Phobias - Do you have one?

[WebLady]

It is said that 10% of people have at least some level of some form of phobia. Here are a list of common ones ...

Arachnophobia:
The fear of spiders.


Social Phobia:
Fear of being evaluated negatively in social situations.


Claustrophobia:
Fear of confined spaces


Ophidiophobia:
The fear of snakes.


Acrophobia:
The fear of heights.


Agoraphobia:
The fear of crowds or situations where escape may be difficult.


Cynophobia:
The fear of dogs.


Astraphobia: Also known as Brontophobia, Tonitrophobia, or Ceraunophobia.
The fear of thunder and lightening.

Trypanophobia:
The fear of injections/needles (may include blood).


Hemophobia :
The fear of blood.


Pteromerhanophobia:
The fear of flying.


Mysophobia:
The fear of germs, dirt and contamination. Often related to obsessive-compulsive disorder.


Glossophobia:
The fear of public speaking; more commonly referred to as "stage fright"


Necrophobia:
Fear of death or or dead things.


So do you or anyone you know have any of these?

*Poll coming*

[acidcookie]

I have a fear of dark water. Like a swimming pool or river or lake at night. Hate it hate it hate it.

[WebLady]

I have a fear of dark water. Like a swimming pool or river or lake at night. Hate it hate it hate it.
I think that is "Thalassophobia"

So yeah, I may have at least a little bit of several of these; I hate to fly, hate crowds, hate the Dr, hate the sight of blood; not much for snakes and spiders either.

DH definitely has the needle and blood one! He just about passed out tonight after a finger prink blood test. He got all pale and clammy :bbeek:

[Docsgirl]

Definitely the syringes/needles one. Ughhhhhhhh. It took 3 nurses and my mom to hold me down last time I needed bloodwork. And I managed to get away and lock myself in the bathroom. :bbeek: And if I see other people's blood. I'm fine with my own and little cuts on other people, but if it's a lot, I get all dizzy and feel like I'm going to pass out. I'm also afraid of the dark and have to sleep with a nightlight. LOL

[MrsGrady08]

I have a fear of dark water. Like a swimming pool or river or lake at night. Hate it hate it hate it.

Im that way too! I don't like when Im in deep water and you can't see the bottom...you don't know whats down there!:petrified: So I keep my feet as close to my body as I can.


Also heights, public speaking and Im a little claustrophobic. Also kind of needles I don't mind shots but I HATE having a needle in my arm for long periods of time. Like IVs or donating blood (which I haven't done)

[Ninedays9]

I have quite a few of those. One that I've been noticing more lately is the crowd thing... I hate being in really crowded spaces where it feels like I can't get out. I noticed it at a bar on Halloween as the place got more and more people into it. And it didn't help that most of those people were drunk.

[acidcookie]

Ok getting technical and speaking as a psychologist (yeah I have a degree somewhere, lol) a phobia is only a phobia if it is disabling in living your life. My fear of dark water is probably not a true phobia. But of course I know what y'all mean :D

[WebLady]

Well I don't know if I would be like clinically disabled by my fears, but these aversions definitely affect my life and some give me much anxiety. It is the same with DH's thing about blood and needles; he just about passed out tonight and we are paying more money for our insurance because he didn't want to to the full on regular blood test thing. He will avoid the Dr unless he is really sick or hurt too. So I think he has that one worse than me.

[gwenshack]

I am DEATHLY afraid of birds. Like, I hear flapping about and I jump out of my skin. I go to a Starbucks sometimes and sit outside to enjoy the weather. There are lots of pigeons down there, big fat ones, that try to get people to feed them and just wait for muffin crumbs to fall on the ground. I never eat anything there for fear that they'll attack. There's only like 3 tables that are under the awning and I HAVE to get one of those tables, or one of the ones covered by an umbrella. If there isn't one of those tables open I will wait inside until one opens up. When people start feeding the birds and they start flapping about and circling I get REALLY nervous and sometimes have to actually ask the people to stop feeding the birds because I'm having a crazy panic attack. They think I'm nuts, but usually they oblige. The worst for me is when little kids chase the birds around and they go ballistic, flying all crazy, trying to get away from the kids.

Yes, I'm nuts. No, I've never seen The Birds...! :)

[SerendipityCrafts]

I suppose mine are aversions.

Snakes. I can appreciate their beauty (look at a photo or even someone else holding one) but, please don't try to get me to touch one. It's just not going to happen - never ever ever ever! *thanks to a mean brother who used to chase me with grass snakes in hand*

Ok this is a weird one ..... I don't like armed guards as in brinx guards. I once heard a news story of how some robbers tracked the comings and goings of an armed vehicle until one day they struck, and robbed the truck. There were several people shot in the crossfire. If I see a brinx truck outside my bank or a store that I was planning to enter, I just don't go in. I know it's odd because a robber could just hold up the bank or store directly but regardless, I just stay clear.

[Whitewater]

I have a phobia about sharks. I saw Jaws accidentally when I was about 6 years old (maybe 8, certainly not older) and it terrified me. I was sure, all through my growing up, that there were sharks in every little bit of water around me, no matter what kind. From puddles to bathroom pipes to toilet bowls and bathtubs, there was a shark in it, just waiting to GET ME.

As I grew up the shark thing receded from my consciousness but when I was an adult and suddenly totally responsible for myself and in charge of my own protection, the phobia came back full force.

A couple years ago, when I was living on Staten Island, I took off my shoes and socks and let the waves of the Atlantic Ocean go over my feet. This was a HUGE step for me, the Atlantic of course being home to Great White sharks and Staten Island quite close to the location of Jaws' attacks in the original movie.

I won't even swim in 'wild' water, ie, lakes or ponds, because you never know what might be lurking. If not sharks, then perhaps a murderous muskie or a vicious snapping turtle (I was once attacked by a snapping turtle when canoeing one time). So now I just swim in pools and other created sources of water.

I don't know what I would do if I ever lived closer to a large body of water. My phobia would probably negatively affect my life, but considering that the biggest body of water that's closest to me is the Mississippi and nothing lives in there for long (except giant mutant junky catfish which will cause your babies to be born with three eyes if you eat them), so I don't worry about sharks. A shark would die in the Big Muddy well before it got up here.

I also have a fear of falling. Not of heights -- I'm totally ok if I can't see how high up I am (like, the only roller coaster I've successfully enjoyed has been Space Mountain at Disney, because it's dark and completely enclosed, so I can't 'fall') but I'm terrible at heights because I hate the idea of falling. Recently I've done a lot of therapy and can now happily look out a 2nd story window or over a 2nd story balcony, but anything else. . . forget it. I also don't like stairs and escalators much, but I just grit my teeth and bear it.


Whitewater

[Ninedays9]

Whitewater, your fear of falling sounds very similar to mine. The only roller coaster I've allowed myself to go on was Space Mountain, and even there, I clung on for dear life. And I hate escalators. I can handle them now, but before... when I hardly ever went places that had them, I'd get a feeling of apprehension when I saw one. And I can't do stairs without railings. So carrying boxes down stairs with both hands.. is out. And I definitely can't do ladders.

[vicky_vicky]

I have two really weird phobias.

One is for butterfies, I really freak out if there is a butterfly flying in a short distance from me. I've heard all kind of cr@pp about this! I am scared of any butterly from small moths to large beautiful colorful forest butterflies. I totally freak and behave like stupid. I just cant stand them.This phobia expands to all insects with wings. I have no phobia with spiders etc walking insects.

Phobia #2 is clownophobia. It must be called like that. I am scared of clowns, I consider them evil creatures and they dont amuse me at all. You know, Johnny Depp has this same phobia:).
I saw the movie "It" at a very tender age, I admit but this is not an excuse. I just hate clowns.I never go to the circus. And yes, my children will NEVER have a clown at their birthday party, and I dont feel guilty about it.

[candars]

I don't like trains, semi-trucks, clowns, large crowds, or spiders/bugs/mice. I know, I have a lot of fears! :) I also have a fear of drowning-have had way too many nightmares where I have almost drowned.

[kgvettegirl]

I cannot go above the 3rd step on a step ladder. Well I can but I try really hard not to. :bbeek: When I was a kid back in the dark ages, my brother, sister and my cousins were playing up in the hayloft of the barn. They called me a sissy because I wouldn't climb the ladder so I screwed up my courage and climbed up. Had tons of fun jumping and crawling through the hay bales. They snuck down and took the ladder. Mom came looking for me when she noticed that I wasn't with them. Found me crying hysterically and screaming. In fact that is how she found me because they wouldn't tell where I was.

[BarceloMayaPalaceBride]

I'm affraid of sudden loud noises, and CANNOT be confined in small spaces!!!!!!!! Not a big fan of heights, or spiders but I can deal.

[savepaws]

My main phobia is social phobia. I hate crowds and social situations. I sometimes have panic attacks in stores or hospitals or where I'm uncomfortable.

A weird thing I'm terrified of is lady bugs. They make my skin crawl. I once lived in an old farm house where it was actually over run by lady bugs. They got into the house and they were ALL over the freaking place. They covered the whole inside of the window frame...like thousands of them and when I would get rid of them, more would just come in. Ick! Makes my skin crawl just thinking about it. When I see lady bugs I run.

I cannot stick my hand in dark dirty dish water.

I also freak if I'm held down or constricted by something. Like if the blanket gets wrapped around me and I can't move my arms or legs. Or if I have socks on under a blanket. I feel trapped.

[NurseLau84]

I absolutely LOATHE mayonnaise. I can't look at it, smell it, or watch people eat it without feeling nauseous. Oddly enough I have no problem with caring for patients with explosive diarrhea, MRSA, 4 inch deep pressure ulcers, and the like. But show me mayo....and I'll run for the hills!!!!! :bbeek:

[tootsie]

I have a fear of dark water. Like a swimming pool or river or lake at night. Hate it hate it hate it.

Me too! And deep water!

[FFC]

I freeze when there is a spider near me. I freeze and can't hardly breathe - ESPECIALLY Black Widows (they're all over our garage/back yard). I HATE HATE HATE spiders. I have to yell for Matt whenever I see one - OR I get one of those 20' spraying Raid cans LOL.

[Moon.Dust.]

I'm claustrophobic & agoraphobic as well as hydrophobic referring to a fear of water

[RosieAngel]

I am incredibly claustrophobic! Camping is absolutely terrifying for me unless I have a ten-person tent all to myself... and my head is facing the zippered door. It's lame.

[animal.crackers]

I have never had a problem speaking in front of a classroom, but when I did my first formal speech (for a research conference) in a large auditorium in college I had an actual panic attack and left the stage in tears. It was awful.

I have found that with a few "rehearsals" and a stiff drink beforehand (not even kidding), I can give a formal speech just fine now, but it has taken a lot of practice.

I did a lot of drama in high school and never had a problem presenting to a class, so I was really unprepared for that reaction that I had the first time. I am not sure what was so scary about it. I still don't like it, but I am glad that I can at least deal with it now! =)

[sandy03]

I am definitely afraid of needles as long as they are pointing towards me. I really am not a fan of being around them at all, but since I want to work in a hospital or hospice I really need to get used to them. I signed up for a vaccine trial to try and get over my fear, but every time things would seem to be getting better I'd have a HORRIBLE experience and put me back exactly where I started. Gotta love classical conditioning!

[Mrs.Goff]

I don't like being in the dark. Not that I'm afraid of the dark but I have a very overactive imagination that causes me to freak out. lol

I HATE deep water, I have panic attacks, just thinking about going on a boat or if I try to force myself to go into deep water.


MY biggest fear, the one that affects my life the most is my fear of thunderstorms. Well really it's tornadoes but that causes me to freak out over any thunderstorm. This fear is SO bad that I have to make plans when they say it's going to storm so that I won't be alone in a storm. It gets so bad that I can't breath. I have full blown panic attacks! It's horrible.


FH says I'm afraid of my own shadow and sometimes I think he might be right. LOL

[yam102284]

I'm afraid of a lot of things.

I'm afraid of heights. I hate flying. We flew to Florida a couple years ago, and I nearly had a panic attack. I hadn't flown in a long time, and I hated the feeling I got when we were taking off. Once we got in the air I was okay for the most part, but I got panicky a couple times.

We also went on a roller coaster water ride at Hershey Park last summer. It was high in the air, and all you had supporting you was a bar across your waist. I had the feeling like I was going to fall out. That was also a near panic attack.

I'm afraid of tight spaces, and being buried alive. I'm afraid of the dark. I don't like it when I can't see my hand in front of my face in the dark. I'm always afraid somethings going to pop out and scare me. Probably from all those scary movies I watch.

And I hate water where I can't see the bottom. I'm afraid somethings going to come up and attack me.

Yeah, I guess I have a lot of fears.

[lillypad]

Spiders! And it is defiantly a phobia. My FH and my mother have both tried to get me in to see a doctor about it but I refuse because I know they are just going to make me look at spiders or something. I actually have trouble breathing when I see them. Once there was a big one on the outside of my windshield and I had to pull over and call my mom because I was going to drive the car off the overpass to kill it...I needed her to talk me out of it. I know one day it is going to catch up to me and cause some major problem but god I hate spiders.

[amisteratwisterandme]

Oh my! I am Afeared I am the queen of fears. :rolleyes:

A few years ago I developed panic attacks after being at work (on a boat) with winds in excess of 60 mph. On a boat in a lake covered in Canyons, that's a very bad situation. And I was the captain. It got so bad that I gave up that job.

Then it moved to monsoon storms. I would have to be in a large building where you couldn't hear what was going on outside.

Then it moved to rain in general after I was stuck in flooding waters.

After my brother died it became even worse.

Things that really freak me out:

Going out of town
other people driving
being held down
death of a loved one
Diagnosis of an awful disease
Roller coaster (I don't mind any rides that have a cage that you are in)
Plane rides
boat rides

I need help. :snide:

I have just decided to try and find a specialist for phobias. Don't know how to go about it though.

[MrsDM]

I have three major ones.

1. Snakes
2. Clowns
3. Needles if it pertains to medical/blood type things. Like shots or drawing blood. Omg - I'm so outta there.

If you go to www.phobialist.com (http://www.phobialist.com) there are some weird phobias. Like:

Arachibutyrophobia - the fear of peanut butter getting stuck to the roof of your mouth.

I guess somebody could be afraid of it, but then I wouldn't think they would eat peanut butter?

[vicky_vicky]

If you go to www.phobialist.com (http://www.phobialist.com) there are some weird phobias. Like:

Arachibutyrophobia - the fear of peanut butter getting stuck to the roof of your mouth.

I guess somebody could be afraid of it, but then I wouldn't think they would eat peanut butter?


There are some really weird types in that site but this is :bbeek::bbeek::bbeek: Duh!!

Phobophobia- Fear of phobias.

Genuphobia- Fear of knees.

Nomatophobia- Fear of names.

:bbeek: