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Does anyone here have a debilitating phobia?

279 replies

Lonelymum · 23/11/2004 13:13

I almost wanted to change my name for this, but thought hell no-one really knows me anyway and I don't like the thought of covering up more than I am doing anyway. It is very hard for me to write this though (I am shaking and my hands have gone clammy so bear with me if this doesn't seem to make much sense).
I have had a phobia pretty much all my life. I don't want to say what it is as I am not sure how accepting many of you would be of the idea. Suffice to say, it lives with me constantly, has become worse lately, and really affects the way I live my life. One of the consequences of it is that I find it very difficult being alone with the children at night which is why I freak out whenever dh goes away (a lot at the moment.)
Then last week, browsing on the internet, I discovered my phobia has a name (never knew that) and is apparently quite common though not often spoken of. Surprisingly this made me feel a bit better and has given me the strength to talk about it now here. However, it has also upset me in a way I can't describe. Also, I read that this phobia can be cured but the only people offering cures on the web have been American. I wondered if anyone had had a phobia and had had it cured by medical/psychiatric means here in the UK and feels prepared to talk about it. My phobia is apparently not curable through aversion therapy.
Shaking sooo much now. Have to stop. Can anyone offer any support?

OP posts:
ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 03/12/2004 12:38

It is done! I have started a new thread, also under health (wasn't sure if it should be under Felling Low?) called The Phobics Support Group - Bring Your Neuroses Here! Hope you will all join me there soon.

SantaClausfrau · 03/12/2004 13:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mumtochloe · 06/12/2004 10:24

This is the first time I have looked under this topic and now I am so glad I did.

Hausfrau, Lonelymum and Nicmum2boys, I really identify with all of you. I have a severe phobia of eating in front of people (even DH) meaning I cannot go on holiday, out for meals etc. I am fed up of being asked by collagues why I never eat and I am sure they all think I am on some crazy diet. I have had to turn down the job of my dreams because it involved going on a weeks residential course, and if I go out I have to plan the day round how / when I will get to eat. I also have a phobia of being sick and do most of the things mentioned on here. I feel awful sometimes because I am so selfish when it comes to others being sick. DH has said I only care about me being sick when I should be more worried about DD's health, and I interrogate colleagues who have been off being sick to ascertain the cause. If they say its due to a bug I will hold my breath around them and do anything to avoid them. The company I work for makes people come in when they are ill too so I live in a constant state of panic. To make it worse DD is at nursery now and I am always worried she will bring bugs home. I caught a sickness bug this summer and was crying and shaking so much I could not leave the bed and DH had to clean up after me.
I hate being like this and feel like such a freak - I feel so sorry for others like me too and its reassuring to know I am not the only one who is like this.

Do any of you have any coping mechanisms for the sheer worrying and panicking? Does peppermint work? Is there anything else that stops sickness?

Sorry to go on, I'll shut up now.

PS. Hausfrau - how strange - neither of us can burp and now we both have this. Could they be linked?

SantaClausfrau · 06/12/2004 12:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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