Strange fears and phobias

[amc80]

Anyone out there have any weird fears of phobias? I have two fears that are probably on the weird side- garbage disposals and train tracks. I absolutely cannot stick my hand down a garbage disposal. I mean what if it turns on spontaneously? You just never know. When I lived alone I would have to do it on occasion, and it really bothered me.

And train tracks...they just freak me out. Maybe from watching Fried Green Tomatoes or Stand By Me as a kid? What if a train just appears and runs me over? Ugh. My last half marathon had about a 3 mile stretch right next to the train tracks. Definitely had to work on focusing on ANYTHING else during that time.

So what about you guys?

 

[sonnyjane]

This topic actually came up several weeks ago if you're interested: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/what-are-your-phobias.174541/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/what-are-your-phobias.174541/[/URL]

 

[amc80]

Thanks! I totally missed it. Or for all I know I replied in that thread but have forgotten all about it.

 

[mogster]

Clusters, aka trypophobia.

 

[amc80]

Clusters, aka trypophobia.

I had to google that one, never heard of it!

 

[mogster]

Clusters, aka trypophobia.

I had to google that one, never heard of it!

I didn't realize that it had a name until I googled it! And then I felt less alone. Lotus flowers with seeds freak me out. As do sculptures of people with curly hair because the spaces create clusters of holes.

 

[amc80]

Clusters, aka trypophobia.

I had to google that one, never heard of it!

I didn't realize that it had a name until I googled it! And then I felt less alone. Lotus flowers with seeds freak me out. As do sculptures of people with curly hair because the spaces create clusters of holes.

Can you explain a bit more about what the phobia is?

 

[makemepretty]

Swamps(because I'm a poor swimmer and can't open my eyes in water) and death. Death is a big one.

 

[mogster]

It's difficult to explain, but the sight of clusters will elicit extreme discomfort and an intense visceral reaction. My skin crawls (x100 times more than just seeing something gross), I shudder, but I guess the phobia part is not being able to escape that feeling or make the image/sensation go away and suffering a mini mental paralysis. I acknowledge that it's very bizarre and irrational.

 

[amc80]

It's difficult to explain, but the sight of clusters will elicit extreme discomfort and an intense visceral reaction. My skin crawls (x100 times more than just seeing something gross), I shudder, but I guess the phobia part is not being able to escape that feeling or make the image/sensation go away and suffering a mini mental paralysis. I acknowledge that it's very bizarre and irrational.

Thanks for explaining. It really is odd. It seems most phobias are associated with physical pain or death (heights, dogs, spiders, etc.), so this one is really confusing to me.

 

[kefira]

Mogster, thanks, I have the same reaction, but I never knew there was a word for it. I wouldn't say it's really a fear, but it's stomach-turning, for sure. I went to a restaurant walled with wormwood once as a child, and it was so very disturbing.

 

[LAJennifer]

Clusters, aka trypophobia.

LOL! I just googled this - and now wish I hadn't.

 

[dragonfly411]

Lightning. I am terrified of lightning. Like Hide under a mountain of pillows or sit in a closet terrified.

Deep water that I cannot see the bottom of. I can handle up to thigh deep. That's it. Otherwise you will have a panicked person if I'm in that water. It doesn't matter if it's the ocean or a lake. I'll jet ski, fish and boat all day but if you try to put me in it and I cannot see the bottom... no thanks.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Lightning. I am terrified of lightning. Like Hide under a mountain of pillows or sit in a closet terrified.

Deep water that I cannot see the bottom of. I can handle up to thigh deep. That's it. Otherwise you will have a panicked person if I'm in that water. It doesn't matter if it's the ocean or a lake. I'll jet ski, fish and boat all day but if you try to put me in it and I cannot see the bottom... no thanks.

OMG yes! Ab.so.lute.ly not!

Pools, completely different, I can see the bottom. Except anything over like 10 feet deep and I start to become nervous.

 

[ihy138]

That was me who started the thread a while back! I have some strange ones. I think the weirdest phobia of mine is that I will someday lose my mind, as in completely break from reality. Or that I will start to have delusions of some sort (which I think is probably a paranoid delusion in and of itself)! It's not something I think about a lot, but when I'm stressed out it pops into my head. Strange, I know.

 

[aviastar]

I am terrified of being caught in stores after they close up for the night, or missing the last train of the day and being stuck at the station. Irrational, but when that "we're closing in 15 mins, please bring your purchases to the front" announcement comes on I have to leave the store immediately- I walk away from my cart and just leave.

I also don't do caves or tiny spaces, but that's not really a weird one.

 

[minousbijoux]

Needles and shots. When I was a kid, I had a lot of cavities and never had novocaine because I was so freaked out by having the shot that I would prefer the pain. I have gone for years without getting booster shots because I've been so scared of the shot.

Ironically, I ended up with breast cancer, which really forced me to get over it, as I constantly had blood drawn and chemotherapy involving needles. Now, I've managed to transfer it to my sons. I can't even think about them getting shots. My younger son recently had some cavities filled and wanted to tell me about the shots he got - NOOOOOOOO! I can't hear about it! Don't tell me! My stomach churns, I get lightheaded like I'm going to pass out, and want to rip my shoes off for some reason and take off running...

 

[athenaworth]

Clusters, aka trypophobia.

I have the same fear!!

 

[mogster]

One time I was reading an article that had a picture of maggot-infested gums, so really hole-y, and I near died!!

 

[asscherisme]

Anyone out there have any weird fears of phobias? I have two fears that are probably on the weird side- garbage disposals and train tracks. I absolutely cannot stick my hand down a garbage disposal. I mean what if it turns on spontaneously? You just never know. When I lived alone I would have to do it on occasion, and it really bothered me.

And train tracks...they just freak me out. Maybe from watching Fried Green Tomatoes or Stand By Me as a kid? What if a train just appears and runs me over? Ugh. My last half marathon had about a 3 mile stretch right next to the train tracks. Definitely had to work on focusing on ANYTHING else during that time.

So what about you guys?

OMG! I saw the title and first thing that popped into my head was garbage disposals and train tracks. I know someone that was killed in her car by a train and I was already afraid of them, but have an almost phobia of them now. I will go out of my way to avoid. And when I can't avoid them, I don't trust signals, I alwasy check both ways for a train first. Just today i was lecturing my teenage son (who has a learners permit) about train track dangers.

And as for garbage disposals, don't laugh but I actually had a plumber remove the garbage disposal from my house when I bought it. I was not just scared for myself but had this fear of my kids cutting their hand off. But I do have a pinpont of when my fear started. I was a teenager and read a Stephen King novel. Don't even remember which one, but there was a graphic description of a charachter going insane and sticking his hand down the disposal and I stopped reading, never picked up another stephen king novel, and developed an irrational fear of garbage dispoals.

I don't consider the train track thing a strange phobia since I lost someone in a train track accident. But its definately grown into a phobia.

 

[orbaya]

Ferris wheels. I will do rollarcoasters and jump out of a plane, but refuse to get on a ferris wheel.

Canoes. I will get on sailboats and speedboats, but will not get into a canoe.

 

[Mikla]

Death by drowning (I think about it every day when I'm in the shower rinsing out my hair and I hold my breath), small spaces (claustrophobia, I hate tunnels), heights (guess that's a somewhat "normal" one), sharks (as in snorkeling off the Keys and seeing one causes me not to be able to breathe), and numbers that aren't even (ending in a 0 like 6.00 but not 6.01 but ending in a 5 is also okay such as 6.05). Maybe I'm just terribly OCD!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Clusters, aka trypophobia.

Why is trypophobia.net full of trypophobia inducing pictures? I have no problem with holes or clusters but the page freaked me out.

 

[Mayk]

MIne is totally ridiculous.. but I have a phobia of being barefoot in public... I have nightmares about it... it freaks me out to take my shoes off at the airport to go through security.. I only travel every week.. you would think I would get over it...

 

[minousbijoux]

MIne is totally ridiculous.. but I have a phobia of being barefoot in public... I have nightmares about it... it freaks me out to take my shoes off at the airport to go through security.. I only travel every week.. you would think I would get over it...

It is so cool how much we vary! We have phobias all over the map. Who knew trypophobia was so common?

 

[minousbijoux]

Clusters, aka trypophobia.

Why is trypophobia.net full of trypophobia inducing pictures? I have no problem with holes or clusters but the page freaked me out.

OMG, that site should be banned - everyone will have trypophobia after looking at those pictures - truly disgusting.

 

[amc80]

It is so cool how much we vary! We have phobias all over the map. Who knew trypophobia was so common?

I've had several nightmares about sitting on a public toilet without a seat cover. Ick.

 

[Enerchi]

Snakes for sure - we have them in our back yard and I know they are garter snakes... but in my mind, they could be cobra's or anaconda's... i don't care what colour their silly little yellow stripe is!

My totally irrational fear is of the freezer. I HATE standing near the deep freezer when the lid is open. I'm sure I've seen WAY too many TV or movies about people being frozen alive... but they have obviously stuck with me.

Ghosts are another thing... shudder...

 

[minousbijoux]

Oh Enerchi, don't go there on the ghosts - that's a whole 'nother thread, my friend

 

[iLander]

Needles and shots. When I was a kid, I had a lot of cavities and never had novocaine because I was so freaked out by having the shot that I would prefer the pain. I have gone for years without getting booster shots because I've been so scared of the shot.

Ironically, I ended up with breast cancer, which really forced me to get over it, as I constantly had blood drawn and chemotherapy involving needles.

Hugs to you, MB, for getting through it and going strong!