General Chat

I'm not sure that any of these "so-called" phobias, are TRUE ones, in the psychological sense of the word. People develop aversions to certain things, like snakes and bugs, heights, small spaces, but these aversions don't stop them from having a normal, productive life. A "TRUE" phobia, one which prevents somone, for example, from leaving a burning building, and is therefore life-threatening, should not be confused with these aversive behaviors which most people have, and can be overcome with a little help. Sometimes "fears" can be passed down through the generations. For instance, if you have a parent or other influential person in your life who's had a fear of drowning instilled into them at an early age, a child can learn from them to be fearful about being near water, until they learn to swim. My mother had such a fear of drowning, yet my father was a champion swimmer. After my Dad died when I was just a baby, my mother made sure I took swimming lessons, even though the nearest she could get to the pool was about 20 feet away. She watched from "way back in the bleachers" at every lesson, until she was convinced that I knew enough about swimming that I would not drown. Well, just putting in my "tuppence" again!

My phobia is feet, Cant stand my feet or anybodys feet, Wont touch my own feet let alone anybody elses, hubby has to cut my toe nails, as its slightly more bearable than me touching them myself - only just tho! Euchhhhh

Im petrified of 'daddy long legs', its just the thought of those legs going up my nose or in my mouth! Err! Im gipping at the thought of them.

you are all gonna laugh at this I have an absolute dislike of mushrooms????? Im ok when they are chopped up and can eat them its the funny dark stuff underneath when they are whole that makes me shake and feel sick. Very bizarre I have never understood what trauma in life i could have had to be afraid of them but I definatly had it when I was little. I also dislike spiders and earwigs when they move eeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!! Jan x

Bees and wasps. I just freeze with my eyes closed and my hands over my ears when one comes near me. A wasp flew into my boyfriend's car once and I had to get him to pull over so I could get out until the wasp flew back out again. I also had a cat that would run way from bees and wasps. Mind you she got stung once and her paw swelled up so maybe that had something to do with it. She used to run behind the shed or behind me. (As if I'd be able to protect her!) Mel

Christine Glover, I get on fine with spiders, several around here, I have one behind the clock that takes care of wandering flies, and other spiders, Its only a young Huntsman, about 3 inches across, and not a problem to humans. I will just take a wee look and see if Oscar is there....... Nope, probably around my bed somewhere, ah well, thats Australia for you. Come to think of it, I hated the noise of the Blackboard being cleaned. Bill

Yeah, you can add me to the list of those not fond of insects. I also hate having injections as well, was literally shaking one time whilst waiting for one.

oo Rach has just reminded me (I must have been blocking it out) - THE DENTIST AAAARRRGGHH!! Mainly due to the flippin needle. Have been in tears many a time in the waiting room and the chair, and once I just couldn't open my mouth and had to go home and come back another day with my husband. And I've got the world's worst teeth, so when I eventually HAVE to go, I usually need tons done. My husband has to take the kids cos I don't want them to be scared. He has PERFECT teeth - and luckily so do they. Just gonna have to go and have a lie down now I have thought about that. Maz. XX

mine is spiders!!!!!!ugh,i can't stand the things, if i see one in the house i just have to kill it!! one night a few years ago one run across the floor while we were watching tele,so i got my slipper and belted and belted it,in the end my son said "ok mum,i think it's dead now!" and heights i can't stand,my legs just go to jelly and my stomach turns over. chris.

Lindsey, I'm afraid of vomiting too, not worried about other people doing it mind. M.

Hi! Well im a nurse yet im petrified of having an injection! who evas doing it has to wait til ive hyperventilated and passed out b4 they can do it! lol!

Sharks, sharks, SHARKS!!!!!!! and no its not a fear its a phobia!!! i cant walk through those walkways at the sealife centre!!! In fact i have a problem with big fish in general and that includes those bloomin evil moray eel things (but funnily enough not dolphins/whales or any other sealife creature!) If you have seen the film Deep Blue Sea---remember the walkway by the shark pools.... that is my ultimate nightmare!!!! (and yet my sisters both love sharks!!!)

My fear is a really stupid one I know but it terrifies me - vomiting. Ive had it for about twelve years now and havent been sick for 9 years. It is an awful fear - if anyone is ill around me I have to try and avoid them and feel the need to wash my hands all the time. I know its stupid and Im doing my best to conquer it but its so difficult. Does anyone else have this. Apparently its one of the ten most common phobias but you do feel like you are the only one. Lindsey

I'm with Baz on this one. Spiders !!!!!! I can "deal" with them, but I can't touch them. Quick ! Run away ! Rick. I quite like buttons though ;-)

Snakes, but not really a problem in this country! Also I hate earthworms, don't mind seeing them when I'm gardening but I hate it when it's been raining and they all come out onto the path - ugh. Oh, and empty swimming pools and large greenhouses - weird or what!

I'm petrified of mice, if one was found in my house I would have to move out until it had been caught and disposed of. I blame my mother and sister for making me so afraid of them cos when I was a child we had a pair of mice in our house and my mum and sis would scream the place down and jump up onto chairs!!

Maybe not a phobia,more a total dislike of SPIDERS. I can stamp on them,but not touch them in any way. Snakes, birds,insects, and even buttons, no problem. Barry.

im glad someone else is scared of buttons - you can reassure your friend she is quite normal - EITHER THAT OR WE A BOTH COMPLETLY LOOPY!! the kids think it hilarous- but to me it is relly scary! my son had me in tears one day because he was a baby & had put one in his mouth - where he got it from i dont know! & i had to reach in his mouth to stop him swallowing it. it was only when i pulled it out i realised it was a button & i started screaming & crying!!! lol lol still - you have to laugh dont ya!!

Mine's a bit wierd. I am terrified of wiring or pipes in dark places (eg wires runnng along the floor of the loft, under a car dashboard, or pipes on the inside of underground train tunnels). In fact, until I was in my 20s I couldn't sit in the front seat of the car because my feet would be below wires - even though they were behind moulded plastic I knew they were there and in a dark space. I've conquered the phobia to a certain extent now through sheer willpower, but if I come across pipes/wires in dark places unexpectedly (as I have this week because workmen removed a ceiling panel near my desk at work overnight, exposing some pipes) I get a funny turn. Angela

Samantha My friend Karen is terrified of buttons too. She thought she was alone and no-one else could have a phobia about such an everyday object. I will tell her about you when I next see her. My phobia is birds. I can't stand them especially pigeons when they're walking around you. I'm always petrified they will fly up to me. My grandson takes great delight in chasing them just to make me scream! The little darling! If one of my cats ever bring a bird indoors I am hysterical, even if it's dead. It's very strange because my Dad used to breed budgies when I was a child and I would walk into the aviaries with no problem at all. Sue