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Phobias
Apr 1, 2004 23:36:34 GMT -5
Post by Librarian on Apr 1, 2004 23:36:34 GMT -5
Well I faced one of my more immediate phobias tonight. I did my second speech in front of my toastmasters group - and kicked ass!!! Not only did I survive it, but I even had them laughing. But I shouldn't brag too soon, because I feel like I cheated. I took Kava Kava. What do you guys think? Is that cheating? A friend said I was going to have to ask for a "redo" because I kava kava'd.
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Post by LegallyLukes on Apr 2, 2004 0:55:34 GMT -5
Way to go, Lib! It's good to face your fears. Live life on the edge and all that ;D As for the Kava Kava, isn't that that Pacific Island drink that actually numbs your brain?! I heard it does something like that
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Post by texasgal on Apr 2, 2004 1:19:47 GMT -5
Librarian, way to go. Congratulations! I think that's wonderful that you did that. Courage is not the absence of fear, it is having fear and going ahead anyway...
No, I don't feel that you cheated at all because of the Kava kava. If you feel that you did, now that you know how well you can do WITH kava kava, maybe next time you do this, you'll feel emboldened to do WITHOUT it.
I have the same fear, of speaking in front of groups. I start getting nervous days in advance to the point of physical symptoms. I am one of a group of lay leaders/lay reader volunteers in my synagogue. We rotate in leading services for when no rabbi is present. So far I have fulfilled at least once each of the possible duties as leader. I have even been Torah reader and composed and delivered the d'var torah. Being Torah reader is really challenging as it requires a lot of preparation and memorization. A d'var torah is like a short sermon. Composing it took at least 10 hours over several days.
I do this only because it IS so very difficult for me.
You should be very proud of yourself for your accomplishment. Congrats again!
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Phobias
Apr 12, 2004 21:47:13 GMT -5
Post by Britt2005 on Apr 12, 2004 21:47:13 GMT -5
My Phobia is definalty heights over anything else! Especially when its a big open space, I can go on an air plane just fine but like even standing on a desk scares me! My best friend is the same way.
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Phobias
Nov 3, 2005 15:31:40 GMT -5
Post by hutchshottie on Nov 3, 2005 15:31:40 GMT -5
Bumped! (Because i love exploring and i found this)
My phobias are weird but have a reason I am a Pyrophobic (Afraid of fire) when i was 4 i was with my family walking up our road when a fire engine and police car whizzed past us. When we got closer it was our house. That was all i remembered until about 10 years ago when i found out two boys died in our neighbours house that night. I even hate lighting a match it takes me about 10 minutes to strike it.
The other is related I am afraid of sirens!!!!! Yes sirens. It is quite dangerous actually as i shake and panic so when i am driving it is quite a danger.
One eve when i was at work the fire alarms went off a 4 fire engines arrived. I was a bag of nerves. I was sat outside, near 4 fire engines shaking like a leaf. Unless i know about the siren i am scared. I have to cover my ears.
Yes i am weird!!!!!
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Phobias
Nov 3, 2005 15:53:49 GMT -5
Post by bubbles4play on Nov 3, 2005 15:53:49 GMT -5
HH, I don't think you are weird. Thanks for bumping this, I didn't know it was here. I have a phobia I'm not quite sure if it is an actual named phobia. It's really a drag, because living in the Los Angeles area exacerbates it. What it is, when I am a passenger in a vehicle and we are in heavy traffic, I freak out. I don't mean I scream and pull my hair out freak, but I am very tense. And then when I see the break lights in front of me, that's when it happens. My palms get sweaty, my heart starts racing, my arm does the "hold back the dash" move, my foot hits that air break. That can be dangerous if I am driving with someone who reacts to sudden movements in the car, what with my constant hitting the dashboard everytime I see breaklights. For those who are familiar with L.A. traffic, you know that is most of the time. I'm fine if I don't see the breaklights and traffic is moving along. How's that for wierd?
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Phobias
Nov 3, 2005 16:11:53 GMT -5
Post by hutchshottie on Nov 3, 2005 16:11:53 GMT -5
How that is weird. No only joking. People react to things in different ways. My friends used to laugh when i covered my ears but they soon learned that it wasn't my fault and they help. So does my boyfriend. He buries my head in his jacket.
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Phobias
Nov 3, 2005 16:35:46 GMT -5
Post by Remi on Nov 3, 2005 16:35:46 GMT -5
Great find Hottie! I don't think your phobia is weird at all. Sounds like there's some reason for it, too. Bubbles, I thought that was "normal" for California... I did that alot when I visited there. It's very scary on I-5 and not just in rush hour. I have a fear of knives. I don't know exactly why either. Maybe it's from working in Foodservices and seeing a few knife and slicer accidents. They just freak me out. I can't even be in the same room while someone is using a really sharp one. (maybe I need some Kava Kava beforehand) It's funny too, if you put a big juicy steak in front of me, the fear goes away... funny how the mind works. ;D
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Phobias
Nov 3, 2005 17:00:04 GMT -5
Post by hutchshottie on Nov 3, 2005 17:00:04 GMT -5
I think some phobias are a reaction to things that have happened in the past. Oh seeing slicinh accidents ow!!! I am okay watching fire on TV. I saw Ladder 49 and my friends were posied to run out of the cinema after me. It dsitrubed me for a minute or so but then i was okay. So how do you cut your turkey Remi??
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Phobias
Nov 3, 2005 17:10:46 GMT -5
Post by Librarian on Nov 3, 2005 17:10:46 GMT -5
It's funny too, if you put a big juicy steak in front of me, the fear goes away... funny how the mind works. ;D Isn't that the truth! I agree, Hutchshottie. I think fears are related rationally or irrationally to something that happened to you in the past. I have a panicky fear of cricket spiders (some call them camel crickets or cave crickets). Just typing that out gave me the willies. The crickets are blind and they'll leap at you - not meaning to. And I once slapped one when it had jumped on my cheek. I won't elaborate... But ever since then - my stomach turns just thinking about them. Click only if you dare
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Phobias
Nov 3, 2005 17:13:31 GMT -5
Post by texasgal on Nov 3, 2005 17:13:31 GMT -5
Thanks for bumping this thread. In re-reading all the entries, I wanted to say something else to Librarian about her use of Kava Kava: Lib, I wouldn't call it cheating if you are using a natural product. If you were using something illegal or prescription-only to calm your nerves, now THAT would be cheating! I don't find any of the other phobias unnatural or weird. There are rational fears, and there are irrational fears. I think the fears you all have described are rational fears a little bit on steroids. I finally had to give up my volunteer Torah reading. For me, reading from Torah is a huge responsibility, and it got to be too much for my nerves. I would start to feel panicky several days in advance, and it was difficult to concentrate at work. It's already difficult enough for me to concentrate; I don't need any more distractions. The type of work I do requires my undivided attention. I would obsess about the reading too; I would go to the temple every day after work, haul a Torah out of the Ark and practice at the pulpit for at least an hour, reading the portion over and over until I had it virtually memorized. The obsessive compulsion was out of control. So I told them I'd be happy to do any of the other duties; light the candles, deliver the Kiddush, maybe even compose and deliver a d'var. Just no more reading please!! I have one other fear: heights. Once when climbing a fire tower, I couldn't get past the second flight of stairs. I have a real hard time riding an elevator that has glass walls - such as the elevator at the CN Tower in Toronto. I hug the door side of the elevator and refuse to look outside. The weird thing is that I don't mind flying all that much. Go figure...
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Phobias
Nov 3, 2005 17:14:44 GMT -5
Post by hutchshottie on Nov 3, 2005 17:14:44 GMT -5
Just typing that out gave me the willies. Ewww that spider is creepy. I don't mind them. Though one did crawl across my room one night. Its legs were longer then a babys arm i swear Hey tex I don't really have a fear or heights but i find if i am up high and it is open (like a huge apartment block or fire tower) i feel a bit uneasy. I have only flown once and i was 10 so i can't remember much
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Phobias
Nov 3, 2005 17:20:13 GMT -5
Post by Remi on Nov 3, 2005 17:20:13 GMT -5
We have those spider crickets here too!! I never saw them before this year... they must be heading North! I didn't know they were blind! I don't know how many of those crazy things I've killed this year.
Hottie, we go to someone else's house for the Holidays, so I usually don't have to worry about the Turkey. I have used the electric knife on a Turkey I made at home though, after a glass of wine. ;D Husband loves to give me crap about this fear. LOVES IT!
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Phobias
Nov 3, 2005 17:25:13 GMT -5
Post by hutchshottie on Nov 3, 2005 17:25:13 GMT -5
Hottie, we go to someone else's house for the Holidays, so I usually don't have to worry about the Turkey. I have used the electric knife on a Turkey I made at home though, after a glass of wine. ;D Husband loves to give me crap about this fear. LOVES IT! That is the way to do it, less cooking on the holidays. I am sure he has a phobia you can rib him about
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Phobias
Nov 3, 2005 18:25:57 GMT -5
Post by texasgal on Nov 3, 2005 18:25:57 GMT -5
Lib, I don't care for things that creep, crawl, or slither either. You'd think that after years of camping experience, I'd be way past that. But Noooooooooooo!
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