Phobias

Crickets.

We found 3 in the house the last 12 hours, in strange places, and they are freaking LOUD. Any insect that rubs their hairy legs together in your stairwell, in the corner of your bedroom closet, or at the foot of your lounge chair by the TV really are promoting themselves as evil.

Spiders, old age, and fat are my phobias. I can handle pretty much anything else

on a more serious note:

drowning. The thought of drowning, I think, would be the ABSOLUTE worst way to die.

Ok, the thought of drowning has always freaked me out too. And especially being buried alive. *Shivers*

Here's something unique. I am a recovering emetophobe...that would be the fear of vomit, vomiting, others vomiting. I had it my whole life but didn't realize what it was until a few years back when, as the mother of two young children who were prone to throwing up everywhere with no warning and passing the germ to me, I was basically losing my mind. I googled it. It had a name. I got help. I worked hard. I got better. I still struggle at times but am off the meds and it no longer rules my EVERY day as it once did. The anticipatory fear I had (is it going to happen now? what about now? now?) was horrendously worse than the reality ever was.

My second phobia is my social phobia. This is less intense then my emetophobia was, as the anxiety level doesn't get up really high unless I am the center of attention and I am very good at avoiding such situations. Generally though, I find it is a hindrance to my weight loss goals because being self-conscious of doing certain things actually stops me from doing them and I need to fight my way out of that more often. Even though in my head I know all the people in town aren't going to stare and laugh if I go for a bike ride right now, my thoughts can't stop thinking that anyway and thinking how dumb I must look on a bike, etc. Going to a gym is a MUST for me in my goals because it's a long, cold winter coming up and I know I will not do my walking. I got my membership yesterday, but I feel like everyone is looking at me the whole time I'm there. I know logically they aren't but I feel so self conscious about it that it takes considerable effort to pysch myself into going each time, on top of the normal laziness most of us have to fight.

I used to love flying, but one return trip flight with terrifying flights both ways cured that and I haven't flown since. However, with ativan and will power, I think I could.

Give me spiders (not those big ones with the babies) or clowns any day!

Scorpions and balloons :frown:

I forgot to mention this one...I'm not sure it's a fear as much as a survival tactic...but I can not sleep unless I'm facing the door. I don't know why, I just can't do it. Never could.

Suffocation, heights (weird thing is I love airplanes - even applied to be a flight attendant once but decided it wouldn't be good since I get motion sick, and I also love roller coasters), and 1_up.

I don't get everyone's fear of needles. I think they're fascinating. When I donate blood or have to have blood drawn or a shot or whatever, I always make the nurses laugh because I actually watch the needles and talk to them (the nurses not the needles!), heh. I guess that's what I get for having a mother who is a nurse who helped me develop a super strong stomach...? :ohwell: