What phobias do you have or have overcome?

1. 94

   jansharesposted 10 years ago

   What phobias do you have or have overcome?
   
   Spiders, snakes, highways, bridges, elevators, restaurants, tunnels, the dark, water, dogs, cats, driving, bugs, clowns, public speaking, heights, or bees. Whatever it may be, how are you dealing with it, how has it affected your life, and how did you beat it?
   
   

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2. 76

   LupitaRonquilloposted 10 years ago

   Lightening. I can't be outside when I start seeing lightening flashes at all! Its eery for me because I can feel some vibe run through my body when it hits very near! Even if I don't see it, I'll feel it.

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      jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Wow, I've never heard that description before, very interesting. Thanks for sharing, Lupita.

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      Heather Trippposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      My mom is the same exact way!! I can remember when I was a kid she would hide in a closet. And my son has a pacemaker, and when lightening hits close to our home, he feels a small zap. It doesn't happen often, but he hates it when it does!

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3. 61

   nsmileposted 10 years ago

   Roaches, I use to flee the second I spot one in my grandmother's house. However after I successfully rid my roach phobia, I was introduced to water bugs. Those things are the master of darkness and in my opinion the most atrocious thing to crawl on this land. Also, they are crazy fast and it once took me a good five minutes to hunt it down and obliterate its existence..........

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      jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Ugh! You are so right, nsmile. They are awful little creatures. Thanks for sharing.

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4. 0

   Garifaliaposted 10 years ago

   I have finally overcome standing in front of the class to teach and standing in front of an audience (complete strangers!!) to give a speech or a talk. It's all about practice makes perfect one small step at a time. Oh, age has helped a lot to be honest. What about you? From your picture you seem very collected, true?

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   1. 94

      jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Garifalia, first of all, congratulations for overcoming your fears. I had the same thing but got past it with exactly what you said, experience, practice, and age. I would also add confidence. Thanks for sharing.

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5. 72

   Heather Trippposted 10 years ago

   Okay, I'll admit it.. I am afraid of balloons. Or those annoying cans of biscuits that you have to pull the paper off and without any warning at all it pops and dough oozes out. I hang my head in shame.
   
   Of course, lucky me, both my kids like having balloons at their birthday party. So, it never fails, at least twice a year, I am stuck in a room with those stupid things. I have, after being a parent for 8 years, slightly gotten better and I can now man up... or woman up rather... and hold one. But I still don't like it!
   
   If I am the only person in the house with the biscuits, then I can very unhappily force myself to open them, but that's only if I can't pawn them off on someone else. Hey, biscuits are delicious and well worth sucking it up and dealing with that "POP".

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   1. 94

      jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Heather, I love your sense of humor. You're the first I've heard with balloons. Dont be ashamed, we all have something. By the way, I just made some of those buscuits this morning. It is kinda creepy to have something explode in your hand.

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6. 79

   Crissyliteposted 10 years ago

   When I was younger, I used to have anxiety about driving on the expressway. I would freak out at the thought of driving with all the speedy traffic and merging. I would opt to take the long way instead. I wanted to overcome this thing. I told myself that I could do it and that I didn't have to fear because God is with me.
   
   I initially followed someone I know a few times to become more comfortable. Then I slowly began driving more and more by myself until the anxiety was gone. I was glad because later on, I needed to drive on the expressway for my job.

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      jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Crissylite, OMG, this is me! I'm still not completely free of it, avoid certain places that involve highways, etc. Thanks for sharing.

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7. 79

   loveofnightposted 10 years ago

   I'm not sure if mine is a phobia or just a concern but here goes. I am afraid of growing old alone. I just want that special someone in the rocking chair beside me at the end of the day.... I can only fix it by seeing it for what it is and excepting it.

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   1. 94

      jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      loveofnight, this is a very common fear, so I would say it rates as a special type of phobia. You have anxiety about it and are afraid of what might happen to you. Thank you for sharing this one.

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      ReneeDC1979posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      loveofnight -i'm with you on that one -don't think it's a phobia, but i would say after several failed relationships, the older i get the more I think about "is this my calling -to be alone to teach others how not to be in a reliationship?"

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8. 62

   tlblissposted 10 years ago

   My biggest phobias are dogs and I am extremely claustrophobic to the point that I cannot even drive in heavy traffic.  My fear of dogs was from being bitten when I was little.  The way they gnash and show their teeth is just scary anyway.  I am not sure why I am so claustrophobic, as I do not recall having a reason to be.  I always have to have “a way out” or I get sweaty hands, have a hard time breathing, and then the panic ensues.
   
   I try to work on all of my fears to lessen the impact they have on me, but these two are my worst.  I will continue to work on them and hopefully one day I can overcome them.

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      jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Those are difficult ones, tlbliss, especially with the history. It's good that you've kept that hopeful attitude to overcome. Thank you for sharing.

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9. 60

   ReneeDC1979posted 10 years ago

   My phobia : RATS! MICE! AND MORE RATS!  I think that is all.

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      jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yikes, Renee, that's plenty. Thanks for sharing.

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10. 60

    Pete Wolfeposted 10 years ago

    Needles, i hate them with a passion. No i have not beaten it and i probably wont.
    I don't like them and don't care to beat it. I just try to stay away from hospitals

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    1. 94

       jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       I understand your attitiude of acceptance, especially because there is no urgency to beat something you don't have to be exposoed to regulary. Stay healthy :-) and thanks for sharing.

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11. 61

    ra538posted 10 years ago

    I think a major phobia i have overcome is thinking you will be alone. You start thinking that soon your parents will die and so will your uncles and everyone else you know. given i believe this is more a child phobia.

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    1. 94

       jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Someone else mentioned similar fear. You make a good point that it may be related to childhood, possibly fear of abandonment. Thank you for sharing, ra538.

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12. 38

    edhanposted 10 years ago

    My wife had phobia of touching her neck. Well, I make sure that I touched her neck most of the time until she is used to it to overcome her phobia.

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       jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Very loving gesture to help wife get over her phobia. Thanks for sharing that, edhan.

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13. 66

    yoginijoyposted 10 years ago

    I used to be afraid of answering the telephone. When I was a child I had numerous negative experiences from answering the phone. Now it is easier since there is caller id and one knows who is calling. Also with age and understanding of the world etc... I have gotten over it. However, every once in a while it takes a lot of courage for me to make a call. I know it is completely irrational.

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       jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       That is a new one, yoginijoy. Glad to hear you've gotten past it, for the most part. Thank you for sharing.

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14. 59

    AutumnTomlinposted 10 years ago

    I have been living with anxiety and phobias for over 17 years.  I have learned that the only way to actually overcome a phobia is to do it, but try baby steps at first.  For instance say someone is scared of heights, you should first try to go somewhere that is high up like a parking garage for instance and just sit there in your car for about 15 to 20 minutes, do this for about 2 or 3 days so that you will start feeling comfortable at being in such a high place.  After you start to feel comfortable enough going there and sitting try to get out of your car and walk around some.  If it starts to become overwhelming just sit back down in your car, take some deep slow breaths, try to relax your body by laying your seat back, and  telling yourself it's going to be OK and nothing bad is going to happen.  If you feel like getting out again you may try but if not than that's OK, just come back the next day and try doing it again.  You have to train your mind to not be scared and the only way to do that is to get out there and do it, if you don't ca cede the first time, get up and try it again.  It takes time, it doesn't happen over night, if you continue to work at it then you will conquer your fear and feel so much better about yourself.

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    1. 94

       jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Autumn, it was so nice of you to share this. I see you speak from experience due to your own anxieties. Your advice is absolutely correct. It's called exposure therapy or desensitization therapy. It definitely works, over time. Thanks for sharing.

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    2. 59

       AutumnTomlinposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Your very welcome.

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