Phobias anyone?

[Gabriel_LCP]

Hi!

I stumbled across this little article about the top 10 Phobias that people have. So I was wondering if you guys have any of these 10 phobias or one that doesn't appear on the list.

What Really Scares People: Top 10 Phobias

I noticed one phobia that wasn't on the list (I don't know if its considered a phobia) but I once heard that speaking in public is one of the top nerve racking moments for a lot of people.

Anyways, interested in hearing about your phobias!! Happy 4th of July for our US members!!

[Renee]

I have a few on that list.

My biggest fear (I'm calling it a fear because I'm not sure it's an actual phobia) is sharks. I haven't gone swimming in the ocean for 20 years before I went to Thailand in January, and even there where there were no sharks, I could only go in to my knees, someone had to hold my hand, and I cried. I know, what a baby. But I am so scared of sharks.

From the list - the dark. Another irrational fear. But I cannot open my eyes in the dark. I feel my way around in any way possible without having to open my eyes.

I'm also scared of flying but I have overcome that fear by not sleeping the night before flying then sleeping the entire flight wherever I go.

[Maria F]

I have actually overcome one of my phobias one year ago! I know it sounds very silly and many of you may laugh, but for around 10 years I was afraid of using the gear 5 in any car a drove. I think this phobia was due to a bad experience when I was learning how to drive.

The way I overcame my phobia was by pushing myself to do what scared me the most, it worked!

I think a certain level of fear is rational; like the fear of flying or fear of dangerous animals, but then again it depends on how that affects your life. If a fear stops you from having a normal life, then I would definitely call it a phobia.

[Golan.WingateAff]

Have a fear of flight, not sure if its a phobia tho, I manage to deal with it just get a little tense.
also have a fear of heights - my knees usually hurt
these are the ones listed there..
I also have somewhat fear of cars especially driving fast on a main road.. not sure why, wasn't involved with a major car accident or anything.
have a fear of being in deep water because of a trauma I had when I was 19 and I saved a boy from drowning but I almost died along with him and my GF at the time that was there with me
but anyhow I usually like to confront my fears when I have the chance, you learn a lot about yourself while doing so.

[samantha.pacquiao]

If there was a contest of a person with most phobias, it could be me. I'll take home the prize!

First I am scared of heights, even the thought of an elevator going up as high as 40th floor where my office is makes me think that.. uhh what if the chains that holds this small box fails and drops to the ground lol funny thoughts but really.. it scares me especially when i am alone. What more on other adventures that you'ld really need to go with friends like zipline and the likes. Ugh!

Second I am scared of little spaces like small rooms with no windows plus again the elevator and I can't even go snorkeling in shallow waters cuz i feel boxed up and can barely hear anything under the water if you can relate. I am also scared to fly!

I am scared of dogs cuz i got bitten when i was small. Also scared of the dentist since I had a bad dentist when I was young, very very heavy hands even if she was just cleaning my teeth it will bleed!

How did you guys conquer your fears? I'd like to try that just don't know how i can gather myself to be brave enough to do so.

[Anthony]

I have a phobia of small spaces. I just hate that boxed in feeling...

[p.arena]

I noticed one phobia that wasn't on the list (I don't know if its considered a phobia) but I once heard that speaking in public is one of the top nerve racking moments for a lot of people.

#4 on the list talks a bit about public speaking, that's definitely been my hardest one for me to overcome.

I used to dread having to do a presentation at uni, it used to make me feel sick in the stomach.

I worked part time in a deli for about 5 years which forced me to talk to strangers more and I think that helped a lot. Still not completely over it but heaps better than I used to be.

It reminds me of one of Jerry Seinfeld's jokes, where he said that the fear of public speaking was ranked 1st and death was #2 - so at a funeral more people would rather be in the box than reading the eulogy

[pdjoe]

I didn't see it on the list but does lackofbeeraphobia count as one?

<!--StartFragment --> <!--StartFragment -->

[Maria F]

If there was a contest of a person with most phobias, it could be me. I'll take home the prize!

First I am scared of heights, even the thought of an elevator going up as high as 40th floor where my office is makes me think that.. uhh what if the chains that holds this small box fails and drops to the ground lol funny thoughts but really.. it scares me especially when i am alone. What more on other adventures that you'ld really need to go with friends like zipline and the likes. Ugh!

Second I am scared of little spaces like small rooms with no windows plus again the elevator and I can't even go snorkeling in shallow waters cuz i feel boxed up and can barely hear anything under the water if you can relate. I am also scared to fly!

I am scared of dogs cuz i got bitten when i was small. Also scared of the dentist since I had a bad dentist when I was young, very very heavy hands even if she was just cleaning my teeth it will bleed!

How did you guys conquer your fears? I'd like to try that just don't know how i can gather myself to be brave enough to do so.

Hi Samantha,

I fully understand what you are going through. Before I had my son, I was terrified of spiders then when my son was born I overcame that fear because I felt that I had to protect my son from the spiders.

I think you will overcome your fears when you are ready and you need to do it. It is very much like smoking, one day you get up and say to yourself enough is enough and you give up.

[Golan.WingateAff]

How did you guys conquer your fears? I'd like to try that just don't know how i can gather myself to be brave enough to do so.

I just try not to avoid the things I'm scared of.. (still go on flights, still go into cars, going on high places and into the sea, etc')
also, usually friends are good at finding what scares you and pushing you towards it, even if it comes to calling you "chicken", I usually just try to smile and go for it - prove them wrong..
as the saying goes "you have nothing to fear but fear itself"
although I wouldn't jump on any opportunity to risk my life, of course :P

I didn't see it on the list but does lackofbeeraphobia count as one?

hehe, think so! though some might have it other way around :P
http://www.explosm.net/db/files/Comics/kbeer0001.jpg

[cgames]

Hi Ranee I think I read that most shark attacks occur in less than 2 feet of water(google it). The bright side is you should go in deeper!

Islandmaan

[Dima RU]

The only one thing that scared me is snakes and crawlies, I just don`t like that bastards) My sister is a dentist, I have a dog, I enjoy flying etc)))

but check this out: http://www.newnfresh.com/fun/weird_s...y_phobias.html !

[Renee]

Hi Ranee I think I read that most shark attacks occur in less than 2 feet of water(google it). The bright side is you should go in deeper!

Islandmaan

No way!
This is what would happen to me.

I would be in the water, right in the middle of 1000 people, in a pool, and a shark would eat me.

I just physically cannot move. My body stops. It's like I don't have control of my brain anymore to move my body. If I fell over in the water I'd drown because I can't move to get out

[ocreditor]

There's a few things on that list (like the dentist) that I definitely find very unpleasant but wouldn't describe as a phobia of mine. I never really thought I had any phobias, however, I have, on occasion, when traveling -- like on a mountain in windy conditions -- found myself feeling really insecure and nervous when at a great height, with an almost overwhelming urge to get down as low as possible to the ground because standing doesn't feel safe! Not sure if that qualifies as fear of heights....

[Topboss]

I have a mobile phone phobia which makes life very difficult in this day and age and nobody believes me when they ask for my mobile number and I tell them I don't have one. They think I am trying to avoid them.

I have only had the phobia for 2 years - It all started when my brother was going through a messy divorce and we used to sms each other daily. he started becoming very depressed and attempted suicide a few times and used to threaten suicide a lot, but I always managed to talk him out of it.

It started getting so bad that every time my sms sound would go off, I would go cold and would dread looking at the message in case it was another suicidal message from my brother.

I then started putting my phone on silent but would still check it regularly for messages.

In June 2010 I did not check my phone for a day which was very unusual for me as I would normally check it every few hours ...and when I did check it - there was a message from my brother that he had sent the day before which simply said "Bye" .

2 hours later the police phoned me to say my brother had committed suicide the night before by setting his car and himself alight.
To this day I wonder if I had seen the message in time - could I have talked him out of it like I did so many times before.

I guess I will never know but all I do know is that I still cannot bring myself to switch my mobile phone on and even go cold when I hear someone elses sms tune that was like mine go off.

I know that one of these days I will need to face my demons and carry a phone again as it does cause problems in my daily life by not having one.

Asides from this I have the usual phobia of snakes, heights...and a weird one - steps with no back to them ( i.e like a fire escape )

[p.arena]

I'm so sorry to hear that Topboss, my sincere condolences...
I can't imagine how difficult it must be to go through something like that

[Topboss]

Thanks Peter, I appreciate it, but luckily time heals the heart and although I still think of him every day - I no longer have that gut wrenching pain I felt during the first year, and I am slowly but surely coming to terms with the guilt aspect of not checking my phone in time.

Now I just need to deal with the phone phobia .....

Sorry for the thread derail and didn't mean it to sound like I was looking for sympathy - I just felt the need to explain why I have the phobia in case people think I am one of those crazy anti technology people

[Golan.WingateAff]

topboss, you have no idea how sorry I am to hear that.. my heart goes out to you, really does.. sorry for your loss.. may you never know sorrow again.

[Gabriel_LCP]

Hi Guys, its good to hear everybody has weird and different phobias, I guess thats what makes us unique!

I think I have a phobia for spiders and scorpions and those creepy crawlers... but little spiders dont really scare me... I think im only afraid of the big ones, im not sure if thats considered a phobia though! Can people outgrow phobias or are they stuck with it??

Living here in Costa Rica I have had a few experiences with spiders, I remember once I went to a cabin up in the jungle and I remember the ceiling of the cabin was full of banana spiders... if you dont know what a banana spider looks like then ill share a link.

Banana Spiders!

I had to sleep in the car that night, it was a bad experience!

In highschool I had a speaking in public fear! But I worked hard on it through college and was able to conquer that fear, I still get the jiggles before hand but not as bad, I think that normal though!



Heather im very sorry to hear that, my sincere condolences.

[pdjoe]

"I guess thats what makes us unique!"

Always remember you're unique. Just like everyone else.