Irrational phobias

[Mermaid02]

Hmm, a rather apt response to the original poster's question.

And here I was enjoying the 'here is my phobia' versus 'get over it' answers, and then you came along with some useful advice.

She can't help it- she's a doctor!

 

[AKL_Megs]

If you find out, let me know!

I have a TERRIBLE phobia of house fires. It used to be a very broad phobia, but over time, working with myself, I have sort of figured it out.

I sort of have it narrowed down to WHERE the fear came from, and I can only think of three things: A.) An episode of Rescue 911 when I was about 5 in which a little baby got trapped in her burning room. B.) The sight of a burnt house around the same time. C.) When my elementary school gym burned after an electrical fire, coincidentally, around the same time.

Knowing WHERE it came from helped me realize that I am not insane!

From there, I realized that what I am MOST fearful of is NOT so much a burning house, but the aftermath - a burnt house. It smells very bad, everything is ruined, and it takes a LONG time to make things right again, and even then, things are lost and nothing is ever the same. I probably know this because of my elementary school fire.

A few years ago, a house across the street from a friend had a BAD fire. It took everything I had, but I made myself look at and smell the house for a while. My heart was pounding and I was sweating and my chest tightened, but in the end, nothing happened.

I have pretty much beat that part of my phobia, and I can look at a burnt house, but if I see one on TV before bed, I have a really hard time sleeping, and I have to make sure all of the electric/gas things are turned off. That part of my phobia is more like an OCD, I guess.

Anyways, FWIW, I hope it can help you.

 

[kimmar067]

I'm seeking some advice on how to get over my morbid fear of birds, mainly pigeons, seagulls and crows. I don't even know why I'm terrified of them, but every time I see them, I start getting that panicky feeling and want to run in the other direction. Yesterday, I pulled into the parking lot of the Super Target and I saw several crows near the entrance of the store. I actually sat in the car for like 15 minutes, hoping they'll leave but they never did. I just couldn't bring myself to open the car door to go outside, and ended up driving to another grocery store. Is that pathetic or what?

I know some say the best way to get over it is to confront it, but the thought of getting close and personal with a flock of pigeons makes me break out in a cold sweat just thinking about it. Any suggestions or want to share your similar stories so I don't feel like the craziest scardy cat around here?

...I sure hope that you've never seen the movie The Birds....

 

[PlainJane]

I really don't like fire, or objects that have the potential to burn (e.g. lighters or boiling water).

 

[fall08CP]

I am phobic about driving over bridges. I can do it, but my heart races the whole time. I'm not afraid of heights, just afraid of driving off the side of the bridge.

x2! This started bothering me about a year ago. I was down in Orlando and would take a bus to work and there was a huge bridge we had to go over on I-4 (i think?) and I was always afraid the driver would take the turn wrong and we'd fly right off of it. When I started driving again back at home, I freaked out driving over them myself! When I go home from school, there are two really long and high bridges to cross and I have to look straight ahead and distract myself. I'm always shaking though!

And I ditto a pp about elevators. I can take them with other people but never alone. One of the elevator where I used to work would regularly stop between floors, so I would always take the stairs. Now it's a habit.

I also cannot touch any powders- flour, baking soda, powdered sugar, etc. The texture freaks me out! I always make someone else mix the dry ingredients when I bake Silly, I know!

 

[clovergirl5]

mice and puking

totally have ocd over germs too.

 

[KAMLEM]

I am phobic about driving over bridges. I can do it, but my heart races the whole time. I'm not afraid of heights, just afraid of driving off the side of the bridge.

I wouldn't say that I'm phobic about bridges, but I don't like them. The weird thing is that I dream about driving over bridges 2 or 3 times a week and I have had these dreams ever since I can remember. In my dreams the bridges are always huge and then they just end so I have to drive off.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Thank you for all the wonderful advice!

I'm going to WDW for the first time in a few days and all I could think about is will there be sea gulls all over the place.

I'll try to remember the tips I gave my mother about avoiding the birds.

If you're afraid of birds, at WDW try to eat at the indoor counter service places. If you're afraid if ducks too, don't do Casey's Corner at all because ducks will actually walk into the building now and then.

In Frontierland, there's a dock that goes along the water. Don't use that because large white birds frequent that dock area. Just stay on the pavement and you'll be fine.

There are two places to avoid at Animal Kingdom. One is the Flights of Wonder bird show. Sometimes there is a cast member with a bird (an owl, I think--I don't remember) giving a talk outside the show. It's OK. The bird is on a leash and stays on her arm. The second place to avoid is the Maharajah Jungle Trek because there are a lot of birds on that trail.

These aren't birds and they aren't real, but in It's Tough To Be A Bug, a massive amount of 3-D butterflies will flutter around. It's bird-like and I thought I'd mention it just in case that would be an uncomfortable situation. My mother did fine with the movie.

My mother followed my advice and avoided the bird areas and had a great time! She loved it!

Your trip will be a good one! If you are able to avoid the few places I mentioned, you probably won't even notice any birds and you'll be too busy having fun to think about it.

 

[ead79]

The only therapy proven for phobias is a specific program called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I highly recommend it.

I totally agree. I have a serious phobia of throwing up. After too many years of letting it negatively impact my life, I started seeing a counselor this past summer. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure/Response Prevention, and it's making a world of difference.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

Phobias are really terrible. I had a phobia of flying, I would literally stay up all night the night bf a flight, worry about it weeks beforehand, cry, etc., about getting on a plane. Luckily going to Fl from NY isn't that long so I was able to get on the plane and do it, but it was soooooooo hard. I still stress about it right bf a trip but I continued to do it and it got better and better, but I would get so depressed if I didn't do it and that could be worse. I'm still not able to fly really far yet, I've gotten up to about 4-5 hour flights. It wasn't flying I was afraid of, it was being somewhere I couldn't get away from. I sometimes also had it driving far away for awhile but now am ok again but you have to put yourself in the situation and face it. You have to try to find ways to destress bc the thing about phobias is they are a stress or anxiety problem that can pop up with being afraid of anything. But I feel for you.

 

[Planogirl]

I had a fear of driving in mountains that I wasn't even aware of until I drove in Colorado once. I just lost it and actually stopped in the middle of the road because I was so panicked. Luckily a friend took over.

After that even driving on hills bothered me much less my beloved Ozarks. I hated even being a passenger! I stubbornly kept going to the Ozarks though and the panicky feelings gradually decreased to where I can even enjoy the scenery some now. I somehow refused to give up something I loved because of a fear.

 

[jme829]

My dd10 is deathly afraid of those rubber singing fish (Billy Bass I think they're called ). If she even thinks there is one nearby, she will go into hysterics...There are certain stores she refused to go into, because she thinks they sell them.

There is a commercial on TV (McD's maybe?) that has one and she even freaks out at that.

Of all the things! I have no idea why she is so afraid of them, but it is not fun when she encounters one!

No idea how to break her of it either!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have a severe needle phobia.

The thing about phobias is that they are irrational. If a rational solution worked....well then.

In having treatment for other issues that are not phobias, I have found my phobia to "improve" but not really go away and some times are worse than others.

My bloodwork at the beginning of this pregnancy. I actually got woozy despite all my precautions.

I have no plans to make my phobia go away, but it is a challenge when I have to deal with it.

Sad to say that in 35 years, it really hasn't improved all that much.

So no advice on the birds. It isn't like birds are necessary in your life. I'm all for having you avoid them.

(I'm so phobic that if someone pretends to give me a shot with their finger, I will most likely begin crying like a hysterical baby and recoil my arm as though their finger were filled with poison. I'm quite irrational when it comes to real or imaginary needles. My former step-father thought this to be quite fun to torture me in that manner.)

 

[sdemore]

I know this won't help you, but I have a fear of heights. I am ok if I am enclosed but standing on ladders, balconies etc. really do a number on me. The worst situation I found myself in was at the top of an escalator while shopping and realizing I was too afraid to get on. I never liked escalators but didn't have a full panic attack getting on. I finally forced myself because I was alone and didn't have any choice! You will never believe what helped me the most - my first (and only) trip to WDW. A couple of rounds on Space Mt. and Tower of Terror and escalators are a breeze. I swore when I took my kids I was not going to pass my fears on to them and I wanted to enjoy our first vacation and do everything with them. The only thing I bailed on was RnR rollercoaster Returning for our second trip to celebrate our 25th Anniversary in 70 days

 

[mcco5543]

I'm seeking some advice on how to get over my morbid fear of birds, mainly pigeons, seagulls and crows. I don't even know why I'm terrified of them, but every time I see them, I start getting that panicky feeling and want to run in the other direction. Yesterday, I pulled into the parking lot of the Super Target and I saw several crows near the entrance of the store. I actually sat in the car for like 15 minutes, hoping they'll leave but they never did. I just couldn't bring myself to open the car door to go outside, and ended up driving to another grocery store. Is that pathetic or what?

I know some say the best way to get over it is to confront it, but the thought of getting close and personal with a flock of pigeons makes me break out in a cold sweat just thinking about it. Any suggestions or want to share your similar stories so I don't feel like the craziest scardy cat around here?

A KAGILLION people are afraid of birds. It's not as uncommon as you think. A session with a cognitive behavioral therapist can help you overcome your fear if it bothers you that much. i wouldn't neccesarily do exposure therapy on yourself. Better ot have someone there to talk you through it .

 

[merryweather20]

I'm afraid of dryer sheets. I don't have any advice for you I just don't buy them, and if someone leaves one in one of the dryers I use a different one.

 

[smkiya]

When people tell you to "confront it, and get over it", they don't understand that phobias are IRRATIONAL! Getting through it one time, doesn't always make the next time easier. If it was a RATIONAL fear, that would work.

I am phobic about driving over bridges. I can do it, but my heart races the whole time. I'm not afraid of heights, just afraid of driving off the side of the bridge. I am also claustrophobic, but not just about tight spaces, but tight spaces with people clustered around me.

Me too... I live in Jersey and my mom lives in Philly, less than 30 minjutes away. The only way to get there is by bridge. I try to stay in the center lane, and drive slower than the posted speed limit. If it's raining or snowing, I crawl. I'm always afraid that if there's an accident I'm going over. I always have the doors unlocked, and a key in hand to break the windshield if I hit the water. I play the escape plan over and over in my head until I'm over the bridge. At least though I can go over. I once knew someone who refused to do so, and would drive 2 additional hours out of her way to avoid the 1 minute drive over it.

I also have a lightening phobia, that I'm happy to say is improving. It started when I moved back to NJ from Los Angeles where it rarely rains, let alone thunderstorm. The last storm I'd been in was on my drive from NJ to CA (when we moved out). We were in Missouri at night and it starts to storm, really bad tornado weather. The land is super flat and I could see like 8 lightening strikes touchdown at a time. I kept telling dh to look on both side to make sure there wasn't a funnel cloud coming our way. I was driving and shaking and screaming. I refused to pull over to let dh drive because then it would take longer to get to the next exit and hotel, and we might get struck. Well I don't remember any storms in California, and we moved back to NJ 3 years later in the fall, so it was another year before I experienced another one. I would go to the basement, unplug EVERYTHING, and chain smoke (back when I smoked) until it was all over. I planned my day based on the weather during the summer months. Once I was trapped at work, and my old boss offered to get me a room at the neighboring hotel (she was sooo cool). I still do plan my day, but I'll go out to places within 5-10 minutes of my house if I have to. I don't go to the basement, but I stay away from windows and electrical outlets, and unplug expensive electronics (tvs, computers, etc).

Lastly is my fear of flying. I was always nervous flying, but never had a problem getting on the plane until after 9/11. I'm missing out on my plans to travel the world, but am working on it!

OP, as you can see, you're definately not alone. It's difficult for sure.

 

[clovergirl5]

I thought of another...hair that is not on anyones head I mean like hair on the counter, tub, floor, etc. And if its wet, forget it! And thats just at home. Public is 100 times worse, and Im always on the lookout for it too. You wouldn't believe how much hair there is out there when you are looking for it! I have to literally wipe the bottoms of my feet before I get into bed to get the hair off that might be there.

Oh, and feet....hmmmm not a feet person. Not even babyfeet. Feet gross me out.

 

[HelenePA]

My DD9 is afraid of skylights.. our local mall has skylights. She plants her face into my armpit and stays that way til we are passed them. Every time we walk past she has to ask me.. mommy the "big windows" arent going to hurt me are they... I have no idea why she has this phobia..

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My DD9 is afraid of skylights.. our local mall has skylights. She plants her face into my armpit and stays that way til we are passed them. Every time we walk past she has to ask me.. mommy the "big windows" arent going to hurt me are they... I have no idea why she has this phobia..

I don't consider it a phobia for myself, but I have a fear of windows at night. I'm afraid of who might be outside and able to see me when I can't see them.
I remember when it began I was 4 and 2 walls of my room had windows. My mother thought it would be neat to use very sheer curtains. Nothing ever happened, but I was spooked and scared since.

She might be afraid that something will crash into the skylight and shattered glass will fall on her--which could be why she's asking if they will hurt her.