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Mental health

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Original poster

Phobias - what is yours? TMI / Trigger

30 replies

Pawprint · 18/11/2013 16:22

I was reading the emetaphobe thread.

I have emetaphobia, but it isn't as bad as it used to be as I have forced myself to stay in the house/room when one of my family is vomiting.

I have a terrible fear of dog poo on the pavement - ironically, I have three dogs and work as a dog walker. It's a fear of stepping in it, particularly if it has been there for a while.

Ugh - getting squeamish and panicky just thinking of it :(

OP posts:

mosp · 19/11/2013 08:55

Onomatophobia. I have yet to find anyone else with this! Feels quite lonely and some people don't believe it's a 'real' phobia :(

AdmiralData · 21/11/2013 01:07

If it scars you to that extent, it's a phobia surely? I hopeyou can find the support you need xx

mosp · 21/11/2013 10:00

Bit disappointed that others have not posted here with their phobias. I would love to know that there are others with unusual ones!!

bongobongo · 21/11/2013 10:10

Dogs and cars. I am afraid that dogs will bite my child who is sits in a pushchair. I was supposed to go to pharmacy today but I just couldn't. I hope it is raining tomorrow and I can put rain cover on. It probably won't help much but gives me better feeling. I am afraid sitting in a car, too. Even when I see a car I get uncomfortable feeling.

mosp · 21/11/2013 11:06

Bongo, can you think of any life event that triggered your fears? Or are they seemingly 'random'?
Are you getting any help with this? It sounds really difficult to live with :(

absentmindeddooooodles · 21/11/2013 11:07

Emetophobe here. Totally rules my life. :(

Casanunda · 21/11/2013 11:13

I don't have any unusual phobias - mine's very common. I am extremely phobic of spiders, to the point of almost passing out from the fear. The size of the spider is irrelevant, although particularly large or hairy ones trigger me more

bongobongo · 21/11/2013 11:18

My fears started slowly but last month they have become very strong. I have been bitten by a dog when I was a child. However, I was not afraid of dogs afterwards. I don't know where the fear of cars came from . At the moment I haven't received any help but will ask some when I see my cpn next week.

AdmiralData · 21/11/2013 22:26

I should have added my own odd fears to alleviate your concerns - sorry! There's a few but I have GAD with severe social anxiety so it stands to reason I guess. People sitting/standing/walking anywhere near me, it brings me out in a literal cold sweat and my heart rate accelerates. Car horns being beeped loudly - good chance I may actually wee myself if it's bad. Water - floods, over filled bathtubs/sinks etc. These things can seriously take over your life eh?

mosp · 21/11/2013 22:59

What is GAD?

Original poster

Pawprint · 21/11/2013 23:02

Thanks all - I can understand all those phobias. As a child, I feared dogs and have always feared cars. I've never felt frightened on a train or plane, but used to get v panicky in cars.

OP posts:

Original poster

Pawprint · 21/11/2013 23:03

Mosp GAD is General(ised) Anxiety Disorder.

OP posts:

justmuddlingalongsomehow · 21/11/2013 23:05

GAD - generalised anxiety disorder.

Emetophobe here. I HATE IT.

Ruprekt · 21/11/2013 23:06

I have trypophobia.

sweetkitty · 21/11/2013 23:32

I have molluscophobia

CremeEggThief · 21/11/2013 23:52

Rats, and to a lesser extent, mice.

I used to scribble out the word rat in any books I was reading and say a prayer every time I left the house that I wouldn't see or hear any, when I was a kid.

I'm not that bad now, but I still have horrible nightmares about them from time to time, and I don't know how long it would take me to use my back garden again if I saw a rat out there.

mosp · 21/11/2013 23:55

Are you all just accepting of your phobias, or trying to conquer them? My trouble is that my phobia is not anything concrete. Makes it hard for therapy for cure it. It's not like I can face it gradually!

AdmiralData · 26/11/2013 00:12

I accept mine, or rather am trying to. It takes work >:) Good luck in conquering yours.

Weegiemum · 26/11/2013 00:15

I have Iatrophobia - fear of doctors, hospitals and medical treatment.

Which is a bit crazy to deal with as every 5 weeks I have to spend a whole day in there having a treatment through an IV for my neuro illness.

Also, rather ironically, I'm married to a doctor !!

musicposy · 26/11/2013 00:26

Stinging nettles - I can barely write the word and now I've typed it I can't look at it on the page.

To a lesser extent, all plants and greenery which I believe is Botanophobia. It's odd as I like looking at nature, fields etc as long as it's not too individual and up close.

People giving me flowers is a nightmare. How can you tell people you are scared of them? I'm OK with them in the house but I cannot touch them. DH has to put them in a vase and throw them out at the end.

I don't mind poinsettias. I quite like being given them. Cacti are OK too.

We have an organic box and it is a fraught experience as sometimes stray other leaves get in there. Once there was a bit of nettle (aaagh!) in with the greens and I was utterly hysterical. I had to cancel the box for a couple of years but felt too to tell them why. Now I have it again but DH has to check and wash all greenery.

musicposy · 26/11/2013 00:31

I'm not trying to conquer it. I have no desire to. If I conquered it I would have to go near nettles.

As it is it is now walking season again :) I just keep away from fields and lanes from about June - October.

mosp · 26/11/2013 00:36

musicposy - that's an interesting way of expressing it!

I kind of wish that I could not have my phobia; but that I could not have it and also be protected from 'the phobia word' forever. But obviously, if I wish that, it means I still have the phobia! Weird!

Actually, it has been so long, I just can't imagine not being afraid of it!

HerlockSholmes · 26/11/2013 00:39

just tonight an advert for an electric toothbrush came on tv. when i heard the vibrating my head snapped round, my heart started racing, i broke out in a sweat and was shaking. it has since been on three times and ive turned the tv offnto avoid it now.

this is the first time this has happened andni have no idea why, so im not surenits a phobia but it felt just like when i am near wasps which i do have a severe phobia of. i dont really handle it i just run.

CremeEggThief · 26/11/2013 01:05

Well my fear of mice has reduced a lot over the years, but I have no desire to conquer my fear of rats. I will say I am not as scared of pet rats and I could probably handle being in a room with one in its cage for a short period of time. I wouldn't have been able to do that as a teenager. Oh, and I am as scared of them dead as alive!

Earthymama · 26/11/2013 01:11

I have a fear of escalators, it's quite embarrassing.
Luckily, love of my life is used to accommodating my inability to use them and finds lifts etc to ease my path.

I think it stems from going up open tread staircase when teeny tiny and thinking I would fall through. I also don't like standing on very steep slopes.

I had a few challenging moments in San Francisco recently

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