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...)

Rats!! I am absolutely terrified of them and I keep a full tin of paint on the toilet seat, then peep in before I lift the lid. Even in summer I keep my windows shut, and I won't have 0atio doors in case one sneaks in. I have nightmares about them jumping into my mouth as I'm screaming.
I'm a widow and live on my own, and when my cat goes out I close the window and check her mouth before she comes in, just to make sure she has nothing in there. She's 19 with no teeth so not very likely.

Patio doors.

Agoraphobia here too. Also, I've always been terrified of going to hell.

@XenoBitch. The worst for me are the everyday ones. Plain, flat, four holes, and worst of all, slippery.
If it gives you and the others hope, I'm getting on in age and I think it's getting better.

Fish, anything to do with fish, dead or alive.
I've never come across anyone else who has a massive issue with fish.

I have nightmares that I'm in an aquarium and a fish either jumps out of someone smashes the glass and just seeing them on the ground squirming. The thought of being near a moving fish is absolutely terrifying. Even tiny ones. I can't paddle in the sea because of those scores of tiny ones. The thought of them touching my foot is horrific. Also the thought of standing on one is the most Truly repulsive thing. Snakes, spiders I have no problem with ( I don't love them but can pick both up) but fish 😱. No idea why.

Tomophobia - fear of surgical procedures or medical intervention. Currently have cancer and awaiting colostomy..............not a great time!

Pigeons

Spiders.

I have night terrors if I see them unexpectedly

Literally they are in the bed or on my hair.

It's horrible for me and my husband as when I wake up in the dream I'm still dreaming and I'm conscious enough to say "don't wake up Dd" but I'm also crying with fear and trying to get them off me or out of the bed.

I can be woken up and I realise then it's a dream but the fear is still very there

[quote thistimelastweek]@XenoBitch. The worst for me are the everyday ones. Plain, flat, four holes, and worst of all, slippery.
If it gives you and the others hope, I'm getting on in age and I think it's getting better.[/quote]
Yep, I have found less of the things bother me now as I am getting older too.
Is this a thing that happens with phobias? My dad had crippling arachnophobia, but can now go pick up big house spiders in his bare hands. No therapy or anything. It is like his brain just went "we can do spiders now".

Swimming pool drains whenever I go to a new pool I have to check where the drains are first and make sure I won't be swimming over or next to them or I'll panic. I blame watching 999 (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/999_(British_TV_series)) as a child - in one episode a girl got her hair trapped in one of the jets at the side of the pool I think 😖

Also had emetophobia as a child/young teen but drinking/being around drunk people desensitised me to a manageable level. Totally understand how debilitating it can be, OP.

I used to have debilitating social phobia - it’s the worst. Something triggered me at work one day (someone made me blush and everyone pointed and laughed) and I couldn’t step back in the building without having a full blown panic attack. Was signed off sick for months and had successful CBT. I’m still very shy and always worry about what people think but it’s totally under control now and I don’t get panicky thank god. Still though the idea of public speaking makes my skin crawl.

@ScarlettDarling

Mine isn’t a phobia but I have an irrational feeling of disgust at the inside of peppers. The clusters of seeds turn my stomach (actually feel sick just typing that out.) It’s not a phobia as I can handle it and don’t panic but I have a strong feeling of revulsion 🤢

I have this

Being trapped somewhere like a coffin where I cannot move , or if I do I'll get wedged .
There was a series earlier this year "The Tourist" , some bloke buried in an oil drum with a phone and a lighter IIRC.

I don;t have a fear of death in my rational moments but sometimes I think what happens after I;m dead and many years later the world ends and that's it
Over .
Like before I was born but the other way round I suppose .

Moths. Spiders. Ghosts.

When my fingers and hands go wrinkly in the bath and swimming pool. Honestly I struggle to keep my 2 year afloat in the pool when my fingers start going wrinkly .... Urghh!!

Social phobia/performance anxiety. Its improved with age but its still there and have my moments where I struggle. Walking into a room full of people is something I try and avoid or do with someone else. I couldn't hold down a job when I was younger cause I couldn't cope with the people, especially management. I can't drive either cause its just too stressful doing lessons. I've never had a group of friends. Just the odd friend here and there

Fire. I always need to know my routes out. We have a fire escápale ladder in the bedroom.

Our keys are always in the front door so that we can get out quickly.

DM and DF are scared of burglary so the doors are triple locked with the keys in a drawer in another room. They would have no chance ☹️.

Balloons and other loud noises like fireworks. When I was at school, my science teacher liked to blow things up, like chucking sodium in water etc. I hated science. I actively avoided taking my DS to parties when he was little, there were always balloons and I'd end up having a panic attack even at the thought one might burst. I remember several occasions where I had to walk out and leave my then H there. I once tried to have CBT for it, it was a group thing and we were in a community centre, which also happened to host kids parties in some of the other rooms. One day, the session was right next door to one, with the sound of balloons popping all over the place!

To a lesser extent, flying and also snakes. I once tried to face my fears and held a 12 foot Burmese python, in a way it helped because I can now see the beauty in most of them but there are still pictures I see where they look like evil fuckers and a snake pit is still one of my worst fears!

For those of you with arachnophobia, I took in the Friendly Spider Course at London Zoo several years ago.
It was AMAZING. ALL 40 of us, after discussions and being mass hypnotised, walked under -Meath the webs of Golden Orb, handles some big house spiders and had our photo taken holding the friendly furry tarantula. ( I won’t post the pics 😉)
It really helped some people who wouldn’t sit in the garden, go on holiday, travel to see family abroad etc. live in fear in Sept/Oct when they are out and about looking for spidery love.
On a ‘scared’ scale of 1-10 (most people over 20! 🤣) people left with a score of 1-5 at the most.
Well worth the money and I’d highly recommend if it affects your life negatively.

Oh.. I decided to do it as we had a ’Thai Black’ tarantula on our bathmat on holiday earlier that year.
Always put your shoes on if you need a wee in the middle of the night! 😳🤣

Spiders. Just writing it and reading other peoples posts about them is making my skin crawl.

Pruny skin after being in water. I cannot touch anything if my fingers are pruny, if someone touches my foot or hand in a swimming pool I am almost sick and have to get out and dry my hands/feet and calm down. When my son was little I couldn't lift him out of the bath if his skin on his fingers was pruny. It awful, prevents me from doing anything where my hands or feet might be wet for any length of time. I also have misophonia and I think the two are linked under the general heading of sensory processing disorder, I "over feel" sensations.

Rats and mice 😱

Cleithrophobia.

Used to be really bad and I had to have therapy to get me even able to use lifts.

I'm better than I was but I still can't use public loos if they're too dark or look in a state of disrepair. Luckily the new style big cubicle locks make it a lot easier.

Will never be able to use strong glue though.