Phobias

[Looney Linn]

Writing in a different thread has given me the desire to start this one. I think it might be fun or perhaps theraputic if we discuss some of the phobias that we have. It would certainly be great for me, since none of you can laugh in my face when I tell you mine. So what do you think?

[texasgal]

OUR phobias? I was hoping maybe someone was going to expose the Wilson's phobias - if they have any that anyone would know about.

OK, for me, well I'm terribly afraid of spiders & snakes. I try not to be, but I just can't help myself.

Theoretically (sort of a "what-if" situation), I'm terribly afraid of being old, sick, poor, and dependent. I also fear being blind. Not that I'm in danger of that, but I have always been afraid of that situation. Now since I'm learning to be a Braille transcriber, it's hard to ignore!

But who would NOT be afraid of those predicaments? So, I suppose, it's not necessary to mention them.

[LegallyLukes]

I'd be quite happy to hear about your phobias, I think it's interesting.

As for me, I am claustrophobic and scared of enclosed spaces. I hate rooms without windows and I'd rather be outside than in. Plus, I hate lifts and flying

Meet, LegallyLukes, she's mad as a hatter

[Looney Linn]

I am deathly afraid of inbreeders. When I say this I mean the really crazy deformed ones you see in movies and such. My family has tried to convince me that they don't really exist but the thing with phobias is that you can't convince someone of that. I won't go anywhere near West Virginia. We live in Virginia and anytime that we go traveling or something, we have to go around the state. If we went through it I would probably have a panic attack and really really freak out. I know that it sounds crazy and you are thinking what is wrong with this girl! But I swear that I am serious. It's the weirdest phobia that any of my family or friends have ever heard of.

[maisy]

So I guess you don't watch Deliverance, eh, Linn?

A phobia is one of the easiest mental conditions to treat. On average it takes only 12 sessions w/ a therapist who specializes in that treatment to "cure" you.

Having said that, I'm afraid of flying, wide-open spaces and heights.

I went to the Grand Canyon once and about had a panic attack. It totally took away from the beauty of the place - I couldn't wait to get away.

I guess I could use a few sessions myself ;D

[KitKaos]

12 sessions? Still quite a bit of money, if you ask me as a poor student...

And I don't think I really would like to go to a shrink for a small thing like a phobia... but that's just me...

Personally, I am afraid of wide open darkness -- I get panic attacks when standing in some kind of rather open place, alone, in the darkness of the night...

I'm not saying that I like my phobia (it does get in the way if your boyfriend wants to have a romantic night lying somewhere secluded under the clear starry night sky!), but don't you agree that these quirks sometimes more than anything else define a person?

[maisy]

KitKaos said:

but don't you agree that these quirks sometimes more than anything else define a person?

It guess it depends how quirky you are ;D

I don't like open spaces, so I avoid escalators that are open on both sides. That's quirky

I have a friend, who, out of the blue, started having panic attacks each time her husband went out of town. She had to call 911, have people spend the night, etc.

That's time to see the doctor

[texasgal]

Oh, how could I have forgotten the obvious? Obvious, only because it's so common. I'm afraid of heights. But heights associated with structures, not flying. Flying doesn't seem to bother me. Go figure. But I hate being on tall observation decks near the edge. I can't get past the second flight of stairs when climbing a fire tower. I get vertigo. It's not so much that I'm afraid I will fall, but rather that I will JUMP! Isn't that weird?

[KCkelley]

I get panic attacks when I am up high and not enclosed. Airplanes and towers are okay for me, but I cannot go rock climbing, hang gliding, etc because I start having panic attacks. It is really really scary when you have panic attacks... Anyone else here suffer from them? I am just curious because I don't know anyone else who does!

[maisy]

KCkelley said:

Anyone else here suffer from them? I am just curious because I don't know anyone else who does!

I had a mild one that I was able to talk myself out of.
I was traveling alone for the first time after 9/11, across country. It took a lot of deep breathing and self-talk

My friend, who I mention above, had severe episodes that really began to intefere with her life. She saw a therapist for a short while and began taking an ant-depressant. She's been on Zoloft, 10 mg. for a couple of years and they have significantly decreased.

They are very very common and there are a lot of different therapies to relieve them.

[texasgal]

Baph, I'm so sorry to hear of your problem. Good for you for going out with your friend. It doesn't matter that it was only for 30 mins. I'm sure it took a lot of courage, and you deserve to be congratulated.

Oh - I'm a cat-lover too!

I've battled low-grade depression most of my life. I've rarely had to be medicated though, and so I've been lucky.

[LegallyLukes]

Wow, Maisy, KitKaos and Baph, you three are the exact opposite of me! You're afraid to go outside, I go absolutely climbing the walls, shuddering, shaking crazy if I am forced to stay indoors. I have to get out of the house for the better part of the day or I become extremely nail-biting nutty. Feeling shut up anywhere just gives me the creeps.

I think one of the main reasons I am so afraid of lifts (elevators for you Americans) is because it is a teeny-tiny room with no windows and steel doors.

I'm especially afraid of train/car tunnels (although I'm pretty conditioned to these now as I take the train every day, as long as I don't think about it I'm fine), and probably could never go caving for very long

I've always been an outside girl my whole life. I revel in fresh air and nature. The wider-open, emptier and greenier the space the better! This isn't to say I don't like cities, I do very much (for the people, vibrance and shopping). I just couldn't live for prolonged periods in a concrete jungle. I'd slowly go stale and mouldy.

I find the idea of huge cities like New York quite repulsive actually. No offence to any New Yorkers it was just the first city that came to mind! And no I have never been there. It's just the fact that it's all high rise buildings that hide the sky and close in around you like walls. Plus people there live in apartments on top of each other, squished in like sardines, or ants, with no space to move! I almost feel pity for them, even though they may not know any better...

Ugh. That is my worst nightmare. I suppose it has a lot to do with me growing up in New Zealand with is very green and spacious. Lovely ;D

Sorry to hear about you guys with panic attacks and depression. I've had both at different periods in my life. Nothing serious, but enough to sympathise. Just remember nothing is as bad as you think, and a smile goes a long way ;D

And hey, let's not get too glum with all this phobia talk

[KCkelley]

Yeah I don't get them nearly as bad as I used to get them when I was a teenager. Infact (knock on wood) I haven't had an episode is over 2 years. Unfortunately, I also have mild depression and have had it since my parents got divorced several years ago. I simply refuse to take happy pills because I much rather get better on my own than depend on a little capsule to bring me happiness. But it's going good! I love my life and I have never been suicidal or any of that mess (thankfully).

[texasgal]

Thank you for the message, Baphomette. You sound like you've got great spirit and spunk, and that's very admirable. I'm sure it serves you well and those around you.

Yes, I'm really in Texas - San Antonio, to be exact. I'm not a native Texan, I'm originally from Michigan. But I'm not a winter person. Couldn't stand the long, dark, cold winters anymore. No sunshine - major case of SADD. Had to get out before I went stir crazy. I know I sound like a wimp, but I just had to take care of myself. Nobody else will. Hee hee.

Austin is a great city. I used to go up there a couple times per month to go dancing. I'd much prefer to live up there, there are more activities to do that are my kind of thing. But the cost of living is significantly higher than San Antonio. Darn it. But Austin is only one and one-half hours away.

But San Antonio is nice. Home of the Alamo, the River Walk, and the best Tex-Mex cuisine in the world.

Oh, I'd love to visit Australia & New Zealand - they look beautiful. Everyone I know who's been there loves your countries.

One question, and it's a stupid one: You know how we northern hemispherites say "Down Under"? Do you all describe us as "Up Over"?

And some of you are in CA - I love Cal. I have a brother in San Diego County. I'd move to southern Cal in a heartbeat, but it's very expensive. One really needs a partner to split expenses with, and I don't have a partner. (Sniff.) OK, everybody, get out your violins!

Next time anybody comes to Texas, you must let me know. We'll get together!

[LegallyLukes]

texasgal said:

Oh, I'd love to visit Australia & New Zealand - they look beautiful. Everyone I know who's been there loves your countries.

One question, and it's a stupid one: You know how we northern hemispherites say "Down Under"? Do you all describe us as "Up Over"?

That's hilarious! I'm from Wellington, NZ, texasgal, and I can confidently say that no one in the antipodes has ever referred to the Northern Hemisphere as "Up Over". ;D

Not sure why that is so funny, but I am sitting here having a real giggle to myself!

We don't really have any particular generalising term for the lands further north. It's just the rest of the world, I guess. We just talk about the continents as you would, like Europe, North America and Asia. But because there are so many different land masses in the north you can't really group them under one saying.

We sometimes call Americans "The Yanks" and the British "The Poms", though. We're so isolated down here in the South Pacific and it takes so long to get anywhere, it seems like the rest of the world is very far away. It's nice to be able to talk to so many different people from different places on here

New Zealand is very beautiful and I encourage you to visit! I always say that its so beautiful it will break your heart and mend it again in a second. I promise the people are friendly and uncomplicated too ;D

And Australia ain't too bad either, which is a real compliment coming from a kiwi (Though I have to admit I'm biased as I used to live there!)