Do you have a phobia that limits you? I do.

[Kerrytravelers]

I hate the telephone. I screen calls because I get nervous at the thought of picking up the phone and not knowing who is on the other end. Mr. kt has to make all the business calls because I hate to make them. I become a nervous wreck. I work from home, but I don't think I will be doing this long because of all the phone calls. It's bad.

It's a silly thing. I acknowledge that. I hate asking for things. It comes from childhood. I know the emotion behind it and where this fear stems from. And I know how silly it is.

Anyone else have an irrational fear that cripples them?

kt

[zanne]

1. Elevators.

I'll climb five stories of stairs instead of taking the elevator. One time, I went for a job interview at this place; it was on the tenth floor. I turned around and walked out the door.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

46. I've been afraid of elevators since I was really young

If there are more than 2 people on the elevator, I won't get on (I'm afraid, at least subconsciously, that too much weight will "break" the elevator, causing it to plummet to earth at deathly speeds). When I was about 6 years old, I visited my grandfather in a building on the 30th floor. Too many people got in the elevator, and about halfway up it stopped. We were stranded for about 30 minutes until they were able to restart the elevator and bring it down.

[bif]

2. Heights

I don't mind being way up in tall buildings. But I hate being up over, let's say 20 feet and out in the open where I feel this urge that I'm going to jump. It made shingling for a friend one nerve-wraking time, I'll tell you.

[Strawman]

5. same here

[Raffi Ella]

94. me too!

I have that same thing.In a plane I'm fine but get me up on a ladder and I lose my equilibrium and feel the urge to jump off just to be down from there.

[Zavulon]

3. Using the Metro in D.C,

I can't get within ten feet of the edge of the platform unless there is a train there. This sometimes makes it dificult for me to change lines on a crowded platform, and I'll have to wait until the crowd clears so that I can maintain the distance from the edge - a big problem when I'm in a hurry. Failure to do so leads to an inexplicable dizziness.

[Oeditpus Rex]

4. Yup (n/t)

[Starbucks Anarchist]

6. People.

[zanne]

9. Well, we are scary. nt

[MissB]

7. Being home alone at night.

[ThomCat]

8. I'm very fortunate. I have things that make me a little uncomfortable, but

no actual phobias. I know some people with phobias and I appeciate it that I don't have any.

[CBGLuthier]

10. I am severely agoraphobic

In fact, without my wife I would probably never be able to get anything done. Waiting now for her to get off work so we can go buy something that I need but can't go get by myself.

And it's so damn stupid. I could do it myself. But not today. So instead I wait and I will go with her and talk softly telling her what I need.

[Oeditpus Rex]

21. Been there

PM me if you wanna talk about it. :pals:

[LibraLiz1973]

44. I'm badly agoraphobic too

It SUCKS

[EvolveOrConvolve]

47. I have agoraphobia

and severe Chronic Panic Syndrome. It really, really sucks.

The agoraphobia I've pushed myself through. The panic attacks are mostly controlled with meds. Scary shit.

[Javaman]

95. Me too. I sometimes will get anxiety attacks because of it. :(

On a med now, and it helps.

[Maraya1969]

117. Been there too. There is a lot of help available now. I'm not 100%

but I am way better than I used to be. You can pm me also.

I recommend: http://www.recovery-inc.org/

You can have a message sent to your email everyday and the book, Mental Health through will training is great.

[Pithlet]

11. I don't like answering the phone or making cold calls.

Mine isn't to the level of phobia that yours is, but I understand it because I hate it, too. There are a very few people I'm comfortable chatting on the phone with, but even they are usually the ones who call. If I don't know who's calling, I don't answer it. Sometimes people are offended that I never call and assume it's because I don't want to talk to them. I can't even explain why it upsets me to deal with people on the phone. It is hard.

My phobia that actually affects my life to a great degree is my arachnophobia. I don't even go outside to garden anymore, and when I go out with my kids to play I'm scared to death, and that's usually after they have pestered me a million times to go. I haven't been camping or hiking in years and I used to love to do both. I won't go into boxes that are in storage; my husband has to do it. I really should get treatment for it, but other things always take precedence.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

12. I've got the phone phobia, too.

Though I don't mind incoming calls all that much, I have a major problem with making calls. I think it has a lot to do with not seeing body language (but I figure that if someone calls me they're not making funny faces or rolling their eyes-- they realy wanted to talk to me). Email's been a life saver for me.

[Karenca]

13. Doctors.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

14. I get claustrophobia sometimes

It's the main reason I don't like to fly.

I'm tall and I feel very enclosed and uncomfortable in their little seats.

[trof]

19. Me too, little bit.

[cwydro]

15. The dentist

and flying.

[movie_girl99]

16. I am really afraid of the dark

I cant ever be the last person upstairs because I feel as if someone is behind me.If I have left something downstairs after I have gone up to bed I have to get one of the kids or my husband to go with me because I just cant do it alone.

[momophile]

36. I am that way with basements

after dark, I hate them. We no longer have a basement, thankfully, but in our last house I would make my husband go down with me after dark.

[AlCzervik]

17. i don't like crowds, i don't think it's a phobia but i'm less inclined to go some place

were there is a large crowd.

[EFerrari]

18. Embrace your phobias.

I don't pick up the phone if I don't know who is calling.

If it's important enough, they'll leave a damn message. :)

Seriously, hug your phobia, love it up and it gets quieter and funnier and easier to deal with.

Everybody has SOMETHING they avoid. That's just our systems trying to protect us, even if they can get slightly goofy at times.

I don't think of phobias as "crippling". They're more like a gym I didn't know I signed up for.



:hug:

:hi:

[Kerrytravelers]

25. This made me laugh out loud- really.

Thanks! You must be a therapist of some sort- that, or you missed your "calling" (no pun intended) in life!

:hug: :hi:

[EFerrari]

26. Well, I come from a proud line of phobic people

who refuse to be scared or bored all the time.

You take good care of yourself. :hug:

/oops

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

20. I have a phobia of flying

and it has been a problem: A) moving to another continent which required an extended plane ride and B) going home to visit my family on a regular basis. I've worked out a drugs/booze concoction that works for me. I have a friend who has the same phone phobia as you have KT. :hug:

[Nickster]

41. Drinking while on the plan work much better than drinking before the flight, but I do that

as well. Somehow, I can drink up a storm pre-flight and be sober as a judge come the time I get on the airplane, but if I get a glass or two of wine in flight, the altitude or something just kicks that booze in real good! I always have my wife or a limo waiting for me at the airport.

[huskerlaw]

22. I'm not a huge phone-fan either

If I know the person really well, it's no problem whatsoever, but I hate talking on the phone to people I don't know. I'm also not a fan of really long phone conversations. I don't think it's a phobia, but I certainly don't enjoy it.

I'm also not a big fan of heights. If I'm on solid ground, I'm fine, but bridges, ladders...ICK. And that new walkway over the Grand Canyon? I'd rather die. Honestly. I would be paralyzed with fear.

[NewWaveChick1981]

23. No, but my husband has totally irrational arachnophobia.

He can't do anything in the garage unless I do a "spider check" first. :yoiks:

[deadparrot]

24. I have phone-phobia as well, to a point,

especially with people I don't know well. I'll do it, but I usually procrastinate as much as possible. If it's a business or formal call (like ordering something or making an appointment), I'm always worried that they'll ask for information I don't have or sound like an idiot.

[u4ic]

27. Heights

It doesn't affect me flying - I love it.

It tends to be limited to balconies and tourist attractions (I could never go up the CN Tower, for example). I can't go within a few feet of a balcony railing, especially if it's above 4 stories.

[femmocrat]

67. Same here! I'll never see the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower!

:-(

[u4ic]

73. I stayed on the ground, too

:(


I was told it was very beautiful up there.

[av8rdave]

86. It's funny...people who fear heights rarely have a problem with flying

You don't really get a sensation of height, I suppose. I used to think maybe it's being enclosed that makes it better, but I've flown open cockpits and ultralights, and it didn't seem any different as far as getting no sensation of height.

[u4ic]

102. Being in a helicopter freaked me out

a fair bit, but planes are fine. :hi:

[av8rdave]

106. Really? That never really bothered me, even though helicopters are

well, just plain unnatural. As they say, they don't fly..they beat the air into submission!

[dropkickpa]

28. I won't go in video stores

And I know why I have this. I worked in a video store for several years, and, in the last 18 months I was there, I was robbed at gunpoint 3 times. The last time was especialy traumatic, I ended up quitting my job about 3-4 months later, I had/have bad PTSD, but now I am okay everywhere but video stores (for a while there I could barely leave the house). I have a hardcore panic attack when I go in one, I totally freeze up, get irrational, cold sweat, heart pounding, etc, I even locked myself in a bathroom for an hour once. I won't even walk past one if I can avoid it. So I don't go in them anymore. I was sooo happy when Netflix started up, I could feed my movie addiction again!

[momophile]

29. public speaking

and it is impeding my ability to find a job. I nearly started to cry when a grad-school professor said that everyone in our small field has to do public speaking at some time or another. I thought about dropping the program right then and there but I was already 10s of $1000s into the program.

Shit.

I totally feel for you. :hug:

[KT2000]

110. Me too!

You have my sympathy - it really is an impediment but I do work around it. I just know things would be different if I didn't have that phobia.

[crim son]

30. Terrible phone phobia over here.

Everything has to be perfect in my mind for me to be able to make a personal call. Strangely, calls I make while on the job aren't nearly as painful.

[AngryAmish]

31. Bears

Souless killing machines.

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

35. Godless too.

Goddamn communists.

[AngryAmish]

37. F'n communist bears

They will be the death of us all.

[unsavedtrash]

32. swimming in lakes, or really being in any dark water

If I can't see the bottom I am not getting in it.

[momophile]

33. okay, this is me too

but it just seems to make sense. I mean, dark water IS scary.

[Mad_Dem_X]

90. Same here

See my post below

[Guava Jelly]

34. I wouldn't call it quite a phobia

But I get nervous talking on the phone.
Specially if i like the person i'm talking to

[alarimer]

38. I am afraid of roller coasters

I don't know if it is a phobia and it is certainly easy to avoid. There is no compelling reason for me to ever go to an amusement park so I guess it doesn't limit me.

[Rising Phoenix]

39. Agoraphobia

[idgiehkt]

111. me too

:hug:

[SPKrazy]

40. People...

much improved over time

not just any people

only people that I feel I need to have the approval of and figure I will never get it

so instead i'm phobic of them

like I said, I am probably not phobic of them anymore

but I'm still anxious :scared:

who are these people?

usually people that matter the least in my life but I somehow imagine that if they were in my life I'd be "okay"

I am more okay with myself than I've been usually.

Today is a very sucky day though.

:shrug:

[LSK]

42. Flying

[KitchenWitch]

43. Fear of getting lost

I travel with tons of maps.

[Control-Z]

52. I would be happy

to guide you home if you got lost, KitchenWitch. I've been in the area most of my life and know my way around pretty well. If you want, you can have my number for your cell. I have that phone phobia thingy but if your name came up on my cell I would answer it - promise. :hug:

[KitchenWitch]

53. Check your PM in a moment!

:hi:

[Control-Z]

58. Got it!

Now check yours. :)

[LynzM]

45. Throwing up. Me, or other people.

Unfortunately, the biggest symptom for me of anxiety/phobia is stomach upset and nausea, so you can see how that lovely little cycle feeds itself...

Suffice it to say, I hide all the Lounge threads about stomach flu.

[lizziegrace]

60. Lelapin's the same way

:hug:

[EvolveOrConvolve]

48. I'm deathly afraid of bees and spiders

But, I have absolutely no fear of snakes, venomous or not. When I was in about 3rd grade, I caught a rattlesnake and brought it home. My mom almost shit herself with fear. I have no problem with snakes, but if I find a tiny spider in my bedroom, I'm not able to get to sleep.

[pink-o]

59. R U a Scorpio?

...in my astrological experience, Spiders and Snakes are very symbolic animals to those born under that sign. Scorps can deal with one but not the other.

Freud would find something very phallic about the snake, and vaginal about the spider. So pick your genitalia.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

65. Nope - Taurus

[Zookeeper]

77. I'm a Scorpio....

And I like both spiders and snakes. (And other arachnids, insects, reptiles and animals...:shrug: )

[mentalsolstice]

49. I have the phone phobia as well

Maybe it's because my voice sounds squeaky on the phone, and people assume they're talking to a child.

[Danger Mouse]

50. Wasps. I am deathly afraid of wasps.

Hornets and yellow jackets as well, since they are similar.
Thank you, traumatic childhood experience!
I am also terrified of heights.
But if I see a wasp...I absolutely PANIC...people around me usually laugh about it (especially my mom) but it makes me angry when they laugh...I may be acting silly, but I am actually THAT afraid, and I can't help it, I just am.
Sigh, isn't it wonderful when people understand?

[SiobhanClancy]

97. I am exactly the same...

Traumatic childhood experience and all that. It's embarrassing the way I react to them sometimes in public....people think I'm totally mad. The worst part of it,though,is how it has kept me from enjoying the outdoors in the summer like I would like to do.:(

[Danger Mouse]

103. Glad to fnd another

wasp-o-phobe :P
:hug:
i had one crawl down my shirt a couple winters ago and sting me about 7 times...as if i didn't hate them enough already.
i also spent one night battling a swarm of yellow jackets that had taken up residence in my room...i was killing them anyway i could...one was crawling on the ceiling under a penant i had hanging there...so i crushed it with my fist.
i think i've killed enough wasps and yellow jackets to be considered a genocidal maniac...to bees at least.

[Redstone]

51. No, I don't.

Redstone

[Control-Z]

54. Yep

Motel rooms. Can't go in. An upscale hotel room is OK but a dirty motel room, no way. I just can't. I'd rather sleep in my car.

I used to fear flying to the point of choosing the train to travel or not going at all. Then one day I realized (after life had fed me another shit sandwich) that I just didn't care if the plane I was on crashed. My fear has been gone ever since (although, when my children are on the plane with me I do hope for the best).

The only phone I answer is my cell and only if the number is in my directory.

[Left Is Write]

55. I have phone anxiety, just one of the ways generalized anxiety manifests.

Sometimes it's bad, other times it seems almost non-existent.

[REP]

82. Landline Bothers Me; Cell Doesn't; Knock On the Door ... Not Good

If I'm expecting a call or someone to come to the door, it doesn't bother me, and unexpected calls/door-knocking isn't cripplingly bad, but I'd rather it didn't happen. Thanks Ativan!

[pitohui]

56. i do dislike the telephone

in my case it cannot count as a true phobia since i do make the calls and do business on the phone but i can't say i enjoy that part of working out of the home

unfortunately if you cannot overcome this, you'll have to get a real job

there is supposed to be a medicine now that you can take for phobias, have you tried this? i'm not too sure of the details since my own dislike of the phone is more of a preference than a true phobic response

[Kerrytravelers]

57. I am breathing a big sigh of relief.

It's nice to know that I'm not alone in this. Whether you share my phone phobia or have another one, you understand how irrational phobias can be embarrassing and crippling.

And I, too, have a fear of heights, although through hard work and forcing myself to face it, I have made some headway into dealing with this fear. I've no plans to go skydiving or bungee cording, but I can be along the railing in the upper level of a mall without losing my breath.

I am not able to get over the phone issue, though.

My best to everyone here! :hug: Thanks you guys! :hi:

[pink-o]

61. I despise rats

...and most other rodents--including rabbits which only exist for carnivores higher on the food chain. But I'm not really phobic. I don't want to be in the same room with them because they're dirty vermin, and those plague-carrying-nuclear-waste-eating rats that dwarf a main-coon kitty are truly disgusting.

But that's just a species-ist value judgement. They don't make me anxious or break me out in a cold sweat.

[Tikki]

62. Ya see, I don't do amusement park rides...

None of 'em...not even the Tea Cups.






Tikki

[Nikia]

63. I have this problem too

What sucks is that we are a relatively small company with only one receptionist. If she doesn't answer, some other employee is suppose to answer it after it rings twice. Of course, I let it ring three times, but if it rings again, I feel torn between my obligation and fear. If it rings again, I'd better answer anyway. I get so nervous when I answer that I have made some mistakes even though using the phone system shouldn't be hard.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

64. Answering the door

Seriously, if the door bell rings, my immediate thought is that it may be someone trying to break in. If I am near from the door, I will always move out of sight as quickly as possible with the aim of hiding and will always try and grab the nearest phone. I can sometimes be paralyzed with fear

My reaction to the phobia may actually be somewhat counterproductive because, if no one answers the door or appears, a person wanting to break in may jump to the conclusion that no one is home and proceed to break in anyway -whereas a person answering the door may scare them off

[femmocrat]

66. Heights, including bridges, open stairs, balconies, railings, plate glass windows, etc....

I get knees like jello just thinking about being up high and not in an enclosed space.

:scared:

[reyd reid reed]

68. I have fears...

maybe even a phobia or two (I'm terrified of climbing onto anything that's higher than my knees) but I wouldn't say that I let them limit me. There are times when it's tempting to say, "Oh, I can't go there because it's too high," or "No, I think I'll pass because I don't know any of the people who are going to be there," or any number of things, but I try to push through the temptation. Is it something that I'd like to do? Someplace I'd like to be? Will I benefit in some way? Will my kids benefit? If the answer to any of those is 'yes', then I try to suck it up, take a deep breath and do it.

I'm afraid of a lot of things...but I do my best not to let that fear take control.

[Alexander]

69. Heights. And I was attacked by a friend's dog at the age of 3.

For a long time I was deathly afraid of dogs, fearing that the next one would repeat the incident.

Now I'm not terribly scared of them since I'm bigger. I just don't like them.

Man's best friend, my ass.

[AshevilleGuy]

74. Agree 1000%

I am uneasy near them, and won't be in a room with them if I can help it. I too was attacked by a pack of them when I was about three. And here where I live they must be like the favourite pet of the city, you can't get away from them.

[Alexander]

112. When I canvassed around Tempe/Phoenix dogs were everywhere.

I got more responses from irate, large canines than I did actual people. For some reason everyone around here has to get ginormous, obnoxious hounds that look fit to kill small children.

It tells me something about fear around here. I think most people here are really afraid of each other, which also explains why even a simple "Hi" or "Hey" when meeting a stranger is often met with silence and icy stares.

Is it like this in Asheville, NC? In my journeys of the US, NC is one of the states I have regrettably missed so far.

[Nicole]

70. Fear of heights.

That picture someone posted the other day about the walkway that hangs over the Grand Canyon freaked me out. :scared:

[TheMightyFavog]

71. Failure.

It's plagued my work, and my love life.

[graywarrior]

72. Phones. Hate answering them, hate making calls.

Caller ID is my best friend. Mr. Gray answers our phone. I never do and never will. But now I have a cell phone. Christ, I am so fucked.

[CanuckAmok]

75. Going to the movies alone.

Weird, huh?

But I've been forcing myself to go, lately. Problem is that I keep running into people I know in the line-up, and joining them.

[MonkeyFunk]

76. I love going to movies alone

and have never been bothered by eating in a restaurant alone - I bring a book or magazine.

I know a lot of people who say they could NEVER do that - not a problem for me.

I was single for a long time, and if I wanted to see a movie or eat a decent meal, I had to adapt.

[Javaman]

96. Frankly, I perfer going to the movies alone.

This way there is no interuptions to explain what is going on or other issues.

I'm a film geek and just want to focus on the film.

[Zookeeper]

78. I used to be afraid of heights....

and maybe I still am, but I think less so since I started painting my house last fall. After confronting my fear of being on a ladder that was a little too short and over a concrete driveway to paint the very top of my house and then climbing around on the roof to prep the side, I found that I became fairly confident and comfortable. (In fact, I decided that the roof might become my new escape-from-the-family spot.)

I don't like phones, parties or flying, but probably not enough to qualify as "phobic."

My only real phobia? Chinchillas. :shrug:

[MonkeyFunk]

79. Boo!

[Zookeeper]

81. Aggggghhhhh!

Now, that was just mean, Monkeyfunk!

:scared: :scared: :scared:

:+

[Hardrada]

80. My own reactions to Bushites.

If I were on a river cruise with them I am not sure I wouldn't push them overboard surreptitiously. Or otherwise.

[liberal hypnotist]

83. Try some techniques.

My wife has the same problem. She gets nervous and scared when the phone rings. So i end up answering the phone most of the time...at least until I just pick it up and hand it to her. I work with clients who have phobias. I'd be glad to give you a few techniques. Let me know. Thanks for all the Skip Homier info.

[Kerrytravelers]

99. I would love any techniques you have.

I have to get past this! It's driving me nuts!

And, you're very welcome for the Skip Homier info. Check that particular thread. I responded to your post with the site info for 'ya! :hi:

[BarenakedLady]

84. Telephone as well

It makes things very difficult for me. I can usually make appts, if I have to (especially for the kids), but social calls are too much for me. I'm really trying to work on that.

I also have social phobia, which makes it near impossible for me to make new friends IRL.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

85. No true phobias, but there are things that make me pretty uncomfortable.

I don't like heights where there is nothing between me and the possibility of falling.

If somebody throws up in my presence, it's all I can do to avoid doing likewise.

I hate centipedes, although other bugs, snakes, etc. don't bother me at all.

I used to be scared to death of flying but I got over it by taking flying lessons.

Phone calling and public speaking were also a couple of very uncomfortable areas, but I gradually got over those fears, too, probably just as the result of repetition, experience, and age.

[sniffa]

87. homophobiaphobia

i just can't interact with some peopLe because of it.

[driver8]

88. I will never be able to swim to Alcatraz or swim the English Channel...

I hate being in open water and not knowing what is below me.

[Mad_Dem_X]

89. Deep water

I get panicky on boats, and sometimes even when I'm at the deeper end of a swimming pool.

[The2ndWheel]

91. Phobophobia

I am afraid to know what I fear.

Seriously though, crowds. I'd rather be run over by elephants.

[MsKandice01]

92. I'm extremely afraid of confrontation..

And because of it, people just walk all over me because I don't ever want to upset anybody...even people I can't stand. I don't understand it.

[GenDem]

101. Hi, MsKandice01

We've shared on this before. One of my BIG issues, too. It tends to make life very difficult. :hug:

[Raffi Ella]

93. I don't like the phone that much either,

caller I.D. is the best!!

I have an irrational fear of snakes.

Just the thought of them can make me tremble,my heart pound and my breathing ragged and I often have nightmares about them,but I deal with it really well...

I see'em a lot,both venomous and non;I go running almost every day,even in warm months,on wild wooded footpaths behind my house,that are only about 2 feet wide at most.

I am so,so! afraid and have the physical reactions described above but I love the woods/working out so much that I just deal with the absolute irrational fear that they are evil vicious animals laying in wait.

I respect their habitat and am aware that they can kill me,that's a fact, but I also know, and have seen on so many occasions,that they will either stay still waiting for me to move away or they get away from me as fast as they can - I have to remind myself of this while deep breathing and searching the trail ahead of me for them as I'm running.Sometimes this works,sometimes it doesn't,either way I still go back there.But if I see one it may take me a few days to go back again...

It's especially hard for me at this time of year when they are coming out of hibernation.The next few weeks are going to be filled with terror,lol,but I'll deal with it and just go(hopefully!!!!).

[CTyankee]

98. the self cleaning function of my oven

I just can't get myself to do it. I'm afraid I'll do something wrong and burn down the house. Weird, I know.

[GenDem]

100. Yes, the same thing -- phone phobia

I also have mailbox phobia. I will never get the mail.

I screen my calls through the caller ID, and even when I know who's calling I usually have my husband answer. I refuse to have an answering machine because I am much too paranoid to ever listen to a series of messages. I never listen to messages on my cell phone either. I've conveniently or sub consciously forgotten the password, yet I know that I could never listen to them even if I remembered the password.

I think it is actually a broader phobia that has it's roots in some kind of fear of bad news or dread of some kind. Funny that it hasn't affected me with reading email, but I am worried that it will morph into that next.

[Glorfindel]

104. Driving in heavy traffic

The phobia limits me to living in very small towns.

[FooFootheSnoo]

105. Frogs and toads

I have lots of things I'm afraid of, but I have a true phobia when it comes to frogs. I live in Florida, so it is kind of crippling. For example, I would love to plant a garden, but I know I would eventually run into a frog, so I don't. At night in the summertime, I make sure I put on knee socks and sneakers when I leave the house because one might jump on my feet. I take sandals or whatever with me and change into them when I get wherever I'm going. There are some really enormous ones down here. God forbid one ever got in my house and no one was here to get it out, I'd have to call 911 for assistance. If one happens to jump out unexpectedly in front of me or near me, I get chill bumps, break out in a cold sweat and my heart starts racing. Just to make sure I look extra stupid, I usually scream uncontrollably. Even looking at displays of frogs at the zoo or pictures gives me chill bumps. I know they can't hurt me, but I cannot control my response to them. They are just absolutely disgusting to me and the thought of touching one absolutely terrifies me. I can't explain it, I know it's weird. I can joke even joke about it when no frogs are around. I've looked into therapy for phobias, but it usually involves handling the animal one is afraid of and that's just not an option for me.

[Zookeeper]

107. Maybe....

you could start "therapy" by just looking at photos of frogs. I don't know why it would be necessary to jump right to the holding stage.

If your fear is keeping you from having a garden and being comfortable in your home, therapy sounds worth trying.

Good luck, FooFoo!

:hi:

[Digit]

108. Roaches!

We have what are called American Cockroaches here in NC and they are about 1 1/2 inches long and FLY!
Fortunately, they are usually outdoors but will come inside my lower level at certain times of the year. YUCK!

My daughter goes ballistic with ticks. That got alittle tricky when I discovered one had embedded itself on her ear. I could not tell her what was wrong, only to hold still for a second.

:scared:

[fladonkey]

109. Heights and....

dark water which is strange because I love being on boats as long as I don't look down.

[BluePatriot]

113. Driving.

It limits what opportunities I will take and pursue...ugh, makes me hate myself sometimes. I drove downtown-ish for the first time ever today though all alone so that makes me feel proud. :)

[Oeditpus Rex]

115. Good on ya!

:bounce:

Driving's a common phobia because it contains so many other phobias.

[Vinca]

114. Public speaking - and I know where it comes from.

When I was in high school I was in a musical and had to speak and sing with a Cockney accent. The night of the show something set me off and I started laughing on stage. I mean REALLY laughing. In fact, as happens with many teenage girls, I laughed until I peed my pants . . . right in front of the packed auditorium.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

116. I don't like to fly

It has never kept me from going on a trip I really wanted, but it may have kept me from seeking careers in which I knew I might have to fly a lot.

PS: I hate asking for things, too, and it comes from childhood.

[UncleSepp]

118. A certain kind of unfinished concrete found in basements

Squared off doorways, unfinished concrete, with the wiring running on the outside. I can't be in a place that looks like that, which has kept me from renting and buying in otherwise charming old buildings.

Also, weirdly, marching bands. If I expect to hear and see a marching band, it's fun. I was even in the marching band in school. If I get surprised by a marching band where I don't expect one, it's freakout city and time for Captain Klonopin to the Rescue. If I can only hear the band but not see it, I will do whatever I can to get to where the band is so that I can see it. Seeing it makes it more tolerable. If I can't see it, and it's just the sound of drums and brass floating on the wind... :: shudder ::
I would never intentionally live in earshot of a high school for that reason.

[YankeyMCC]

119. Appointments

I'm a fan of the show Sienfeld and I remember watching an episode where George said "I don't think there's ever been an appointment I've wanted to make." or something to that affect.

The others in the room (we used to get together for Thursday night TV with friends) were laughing I was quietly thinking "Oh great I'm George."

I don't know if it's a phobia but I always seem to find myself hoping something comes up and the appointment is put off or canceled.

BTW: I do the same as you with the phone...it's not a phobia I just don't like chit-chat on the phone so I know it's almost never for me and my wife knows to always check messages even if I've been home because I just don't answer if it's not a call I'm waiting for (or I know it's from her) maybe that's a bit like my appointment avoidance thing.