeking therapy, no, it's not the same as not liking it when people throw up, and no, it's not different when it's your own DC. Sadly. (all common responses I get when I tell people about this...)

Flying and the Sea - my two biggest phobias. Makes travelling VERY difficult

Mine is rollercoasters (more to do with the feeling of motion sickness not heights), and thalassophobia.

I have claustrophobia, I think it must be that unless there is another phobia name for how I feel; sometimes I just have to get outside because otherwise I might lose it. I can't sleep with covers higher than my chest or I feel trapped, can't have any treatment where I may have to lie flat and surrounded. It's making me panicky thinking about it.

Trypophobia

Loads, although I mostly keep them hidden from others.
Heights, flying, claustrophobic so don't like lifts, got trapped behind a fire door in a pitch black stairwell in a carpark couple of years ago, thought my heart was going to pound through my chest til I found I was trying to open the door the wrong way🙈 presentations/public speaking/interviews, dentists but had horrible incidents as a child so understandable, general anaesthetic, also dentist related, I can still visualise that black mask coming towards me and nearly 60 years ago😰 had to have a breast op years ago and insisted I'd only have it done under local which was thought of as totally abnormal! No fear of the theatre or watching an op just the general anaesthetic 🤦
Emetophobic too, although everybody knows about that one as work in a hospital. I'm OK if I know the reason they are being sick isn't contagious but run a mile from norovirus, fortunately there's always a colleague close at hand who can deal with it (I can't get my head around how it doesn't bother them🤔).......... All in all I'm a wreck but you wouldn't think it if you met me I'm a good actor😄

The dark

Tokophobia - phobia of childbirth, and for many women this also extends to pregnancy. It's currently estimated that tokophobia could affect as many as 14% of women worldwide.
I am lucky enough to have a beautiful DD but had an ECS after my midwife suspected tokophobia (when I had a complete meltdown when she asked me what type of birth I would like), but I had to have assessments from the hospital psychiatrist first.

Public speaking

I would rather hold a spider, moth, hornet and leach on a really high diving board above an empty swimming pool while vomiting, than give a speech in front of an audience

Severe emetophobia like you, OP.

So bad I never had children. I've tried everything to beat it but nothing has. In many ways it's ruined my life (always wanted kids).

Horrific phobia.

Reptiles/amphibians but mostly frogs and the ones beginning with T (can't even bring myself to type it I can't even say the word without feeling unwell!!) I've had it for as long as I can remember and people think it's hilarious and send me photos of them/tag me in posts about them but actually it makes me feel so ill when I even see a photo. I can remember every single time in my life when I've seen them and something comes over me and I just run as fast as I can as far away as possible. I can't explain this but I know when I'm around one I can sense it...... I was once getting out of my car a few years ago, in the dark and saw something slightly move, just looked like a leaf or something and I just knew what it was, I jumped back in the car and locked myself in crying my husband couldn't believe I'd even noticed it, it was tiny. My mum has always said I need therapy for it and writing this out has made me realise she might be right!

@TheBestForLast

Empty swimming pools 😱

Abandoned water parks for me. It's not a phobia as such, but it makes me feel a bit ick seeing one especially if there's leaves blown onto the disused slides and empty pools

I too have emet. It is truly awful. I have a 2 Yr old and 9mo. I live in constant fear and my hands are dry as the fucking desert. Literally sand paper from all the washing

Spiders
Dentists
Railings
Water I can’t see the bottom
Heights

Tortoises. I know I can run and they can't catch me and it is irrational but the thought they outlive all other animals and humans and have been around so long freaks me out. They are so ugly too and make nasty noises.

Contractions...

But on a serious note. The dentist. I have to be put to sleep for procedures. I hate anything teeth related.
Also people popping spots can make my brain spiral

Anyone touching my bellybutton. I have like a panic attack if it's accidently brushed by anyone. It's the most weird and stressful thing to have. Throughout my twenties I wore like a band around my abdomen and had a metal square tucked into it covered my navel area so that my bellybutton could never be prodded either intentionally or unintentionally. I still want to do that sometimes and have to stop myself.

I have emetophobia too, don't know anyone else with it and can see it's an irrational one. I did manage to get it more under control and rationalise some parts as I got older. For example drunken sick (from others) used to be a massive trigger but I realised I can't catch that so it lessened.
Mine stems from being sick myself so anything that could lead to me being sick I avoid- rides (roller coasters are fine though) drinking to excess, undercooked meat/ things out of date, being vigilant with storing cooked food and reheating it. People who say they feel sick/have been sick recently.
I don't know how I coped when pregnant as I had all day nausea from 6-20weeks. I was sick once and immediately went and got anti sickness tablets. I am declining most pain relief for labour due to finding out they can make you vomit. Concerned you can be sick in labour but rationalising it won't be constant like with a bug or food poisoning (my biggest fears). Very worried about sickness I can catch with my dc though. Thought I'd be able to get over it with it being my own dc but you saying it doesn't work worries me.
No other phobias however.

Mirrors in the dark or semi darkness, I can't look into them then, the thought terrifies me that I'll see something that's not me. Similarly, windows (from inside) that aren't covered by curtains or blinds when it's dark. I can't bear to see them, and always shut all blinds and curtains as soon as dusk starts.

Dogs, justified as I was mauled by one when I was 10. It was a Collie. Annoys me when people say, "aw he's just friendly!" when their dog is jumping all over me when fucking Lassie almost killed me.

Claustrophobia - can’t go on trains, planes, lifts, public toilets etc - someone has to stand outside because i can’t lock the door - had tons of therapy can’t seem to overcome it! My world has obviously drawn inwards because of it

Why hasn't anyone mentioned cows yet? Giant demons just waiting to crush you to death.

Dolls

Birds - it’s the flapping
Pigeons that swoop
Seaside is spoilt by seagulls
DCat brings them home and I have to try and catch them whilst neatly having a major panic attack
My other worst phobia is really confined spaces - I struggle with caves if I can’t stand up or anywhere that I fear I could get stuck

I hate buttons too - horrible, evil, slimy little things. All my clothes are either pull on or have zips.