Phobias

[RichmondCommu]

G'day everyone,

I'm not sure how successful this thread might be but nevertheless we might learn something about each other.

My phobia is deep water. I can swim but only really to save myself and hopefully my family. Deep water scares the life out of me. This is one of reasons why my wife and I have done our very best to ensure that our children can enjoy swimming and all the wonderful sights that the ocean has to offer without my affliction.

Kind regards,

Richmond Commuter!

 

[najaB]

I'm lucky in that I've not discovered any phobias yet. Rational fears, plenty. But irrational phobias, none yet.

Edit: Actually, I don't know if this counts as a phobia since it's something that I'm unlikely to ever have to do.

I've no fear of being underwater - I snorkel and free-dive quite happily and want to learn scuba, and I've done a fair bit of scrambling through caves (never had the opportunity to go proper spelunking but wouldn't say no). But the thought of cave diving scares the bejesus out of me. It strikes me as the most insane thing that any human would ever even contemplate doing. If my family were put up against a wall and I had to go cave diving or else they get shot my answer would be "Well, we had a good run. Shame that bad things happen to good people."

 

[DaleCooper]

This is my favourite phobia.

From the comedian Steven Wright:

A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me, I'm afraid of widths.

 

[Ash Bridge]

The deep water fear also applies to me Mr Commu, I can swim and have certificates from my younger days, but find no pleasure in it and like yourself would only really do so to save my own life or someone else's if really necessary, another major phobia of mine would be snakes, for me generally if it's got legs it's fine, but if it ain't then I'm off... rapid!!

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'm a bit claustrophobic. And a bit trypophobic. Funny thing, that can be brought on by looking at relevant images, I wasn't before I did. Weird. So be careful Googling that term. (It's not NSFW or anything, but it does mess with your brain).

 

[najaB]

Funny thing, that can be brought on by looking at relevant images, I wasn't before I did. Weird. So be careful Googling that term. (It's not NSFW or anything, but it does mess with your brain).

I started to get affected by it, then I found out the image that starts most people off (the fingers) was a Photoshop special and it doesn't bother me any more.

 

[pitdiver]

I'm lucky in that I've not discovered any phobias yet. Rational fears, plenty. But irrational phobias, none yet.

Edit: Actually, I don't know if this counts as a phobia since it's something that I'm unlikely to ever have to do.

I've no fear of being underwater - I snorkel and free-dive quite happily and want to learn scuba, and I've done a fair bit of scrambling through caves (never had the opportunity to go proper spelunking but wouldn't say no). But the thought of cave diving scares the bejesus out of me. It strikes me as the most insane thing that any human would ever even contemplate doing. If my family were put up against a wall and I had to go cave diving or else they get shot my answer would be "Well, we had a good run. Shame that bad things happen to good people."

I can understand your fear of cave diving, as a scuba diver, hence the username. Cave diving is a highly specialised type of diving only to be undertaken by those with a great deal of training. I certainly would not contemplate getting involved.

 

[jonathan01n]

Homework/Coursework phobia
Examphobia

Those things make me sometimes stressful so it is a phobia.

Other phobia (past)
Veggiephobia- I hate vegetables when I was young but now I am okay.
peasphobia- I used to hate peas, now I still don't like it but now I am okay.

Pacerphobia- Those will make me feel uncomfortable and wish not to travel.

 

[najaB]

I can understand your fear of cave diving, as a scuba diver, hence the username. Cave diving is a highly specialised type of diving only to be undertaken by those with a great deal of training. I certainly would not contemplate getting involved.

I can barely even stand watching it on TV - I figure they wouldn't put it on TV if someone dies - but even so I'll still have a sick feeling in my stomach.

 

[Calthrop]

I'm a bit claustrophobic. And a bit trypophobic. Funny thing, that can be brought on by looking at relevant images, I wasn't before I did. Weird. So be careful Googling that term. (It's not NSFW or anything, but it does mess with your brain).

I started to get affected by it, then I found out the image that starts most people off (the fingers) was a Photoshop special and it doesn't bother me any more.

Trypophobia sufferers should NOT under any circumstances have anything to do with the Surinam or midwife toad...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hYtL4yt5Yk

 

[DaleCooper]

Trypophobia sufferers should NOT under any circumstances have anything to do with the Surinam or midwife toad...]

... or Veroboard.

 

[najaB]

And a bit trypophobic. Funny thing, that can be brought on by looking at relevant images, I wasn't before I did. Weird. So be careful Googling that term. (It's not NSFW or anything, but it does mess with your brain).

If it's any consolation, apparently it's not a learned phobia but a genetic repulsion. You were programmed to respond that way.

 

[GB]

If it's any consolation, apparently it's not a learned phobia but a genetic repulsion. You were programmed to respond that way.

Certainly made me want to gag

Only phobia I have is of arachnids

 

[Howardh]

Seriously this - open tin lids that haven't been removed from the tin entirely. Can't get them into the bin fast enough, have stupid fears they will jump up and slash my face or eyes. It is a nailed-on phobia and not a micky-take.

Also - dancing. Just can't do it for people watching. I can take a last-minute flick in front of hundreds, I can walk naked on a beach no probs, I can address a room full of people. But I won't dance, never ever. Not even drunk.

Finally the usual heights, can't get up a ladder...but I'm absolutely fine looking down from an aircraft though.

 

[ComUtoR]

. And a bit trypophobic.

You must really hate crumpets.

 

[PeterY]

If something is wet and slimy, like fish, frogs and slugs then I can't touch them. No other phobias.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If it's any consolation, apparently it's not a learned phobia but a genetic repulsion. You were programmed to respond that way.

Yeah, it's probably so you are repulsed by something being eaten by small creatures of some kind so they don't eat you.

Oddly it's the dried flower that gets me, though I do recall my Nan having some of those in a vase in her house and them freaking me out as a kid. The "diseased skin" fake ones don't actually get me as much!

You must really hate crumpets.

I love eating them but they are a slight trigger!

 

[Bletchleyite]

... or Veroboard.

No, it's irregular/semi-regular (natural) hole patterns that trigger it, not perfectly regular ones.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I can understand your fear of cave diving, as a scuba diver, hence the username. Cave diving is a highly specialised type of diving only to be undertaken by those with a great deal of training. I certainly would not contemplate getting involved.

I'm a very strong swimmer and do not have any fear of being in any kind of water swimming on the surface, or even mucking about just under it (though I've never scuba dived I do fancy giving it a go). However I really do not like the idea of being stuck underwater (and therefore being helpless and drowning) and thus wouldn't do a sump in a cave[1], let alone cave diving.

I don't think that's phobia, that's a natural fear.

[1] I have been caving a few times but as I'm a bit claustrophobic I need a very patient instructor to cope with the odd mild panic attack. The irony is I'm much happier lead climbing or soloing on rock (easy stuff only though) which actually is dangerous!

 

[DarloRich]

I have a phobia of idiots and students. Cant stand them.

BTW lots of these alleged phobias cant be recognised by medical types surely.But then phobias are irrational i guess!

I'm a bit claustrophobic. And a bit trypophobic. Funny thing, that can be brought on by looking at relevant images, I wasn't before I did. Weird. So be careful Googling that term. (It's not NSFW or anything, but it does mess with your brain).

is that actually a recognised phobia or something made up by someone? It seems completely bonkers to be worried about little holes. Christ how do you cope with crumpets? I get spiders. Spiders might kill or hurt you. Tiny holes wont. Maybe not having any phobia means i don't really "get" IT

I can understand your fear of cave diving, as a scuba diver, hence the username. Cave diving is a highly specialised type of diving only to be undertaken by those with a great deal of training. I certainly would not contemplate getting involved.

The gf is a diver, she is a well qualified instructor, lots of experience, dives to some great depths, in the sea and in pits, swims with sharks and other creatures that will munch you happily but thinks cave diving is a suicide note waiting to happen. You aren't getting out if it goes wrong.

 

[Bletchleyite]

is that actually a recognised phobia or something made up by someone? It seems completely bonkers to be worried about little holes. Christ how do you cope with crumpets? I get spiders. Spiders might kill or hurt you. Tiny holes wont. Maybe not having any phobia means i don't really "get" IT

Yes and no:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trypophobia

More a natural revulsion, allegedly. I can see where it might come from - the idea of being put off food with maggots in it crawling through holes they dug as being "off" for example.

The gf is a diver, she is a well qualified instructor, lots of experience, dives to some great depths, in the sea and in pits, swims with sharks and other creatures that will munch you happily but thinks cave diving is a suicide note waiting to happen. You aren't getting out if it goes wrong.

Yes, the problem with it is that rescue is essentially impossible in the timescales that would be required.

 

[DarloRich]

Yes and no:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trypophobia

More a natural revulsion, allegedly. I can see where it might come from - the idea of being put off food with maggots in it crawling through holes they dug as being "off" for example.

That I can understand - some kind of historic learned response designed to stop us eating bad food & thus keep us safe.

But crumpets. Imagine a world without crumpets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AndrewR232]

I am ochlophobic. But I know where that comes from.

I cannot, however, explain my nosocomephobia (fear of hospitals) and agrostophobia (fear of (walking on) grass).

 

[GusB]

For me it's a fear of heights. Even if it's just watching a situation on television, or seeing a photograph of someone who is close to the edge of a very long drop, I get a very uneasy feeling.

Funnily enough, I did once live in a flat that was 14 storeys up, and I didn't have too much of a problem - until the windows were opened. My flatmate had the habit of opening them wide, and I would rather have frozen than attempt to lean out to close them.

I think it's probably related, but I'm also terrified of flying. Somewhere there is a Dash-8 with large finger-shaped holes in the sides of the seats!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Crikey, I wouldn't recommend a Crash-8 or any other turboprop to anyone with a fear of flying. Big jets are better.

FWIW they say heights is the one you are born with. As a climber I'm not too bad but it is a useful self preservation instinct.

 

[GusB]

Crikey, I wouldn't recommend a Crash-8 or any other turboprop to anyone with a fear of flying. Big jets are better.

FWIW they say heights is the one you are born with. As a climber I'm not too bad but it is a useful self preservation instinct.

It was my first ever flight, a short hop from Aberdeen to Birmingham. One of the air crew recognised my terrified look straight away (a few extra vodkas did help a little), and also explained afterwards that it was probably the bumpiest flight I was ever likely to encounter.

 

[northwichcat]

I'm scared of surgical detail, to the extent where if a surgical procedure or the effects of a serious medical condition is explained to me I might pass out.

 

[Barn]

I'm slightly botanophobic which started after an encounter with the Giant Hogweed as a child.

(That's not me, by the way!)

Even non-toxic big plants with thick stems scare me, like Gunnera.

Fine with trees though.

I think many people with phobias have a secret fascination with the object of their fears, and I certainly do.

 

[northwichcat]

Finally the usual heights, can't get up a ladder...but I'm absolutely fine looking down from an aircraft though.

I think there's a difference between being scared of heights and being scared of being in an exposed high up place where if you slip you could die. With some people you can't even get them to go up to a 5th floor room and look out of a closed window.

I've been up the CN Tower and wasn't scared when I was up it but was a bit uneasy at the top of the Rock of Gibraltar.

 

[AlterEgo]

I have a phobia of needles and surgery. And anxiety (not amounting to a phobia) about dentists.