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Original poster

Encroaching Middle age and phobia development

33 replies

sevensuzyswongsaswimming · 14/12/2005 10:17

As get older I find I am developing phobias hitherto unknown.

I've never liked chickens, but at the zoo yesterday the ibis birds that serve as pigeons here, were freaking me out and making me shudder; their nasty, nasty black scaly legs with the knees that bend backwards and their horrid bald scaly heads and ear holes. They really scare me. I never used to be like that.

And I find I'm not too keen on thunder these days either.

Anyone else getting weird in their old age?

OP posts:
merrycompo · 14/12/2005 10:19

I find I worry about what people think of me the older I get. I also panic in certain situations which I never would have before. And i've become much more of a homebody than i used to be!

Original poster
sevensuzyswongsaswimming · 14/12/2005 10:21

funny isn't it
Best stay at home with the lasagne, it's safer inside

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foxinsocks · 14/12/2005 10:21

yes, I find I cannot go on fairground rides (apart from the fact they seem to make me feel really sick as well - especially the ones that go round and round).

I remember as a child my mum not wanting to go on rides and me thinking what a scaredy cat she was - well I used to be completely daredevil about all these rides, now I can barely look at them!

GingerBearingGifts · 14/12/2005 10:24

Heights. I remember a time I could climb a vertical ladder 100 ft to the top of a distillation column and not bat an eyelid.

I now come over all faint if I have to use the ladder for the loft!

Original poster
sevensuzyswongsaswimming · 14/12/2005 10:28

glad it's not just me then

do you reckon it's something to do with pregnancies? Does it alter us physiologically and psychologically, apart from in the obvious ways.

I want some more sympathy now as MIL's galah ( pink and grey Aussie parrot thing) is eyeing me with his beady eyes and reckons if he makes enough vile screeching noises I will go near him and feed him - no bloody way.

OP posts:
merrycompo · 14/12/2005 10:29

yes would sooner stay in with my lasagne and huddle on the sofa under a duvet

foxinsocks · 14/12/2005 10:30

I think we're all going mad.

I'm convinced it's some sort of hormonal change (e.g. since having kids, I cannot tolerate any form of the pill without having major side effects and I never suffered like that before I had kids).

Feistybird · 14/12/2005 10:33

foxinsocks - ooh me too - used to love fairground rides - the mere thought of going on a rollercoaster is enough to make me shudder.

motherinfurrierfestivehat · 14/12/2005 10:42

No, I remain normal normal normal NORMALLLLLLLLLL

GhostofChristmasNatt · 14/12/2005 11:10

The mistake is thinking there is something wrong with these fears (ie stigmatizing them as "phobias"). It is quite right and proper to be frightened of:
planes
heights
traffic
chickens
crawly things
etc
As you get older you are simply getting more rational...
That's my view and I'm sticking to it.

sobernoel · 14/12/2005 11:21

I think being a parent makes you more scared of everything. You can see danger in all physical activity your children do, all forms of transport, many foods, some strangers, polluted air, mattresses, dogs, anything.

It's just how it is when you can't bear the thought of your child ever coming to any harm. And also when you stay at home too much because having small children makes it hard to go out into the grown up world. Goes with the territory imo.

Would be interested to know whether child-free middle aged people are getting more scared. I bet they're not, with their foreign holidays, expensive cars, cruises, bungee jumping city breaks.....stop now sn.

Original poster
sevensuzyswongsaswimming · 14/12/2005 11:33

good points GoCN

Sobernoel, I don't give a rat's hat if the ibis and it's evil spindly legs perches on my kids' shoulders and gives them a peck on the cheek. Just don't want the revolting thing within spitting distance of me

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GingerBearingGifts · 14/12/2005 11:37

My SIL has had a fear of birds since before she had kids. She freaked when a blackbird flew into the kitchen one day. Can't handle shopping if there are pigeons around. Starlings roosting give her the heebiegeebies.

SIL will sympathise Suzy, but I like em.

GingerBearingGifts · 14/12/2005 11:38

galahs are noisy buggers though.

motherinfurrierfestivehat · 14/12/2005 11:42

Oh, obviously fears of heights, dogs, and scuttly things are totally normal. Obviously.

Original poster
sevensuzyswongsaswimming · 14/12/2005 11:42

hello MI xxx

you got that right GB, this one is "only" 33 years old, it will bury the lot of us

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blueshoes · 14/12/2005 12:29

Sobernoel, to add to what you said (to which I totally agree), I have become a lot more risk-averse for myself as well. Just take more care crossing roads, would never do scuba diving now (which I used to enjoy pre-baby). Only because I want as far as possible to be there for dd until she is old enough to fend for herself. Nowhere near phobia though

MistleToo · 14/12/2005 12:32

the only thing is flying - I used to love it but now the slightest shake and dh needs a wrench to get my hand off him!

unlike merrycompo I find I couldn't care less what people think of me as I get older!

crimbocrazydazy · 14/12/2005 12:40

I am the same with fairground rides, as teacher my friend and I used to follow the fairs all over but now I hate them. DD (5) is a real daredevil and begs to go on the big rides, I once went on one with her and was absolutely petrified was a horrible experience, DD loved it and went straight back on with her dad. Since I have had kids I have become afraid of flying but not for myself more for the kids, I just feel like I wouldn't be able to do nothing for them should the plane crash, I know its the same in a car but it just doesn't feel the same.

crimbocrazydazy · 14/12/2005 12:41

ooops should be teenager not teacher is that wishful thinking I wonder?

Original poster
sevensuzyswongsaswimming · 14/12/2005 14:24

Just remebered another one: soup

I cannot bear the idea of having it in my mouth, and I used to cook vats of it for a living.

bet this kills the thread stone dead

OP posts:
PruniStuffing · 14/12/2005 14:28

I saw a documentary some years ago about this subject.
Apparently there's a hormone that is connected with fear. As we age, we either gradually produce too much of it, or stop producing it. That's helpful, innit? Don't know what it's called, either.

Anyway, my phobia of insects has gone into overdrive since seeing that new David Attenborough thing. Fear of crime and kidnapping of children under control atm, but for how much longer????

Original poster
sevensuzyswongsaswimming · 14/12/2005 14:35

how very interesting, it would make a lot of sense, someone clever on here said it may be hormonal

This birds' legs thing is really freaking me out, espcially hideous emu's and their nasty claws

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kleist · 14/12/2005 14:49

Out of curiosity, just how old are you all?

And I don't mean to throw a spanner in the works ... but ... having spent my life as a real phobic scared-of-everything kind of person, I'm finding that as I get older I'm less scared.

Apart from all things to do with anything happening to kids. Now I can't watch or read or even hear about a story involving something happening to a child. It will go round my head for days. I think that's more to do with being a mother than getting old though, no?

Original poster
sevensuzyswongsaswimming · 14/12/2005 14:54

thiry bleedin' eight

how the hell did that happen

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