What other fears do you have?

[biscuits]

Other than PEOPLE and people-ing, what other fears or phobias do you have?

[sophie79]

I've always been prone to fear of going outside, however last year it developed into agoraphobia for various reasons. I've been working hard at getting better the last couple of months. Now able to go for a short walk on my own. Never want to go, but I can at least do it and it's a start.

[Bluebear]

It probably sounds stupid, I have a fear of having showers (and I'm not that fond of baths either). Mostly due to an injury a few months ago and (long term) very sensitive skin prone to eczema (which doesn't like water and can't tolerate soap) and ear infections (so I have to put cotton wool and vaseline in my ears when I wash my hair)

Well, you did ask

[Hylas]

I've this crazy steadfast reluctance to complete many tasks since lockdown, agoraphobic but not insurmountable I hope, just need to push through this awful paralysing malaise and stop overthinking things. Feel under pressure now to make the necessary changes in my life but I have made a first step and I do have people close who understand my struggle and the reasons for it. I wonder sometimes how the hell it has come to this when just a 7 years ago I was fighting fit and enjoying work. I put on 6 stones without realising my predicament but have lost over 4 the last 18 months. I felt broken for a while, I felt nothing, I'd just sit in the cold and with curtains drawn likely clinically depressed. Somehow I managed to snap out of it and made some changes, it's been very slow progress. This last 5 years has helped me to realise the truth about certain individuals who I thought cared but were in fact utterly self centered and toxic. Sometimes it's good to let go.

[biscuits]

My fears are around small objects or creatures falling into my ears. I take my earrings off at night because I worry they'll fall into my ear.

Also horses freak me out. Plus swans and geese.

[biscuits]

@Sophie - that's a brilliant amount of progress

@Bluebear - aw that makes complete sense because the warm water can be such an irritant and drying for skin conditions and allowing your skin to get a bit oily is best. Hah at ear infections they're awful.

@Hylas - that's lovely that you've coming out of those turbulent years and positive changes are starting to happen for you

[Lee S]

Heights

[girlinterrupted]

Agoraphobia and claustrophobia (I know, I know ) and probably way too many others to list thanks to the minutiae of OCD.

[biscuits]

Claustrophobia- yes when that hits it's horrible. When you get that "I'm actually trapped here" realisation like on the underground. Even worse when it stops in a tunnel.

Oh wow OCD fears - yes the list can be endless there! I get the "if you do this, then x will/won't happen" intrusive thoughts. So I guess that's fear based?

@Lee - yes - ground beneath feet, plz!

[gregarious_introvert]

Originally Posted by girlinterrupted

Agoraphobia and claustrophobia (I know, I know ) and probably way too many others to list thanks to the minutiae of OCD.

I'm so glad that I'm not the only person who has both agoraphobia and claustrophobia at the same time! I'm actually fine in enclosed spaces, as long as I have a clear path to an exit (this includes theatres and other seated venues, I always try to book seats at the end of rows). I also have a fear of d******s (my teeth have not been examined since 1973) and anyone touching my head or feet. I'm afraid of earwigs too, ever since my mother told me that they crawl into your ears (even now that I know it's not true, the fear remains).

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[anxiouslondoner]

I don't think I have any phobias, but I have a bleak outlook on the way things are going in general.
Humanity is heading towards catastrophe and I fear for the collapse of society. It all seems inevitable at this point.

[T]

I have a fear of walking over three BT grids in a row, two's fine but three is a no no... i literally avoid it when i'm walking up to it!

[Jen.]

Developing a neurodegenerative disorder or locked-in syndrome or having a stroke while alone and the outcome being worse than it could have been if someone was with me.

Not things I have any reason to worry about (no history of anything in my family), but they can be obsessive fears now and then when I find myself thinking about them.

[Appear]

@biscuits - wanna borrow some of my ear hair? I have more than enough for two. So much so the ear suctionist I saw felt the need to mention it twice. It also feels quite nice to stroke (technically finger).


I think I have mild chronophobia and basically have to stop myself thinking too much about time passing. Frequently I'll wake up in the morning horrified at X event being Y years ago. I think it mostly comes down to fear of my parents aging and eventually loosing them. I went away with them last year to somewhere we used to go to when I was a child and I all I kept thinking was 'this could be the last time we're all here together.' I do think it's good to be somewhat aware of the reducing time you have with loved ones, but I definitely dwell on it too much.

[biscuits]

^ haha a new category on the donor card - ear hair!

[Mr. Nobody]

Disease, Pain, Old age, Death,... just the usual vanilla ones

[BFG_]

I have a huge fear that rishi will win the next general election.

[anxiouslondoner]

^ I don't think that's possible at this point. Even he must know he's a political ex-parrot.

I do however fear that Trump might get reelected and then it's time to get off the planet.

[BFG_]

Don't like spiders either.

[NeverWas]

I forgot the main one that keeps me up at night. Rejection.

Which is funny considering how much of it I've experienced socially and in friendships/relationships, in many different forms. I feared it so much, it became a self fulfilling prophecy.

[Chess&Junkfood]

I fear of losing loved ones is the main one. And a fear of losing myself is also a runner up. There are probably a lot more fears, but I think I've conditioned myself not to tap into them. Probably more of a denial thing if anything. Which possibly acts as a shield from such fears. Although I'm still journaling about such things. So hopefully one day I will be more in tune with those feelings. Which in turn will hopefully help to scare the *bleep* out of me! Or something like that.

[Lee S]

Fear of the Tories. They are callous scum.

[Merritt]

I have a pretty debilitating fear of making mistakes or getting things wrong. It affects every aspect of my life, even really trivial stuff. I'm often not even sure what the standards are that I'm holding myself to, what 'getting it wrong' would mean exactly. There's a constant inner critic voice in my head pointing out all the ways I'm possibly messing things up, or ruining an experience just by feeling the wrong things. So I end up doing with my life as little as I can get away with, and I still feel like I'm constantly on the edge of making a right ruddy melon of myself and spoiling everything in some indefinable way.

I'm also afraid of plugholes. Don't like being anywhere near them. Horrible little portals to who knows where, probably full of spiders and gremlins.

[biscuits]

Some really profound responses on here. Such enviably deep thinkers. Although, at the same time, I'm sort of glad my mind doesn't go to those places!

Cotton wool is another of mine. The thought of touching it. When people talk about it as well - it makes me want to burst into flames. It's okay to read about it but to hear people talking how they use cotton wool makes me squirm and feel physically uncomfortable.

[Lee S]

@Luke. Is that like a fear of embarrassment or humiliation? I know I have that. For example, our Asda is changing the petrol pumps to pay with bank card only rather than paying with cash at a kiosk and I'll be scared of trying to use my card in the pump in case I get it wrong and make a fool of myself, especially if there is a queue of cars behind mine. It took me long enough to dare to use ATMs for the same reason, also supermarket self-checkouts.

[Merritt]

Yeah, that's definitely a part of it. I'd worry about the same things if I drove (speaking of which, I also have a fear of driving because of the potential for making terrible mistakes. I even feel nervous being a passenger in one )

[Lee S]

^ Yeah, I get you