Fear of fear

[Laser]

I know there is a topic about weird phobias but i have a question:

First off i know what a phobia is :A phobia is a irrational fear like a fear of air and a rational fear is like a fear of homicidal axe-weilding maniacs
My question is:
What happens if you are a Phobophobic?
I mean are you scared of being scared of being scared of being scared of being scared?
or do you get scared more?

[snuzi]

I don't believe there was ever such a case. Although, if there was, the person would most definitely go insane since dealing with such a phobia would no doubt be remarkably stressful.

[Munch's Master]

Well there is a saying 'the only thing to truly fear is fear itself' meaning you should not fear anything but having a fear, for if you have fears you have weaknesses.

[skillya_glowi]

Well, what I guess what it really means is that you're scared of getting some abnormal kind of phobia. For example, a phobophobe who is also a latent...for example's sake, pyrophobe, might be afraid of finding out he's a pyrophobe, and keeps saying to himself, "There's nothing wrong with me. I love fire. It keeps me warm. Who doesn't like fire?" Even if he's actually lying to himself.

[snuzi]

I keep trying to comprehend being afraid of being afraid, but it keeps leading me into a paradox :\

[Laser]

ohhh so a Phobophobe is some one who is scared of having a phobia it makes sense now (Well almost)

[Creepy Doc]

I guess when you're scared of beeing scared is this called panic and many people can have that sorta phobia when somebody's scares too hardly. So those guys are just jumpy. But I don't know if this is really called a phobia...

[Havoc]

If someone is scared of being scared then he already is scared so he's already facing his phobia which can lead to either him getting over his fear REALLY quickly or him committing suicide.

Havoc

[snuzi]

Yeah, I suppose it could go either way, though, I think they'd probably lean towards suicide. Dealing with such a phobia like that must be as stressful as it is confusing.

[Leto]

Jesus people, if someone had a phobiphobia, it doesn't mean they'll go crazy/kill themsevles. It would be like... They'd be scared of other people getting scared of blood or something similiar.

Get opinions other than the first posters guys. I thought we were above this.

Regardless, mostly all people are afraid of being afraid, hence why they try to avoid it.

[snuzi]

I don't think that everyone with phobiphobia would go insane or take their own lives. I mean, there are people out there who can deal with such obstacles in their lives better than others.

It would be like... They'd be scared of other people getting scared of blood or something similiar.

I disagree. I don't think that other people's fears would really affect them. I believe that their phobiphobia would have to deal with their own fear of becoming afraid, rather than becoming afraid whenever someone else experienced fear.

I do, however, agree with you that nearly everyone is afraid of being afraid. I mean, if you really think about it, the things that people fear are merely disguises for their own fear of the uncomfortable sensation it gives them. So, in the big scheme of things, we are all phobiphobics

[Facsimile]

Jesus people, if someone had a phobiphobia, it doesn't mean they'll go crazy/kill themsevles. It would be like... They'd be scared of other people getting scared of blood or something similiar.

Get opinions other than the first posters guys. I thought we were above this.

Regardless, mostly all people are afraid of being afraid, hence why they try to avoid it.

I think people don't like being afraid, I don't think they are afraid of it.

[snuzi]

I think people don't like being afraid, I don't think they are afraid of it.

But they also don't like the thing that makes them afraid, which causes them to fear it, since it brings about that uncomfortable feeling.

[Laser]

Right at the minute i am very confused can someone sum it up please

[Havoc]

*Comes along jogging and pats Laser on the back*

Try to keep up with the pace there buddy!

*Jogs along in the fast stream of posts*

Havoc

[snuzi]

Unfortunately, no one can just "sum it up", Laser. There were a bunch of opinions expressed in this thread, meaning that none of us truly know whether or not we're correct about the matter

[Nate]

How about this for a compromise: you're all wrong.

*closes*

[magic9mushroom]

The phobia exists but if you have it there is no paradox. This really needs closing.

[snuzi]

Of course there's a paradox. Think about it. If you're afraid of fear, you'll also be afraid of consequences of what your fear may cause such as: panic, neurosis, paranoia, etc.

That will eventually lead you to becoming afraid of any or all symptoms of the consequences that occur due to your fear, as well as what those symptoms may cause in the future such as medical conditions or anything related to these medical conditions.

In the end, you'll end up becomming afraid of everything, since in some way it'll bring about fear. There will be nothing you could do to escape it or cope with it any longer, and you'll, more likely than not, be forced to take your own life.

[Bullet Magnet]

There is no paradox. You the fear that is being feared is more like terror, you're afraid of becoming terrified like that. But it is not a phobia in the classic sense, of an irrational revulsion of something, it is more like the fear of getting bad grades, or being evicted, losing your job etc. They are all fears, and phobia means fear. It just isn't an irrational fear, and the human mind is not susceptible to such paradoxes forming within it. A positive feedback loop that exists completely independently, it doesn't happen.

I knew one guy whose fear was to be made to do things, using fear as a leverage. But there is no way that anyone could use that fear to frighten someone into something.

[Leto]

How about this for a compromise: you're all wrong.

*closes*

I'd agree... But I'd be wrong.

[magic9mushroom]

So you do or don't agree?

[Mutual Friend]

This thread is as daft as a bag of farts.

[Rex Tirano]

Since there is already a thread about phobias [Here.] I'm closing this thread.

- Rexy