Claustrophobia. I've gotten a lot better about elevators, but I used to absolutely hate elevators. I once climbed 7 flights of stairs to avoid getting into a packed elevator. Any time I see something about a person being trapped in a tight space or think about someone getting buried alive (they show it on cop shows from time to tome), my heart races and I can't breathe.
I'm afraid of lightning. I have to stay inside away from windows during storms because it terrifies me so much and I have to actively do or think of other things.
Post by rupertpenny on Jul 29, 2014 6:02:37 GMT -5
Revolution, like Bolshevik Revolution type stuff. Also, living through an invasion like the German invasion of Belgium under the Schleiffen Plan, the Rape of Nanking, or the soviet occupation of Berlin. My H or children being drafted.
Basically I'm terrified of the first half of the 20th century.
Post by lolobeth802 on Jul 29, 2014 6:04:39 GMT -5
Snakes. It's not like a oh gross! get it away! , fear. It's a paralyzing, makes me physical ill, prevents me from doing certain things (walking in the woods, gardening) fear. I've also recently developed a fear of driving that brings the same sort of panic symptoms
Singing by myself in public. I wouldn't call it stage fright because I'm fine singing in groups and speaking by myself in front of crowds. But when I'm supposed to sing by myself I'll keep trying to calm myself, but everything just involuntarily tightens up, including my throat, and I can't do it.
Post by starburst604 on Jul 29, 2014 7:18:14 GMT -5
Another vomiting phobia checking in here. I vomit very rarely, and when I do I pretty much act like I just survived a brush with death. I fight it with everything I have.
I don't have any huge fears really. Of course I don't like bugs or snakes but I wouldn't say I'm that fearful of them. I think that drowning is a horrible way to die but I'm not afraid of water.
I don't know if it's very extreme anxiety or a legit fear, but
1. My H dying.
2. Me dying (car accident, cancer) and leaving H.
I can't even imagine this fear when we have children. I totally understand when posters day they can't read or watch movies with XYZ. I try to avoid the sad stuff because I feel so affected by it.
I have often contemplated seeking therapy for these anxieties because I worry they are extreme.
And my irrational fear: electrocuting myself when plugging things into outlets. I hate this.
Falling, which leads to heights and flying. When I went up in the Arch in St. Louis (before I realized how bad my fear really was), I freaked out, couldn't breathe and sweaty. Thankfully, on the ride down, I was in one of the pod things with a psychiatrist, who talked me through the ride. Then I immediately laid down on the ground as soon as I got outside.
Well my biggest one is death/dying (L, H, me, my parents, siblings, etc), but aside from that, my biggest fears revolve around L. I'm terrified of her being kidnapped - specifically I'm scared that I'll wake up one night and look at the monitor and she won't be in her room. I'm terrified of us getting into a car accident with her in the car. I'm terrified of us somehow ending up in a body of water in the car and I won't be able to get her out of her car seat. These are the things that make my heart race.
My irrational fear is humpback whales.
And then I have anxiety about pretty much everything. Yesterday I said in that bottomless water pit thread that my standard reaction to most things dangerous/adventurous/not involving my feet being on solid, unmoving ground is a big nope, and I wasn't kidding. I live in a cocoon of anxiety.
My biggest ones are like BaliHai described. Anything that involves harm coming to my son can and has kept me up all night long.
Wearing an oxygen mask. I don't think I have a full blown phobia, but it's definitely a fear. I don't really know why. Every time I have to go into the hospital it seems they have to put one on. I always ask for a cannula instead but it's not always an option.
Post by flamingeaux on Jul 29, 2014 7:37:22 GMT -5
Driving places I'm not familiar with, (I backed out of a NOLA GTG because of this) Heights Being trapped in small spaces. I don't mind being in them necessarily, I just don't like to feel trapped in them. I ended up locked in too many bathrooms as a kid.
I had some bad experiences in deep water when I took swimming lessons as a kid. I cannot be in water where my feet don't touch. I start freaking out. We don't have a pool, nor do we know anyone with one, and we don't live near water. I will go in the shallow end of a pool. I will also go out on a boat as long as I have a life vest. But I cannot be in deep water.
As far as heights, it's weird. We went up to Clingman's Dome in the Smokies, which is this observation tower high in the air and I was fine. But when we were hiking on a trail that had some steep cliff drop-offs, I got vertigo and my legs about gave out. So it really depends on the situation.
ETA: I forgot claustrophobia! I HATE small spaces. I dread the day I need an MRI.
ETA, sorry, I skipped over the instruction to ignore the common fears. I guess mine is losing a child, death, afterlife or lack thereof, all rolled into one.
Other than that, rubber bands make me queasy and lightheaded, especially if they're stretched. Hairties are fine. I'm weird.
Post by lexxasaurus on Jul 29, 2014 8:06:02 GMT -5
Balloons and them bursting/being popped. Breaking my teeth out. I often envision myself falling and hitting my mouth, and having it break all my teeth and it gives me really bad anxiety some of the time. Bridges also scare me. I used to barely be able to keep my eyes open as I was driving over them, and I've gotten better, but they make me feel so dizzy.