Fears & phobias

[MA]

ATTENTION: please do not post images/links/anything to do with what anyone has declared is their fear/phobia in this thread. it isn't funny to do and i would hate it if someone did it to me. it's called mutual respect.

i know we've had a thread like this before but i thought it might be interesting to have another bash.

so, what do you fear? do you have any phobias?

i have a fear of deep water, or more specifically, the ocean. i'm not an aquaphobe, i don't mind swimming in a deep pool or something, it's the ocean and what's in it that frightens me. i also freak out if i come across seaweed whilst swimming because you can't see what's in it. i don't like it when i can't touch the sea bed with my feet, so if i swim in the sea i won't go that deep. i think the fear stems from the thought that you don't know what's lurking down there in the depths, and if there is something it probably knows you're there. deep, clear water i can see the bottom of isn't so bad, murky water scares me.

also drowning. i don't like the fact when in deep water you have to keep swimming otherwise you're going to sink, that's why i prefer it when you can touch the bottom and just walk back to shore.

i have a phobia of cave centipedes. it's a massive irrational fear i have and i think probably the only real phobia i have. i can't even look at a picture of one without freaking the fuck out. i've never even seen one in real life but if i did i would probably run the fuck away screaming like a girl. honestly. if i see one on telly i have to look away immediately, but even then the image remains in my mind and continues to haunt me. i also dislike normal centipedes but not to the same extent, which is odd because when i was a kid i didn't mind them. that said i think some millipedes are cute.

the classic: spiders. i don't shout and scream when i see one and i can pick them up with a tissue and get rid of them without too much discomfort, but over time i've grown to be fearful of them. it's their speed and their legs. again, for some reason when i was a kid i had no problem with spiders and i've picked up my fair share with my bare hands. in contrast, i think the jumping spider is cute.

lastly, i have a fear of heights, but it's only slight. i would never be able to do something like skydive or bungee jump because of this, but i have no problem being in a tall building or walking over an open tall bridge. i do, however, have a problem with going up ladders, which is a pain because i have to do that semi-regularly for family, friends and work. the bravest thing i've done concerning heights is jumping off a wobbly pole while hooked up to a zip-line and zooming down. it was fun but i don't know if i'd be able to do it again.

the worst of these fears for me is probably the cave centipede one. if i was forced to either get locked in a room with one or jump out of an aeroplane, i'd choose the aeroplane. every time.

[Oddey]

I have kind of the same fear as MA with murky water, but it doesn't matter if it's just knee height or lower. Any body of water I can't see directly through, I don't feel comfortable with, even if nothing could reasonably be "lurking" in it.

This is something that has become more and more apparent with age for me; when I was a youngster it was apparently impossible to keep me out of the water, regardless of what kind it was.

I have other fears, rational and irrational, but I can't seem to bring them to memory, so I'll have to post them later.

[enchilado]

Water thing here too. Not just the ocean, though; really deep water in general, regardless of what's in it. I've been swimming in water-filled sinkholes and that kind of thing and I couldn't go out over the deep part. Being on in the shallow water at the edge was bad enough.

[FrustratedAssassin]

I'm afraid of heights I guess, and as a kid I was stuck in a thing at a playground once because it was a bit high up and the only way down was a ladder.

I think there might be other stuff too but I can't remember anything else.

[MA]

when i was a kid i got a tyre stuck around my waist in a playground. my mom tried to get it off but couldn't because she was laughing so much.

NOW I HAVE A FEAR OF TYRES

[Varrok]

I don't have any irrational phobias. At least I'm not aware of any

[MA]

my fear of tyres

hyperventilating

[Varrok]

Don't worry, it's dead! At least on the second panel

[enchilado]

I guess it was tyred of living.

[FrustratedAssassin]

[Vexen]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypochondriasis
This is me. Even the slightest indication of disease will give me an anxiety attack. My hands are washed so much, they look like an 80 year old's hemorrhoids.

[Alf Shall Rise]

I'm in the same boat as Ench with deep water in general. Only I can't swim, and that's probably a big factor as to why I'm afraid of it. Although it's to the point where I'm afraid of deep pools and the like. In fact, I kind of just try to stay away from water in general, unless I can at least walk through it. I go to beaches rarely and when I do, I'm usually just on the boardwalk.

Heights are another thing, though I feel like this is the most common fear. Sometimes I'm good with heights, such as being at the top of a tall building, but other times, I can be scared out of my mind. Usually it's the former, though.

Aside from that, I don't think I really have any phobias, or any strong ones at least. Some bugs creep me out but I wouldn't go as far as saying that I have phobias of them. Now, if I saw a gigantic insect in a really small enclosure, I'd have a massive panic attack, but...who wouldn't, really?

EDIT:

I had a feeling I was forgetting something. This probably isn't a phobia or anything, but I'm significantly fearful of people when they're really angry. And not towards me specifically, just in general. Hearing someone scream in anger really sets me off.

[STM]

I have a significant fear of insects with disproportionately long legs, e.g. crane flies, harvestmen and such. I've grown to have a fear of most insects actually, much to my chagrin because I love animals and used to have no issue with running around the garden catching crickets etc.

I suffer from kompounophobia and have a mild dislike of clusters of holes.

Hmm, also I don't like deep water too much, but I can swim so it's not all bad.

[Shade667]

Ive got the water thing but a little different. Im not scared of water, or the ocean, just the thought of something being IN the water. I havnt been able to see if this is a real life thing though, as Ive only experienced it in video games. Its the only Phobia I have that currently only exists in games and not real life. But again, I dont go outside much and I havnt been near a large body of water in a long time.

I used to think I had a fear of heights, but recently ive found out its less a fear of heights, and more a fear of Falling. Even stairs scare me, I feel uncomfortable walking down stairs unless theres something I can grab onto for support. I feel really uncomfortable when people mention skydiving, and as a kid I was scared of balloons when they flew up into the sky, cuz I was scared one day it would take me with it.


Then theres the two primary ones that take place in my day to day life: Entomophobia (insects) and Arachnaphobia (Arachnids). Its a size thing with this one. Something like a fly or a very small spider, I wont be able to touch them like pick em up but I can swat em away. Stuff like daddy long legs I can leave alone as long as they dont come close, but cockroaches, bigger spiders etc. I get paralyzed. I cant let them out of my sight or ill be super paranoid. Even after spraying them I have to see them fully die to even be put at ease. And then I feel insects walking over my body when there isnt any. Its super unnerving. Even writing this makes me uncomfortable. The weird thing is though, ive heard people with some phobias cant even look at pictures of what theyre afraid of, whereas i think spiders and scorpions in say a video game are really cool. Its just the real things scare me half to death.


Needless to say I cant walk around outside barefoot.

[Nepsotic]

I hate the ocean. What the fuck is that about. Have you seen some of the shit that's down there? Also the thought of being stranded in the middle of the sea freaks me the fuck out.

Not usually that scared of spiders, but I am fascinated by them. I heard recently that the population of the venomous False Widow is vastly increasing in the UK, and that they've been seen as north as Scotland, so I've been on extra guard recently. Fuck that shit.

I used to think I had a fear of heights, but recently ive found out its less a fear of heights, and more a fear of Falling.

How odd. Naturally most people who are afraid of heights are scared at the thought of how cold it would be, that high up in the air.

[Varrok]

I'm going to a water park in a few days. Enjoy your nightmare fuel

[Crashpunk]

Moths. I fucking hate moths. The bigger, the more horrible.

I hate the thought of bugs flying around me in general, but moths are just the worst. Something about how unpredictable they are in a room. They sometimes suddenly just shoot across the room to another light source. aaaaaghhh.

I also have the classic fear of heights. Although I've been told it's actually the fear of falling is the actual phobia.

The more you know *rainbow*

[STM]

Oh that's a good one, moths can fuck off inside houses. Another reason I hate daddy long legs, they don't know what the fuck they're doing.

[Oddey]

Needless to say I cant walk around outside barefoot.

I hate walking around outside barefoot, regardless of how warm it is. Even at the beach I don't like it. I'm not sure I'd call it a fear, but I really dislike my feet not being encased in socks or shoes. If it is, it's a fear of stepping on something I'd rather not step on.

[Alf Shall Rise]

Moths. I fucking hate moths. The bigger, the more horrible.

I hate the thought of bugs flying around me in general, but moths are just the worst. Something about how unpredictable they are in a room. They sometimes suddenly just shoot across the room to another light source. aaaaaghhh.

I also have the classic fear of heights. Although I've been told it's actually the fear of falling is the actual phobia.

The more you know *rainbow*

Moths catch me by surprise too, especially when they're fully grown, but something about them makes me want to save them no matter how difficult and time consuming it is to catch one in the house and release it outside.

[Paul]

Needles - even worse when druggies leave them hanging round just waiting for you to step on them.

[MA]

yeah i don't like needles, but i've had to have a lot of them in my time due to various hospital visits and blood tests so i've tried to force myself to get used to them. i still don't like them.

i love moths though. i used to have a pet Lime Hawk-moth and would feed it luke warm sugar water, which seemed to work. it would actually fly to my finger when i put it out in the air whenever i was going to feed it, which i didn't think was a thing you could 'teach' a bug. that genuinely amazed me.

[Crashpunk]

Oh I totally forgot about needles. During my DPT jab. I tensed my arm whilst the needle was just being inserted and I continued to panic while it was still in. The needle was in for much longer than it should of been and it fucking killed when it came out. I then had some awful side effects.

Ever since then I'm scared of having any needles in me. It's even put me off having a Tattoo.

Mortal of the story. Relax and don't be an idiot.

[OANST]

I'm afraid of failure.

I'm afraid of myself.

[FrustratedAssassin]

I'm terrified of failure, of being old, and of death.

[MA]

i'm not afraid of death itself, because if i die, i'm dead. i won't worry, or be in pain, or anything. i'll just be gone, nonexistent. everyone dies so it's inevitable, so i'm afraid of dying in great pain or suffering (i don't think anyone would like to go that way) but it's not the death part that scares me.

i used to be afraid of failure but i've failed so many times now i just begrudgingly accept it.

[Nepsotic]

I constantly fail, it's like a standard part of my day. I'm afraid of getting old, though. I'll probably shoot myself when I get to the point where I can't stand up myself.

[Crashpunk]

This thread got too real. I'm out.

[RoryF]

I have a fear of the texture you find on those holographic image things, some laptops have trackpads with a similar texture. I can't stand them, makes my whole body cringe, I was trying to help a friend sort his laptop out and it had a trackpad with the texture, the most annoying bit is getting him to understand why I'm using touchscreen gloves to move the mouse (his laptop was so boned it wouldn't attempt to recognise any other devices plugged in).

Also it doesn't have to be just touching the texture, if I see something and know it has the same texture, it makes me internally cringe too. The laptop was the hardest because I could still feel it in my hands even though the gloves were doing their job.

[Varrok]

I don't think that counts as an actual fear or phobia.