Phobia's or Fears

[JetMaxx]

spiders and height---don't even like to stand on a chair and look down-

Bonnie, my two phobias are also heights and spiders...

It's weird, I'm perfectly fine flying cross country on an airliner at 35,000'...but cannot stand climbing on a rickety ladder or onto my roof. I also have a difficult time with chairlifts such those at Six Flags over Georgia and ski resorts...though roller coasters and ferris wheels are no problem (I love riding coasters).

I also have a mortal fear of being bitten by a poisonous spider...I'll check my cover before going to bed most nights. About five or six years ago I killed a black widow spider just inside my front door (only one I've ever seen inside), and I've been been petrified ever since. One of my favorite high school teachers died in 1978 from complications following being bitten by a brown recluse spider, and I've had a phobia ever since.
It's strange...I've owned pet snakes and lizards and have no fear of them at all--only spiders (am not too fond of scorpions either).

Another weird phobia of mine...I was once in a car with mom and Becky (I was 11) when the brakes failed. Mom crashed through a fence and nearly overturned...we were uninjured, but terrified....I was afraid of riding in a car for weeks afterwords. I always keep a very close check on my brake fluid...afraid it'll happen to me.

[azskyman]

I can (and have) speak on a stage in front of a crowd of 2,000 strangers, but I can be chased out of the same room by a spider the size of a penny that I can not find.

We caught a 2 1/2" scorpion outside our building today(and whisked his bark-colored a** out into the desert), and it didn't bother me as long as he was OUTSIDE! That same fella in my office would get my attention like right now!

I don't do well in crowds..inside. I need to know exactly where the exits are located and usually give them a test run if I am staying in the place for more than a few minutes.

In spite of a history that includes many social settings among weather professionals and amateurs alike, and at the center of attention while being there, I much prefer working extra hard when that formal meeting is over to help people like Coldfront and Skywatch relax and enjoy the company of all the wonderful people who are glad they are there.

Storm2k at work? Not a phobia...but then its more relaxing to hang with all of you in my home office instead.

[azsnowman]

HEIGHTS, I can go UP a ladder, coming down, that's a WHOLE new story, ever seen a 6'4" man TREMBLE with fear??? Put ol snowman on a ladder and you'll see a trembling fool for sure!

Dennis

[rainydaze]

That's easy for me: STICKY TREE FROGS, I hate them, I hate them, I hate them. I am terrified when I see one that it is going to jump on my body or my face, like has happened to me already, which is probably why I HATE THEM! I usually start crying when I see one because I am so scared As a matter of fact, I'm getting anxiety right now....

[streetsoldier]

I'm capable of speaking before large groups at the drop of a hat, or teaching 50-plus-size classes: but for personal gatherings, I prefer no more than five or six, and I need the freedom to disengage at my leisure.

I also need my own transportation, so that I do not feel "trapped" in being some place where I may feel uncomfortable, just because I have to stay as long as the person who drove me there (usually the wife).

[Miss Mary]

I have a fear of going under water or swimming in areas deeper than I can stand. Just 10 years ago I would have told you all I have a fear of water. But I've come a long way since then, my kids have coaxed me into the pool. You see as a child of about 5, I was bobbing about in my innertube in our community pool where I grew up. A big kid jumped in on top of me, I went under, far under. By the time I came up I was coughing, choking and of course crying. My brothers took me home to Mom, who promptly said I never had to go back if I didn't want to. And I didn't go back, until my teen years. I missed out of so much growing up. I grew up in Mt. Heatlhy, OH (northern Cincy), our park and pool was in the middle of our village. It was THE place to hang out every summer. And so I was stuck home, since I had a fear of swimming. My mom regretted her decision and to her credit, did schedule swimming lessons. But they never took, the damage was done. I've actually been boating a lot, driven ski boats for skiers, even got up on ski's a few times. Only with that trusty ski vest on. Years ago when my kids were little, they'd coax me into the 3 foot at the Y. When I said I didn't want to go under, I usually blamed it on not wanting to get my hair messed up. I did not want them to have my fear - and so I faked it. LOL It did work, both love the water. Sometimes a white lie is necessary.....

Next.......

[MScoast]

I have a phobia while on the passenger side of a vehicle. If I am driving I am fine or if I am in the back seat. When I am in the front passenger seat I push imaginary brake pedals.

I DO THE SAME THING! I'm an awful backseat driver...or even passenger seat!!!! :o

The other fear I have is flying! I've been scared since I was a baby. I'm a TALKER...and when I was brought on a plane for the first time (when I was 2) I was talking up a storm until the plane started moving. Momma said I didn't say a word until the plane landed...Now, that's rare for me...I talk ALL of the time! When I went on my senior trip to DC, I was scared to death! I held on to two strangers arms until I cut off their circulation. Thank God that they were nice people

Another fear I have is of lizards...when I was a kid, my cat used to catch them and put them on my pillow! Now my boys chase me around while holding them. Of course they think it's funny! Momma doesn't thinks so though :o

[CajunMama]

Very large crowds that gather in a small area, such as Mardi Gras in New Orleans or other festivals. I don't know why I don't like them, nothing has ever occurred to make me dislike crowds.

Pitch Black. Such as a power outage where it's so dark you can't see your hand in front of your face. It makes me uncomfortable on an amusement park ride (ie Tower of Terror) when they do their spiel and the lights go out leaving you in the dark. But because the rides are so fun, I suffer thru the pitch black darkness!

[azskyman]

Geesh we're a paranoid group!

If ever we tried to set up a real meeting for Storm2k folks to attend, it seems we'd have to hold it in open space surrounded by a fence, away from deep water and on level ground. There could be no living things anywhere too near...and in some cases, we'd have to keep ourselves out of sight so that others might stay. We couldn't fly to get there, but we couldn't ride either. We'd all have to drive by ourselves.

And the place would have to be at a well marked 4-way intersection where we could all escape in different directions if critters showed up, planes flew over, or doors got locked.

We couldn't meet at night. Nor could we party unless we did it alone.

Those of us who could speak are among the most boring on Storm2k...and those we would want to have talk, don't unless they are on the internet.

Sounds like a fun time for sure!

I'd wait until the last day of registration so I would not scare off any of the others who decided to give it a try.

[weatherlover427]

This is an interesting thread.

I have a fear of going on down escalators (and a smaller one of up escalators), going down stairs (probably all related to my fear of heights), shaking with my hand tremors, etc.

[isobar]

ROFL skyman!! What a riot!

[streetsoldier]

Steve,

Much of that I described is part of the PTSD/anxiety disorder I'm being treated for...as long as I have control over if, or where I go and how long I stay, I'm fine.

I simply cannot give it over to someone whose agenda "supersedes" my own. (Wearing a "neck" knife on its chained Kydex sheath doesn't hurt, either...although I'd only use it if absolutely necessary. In some ways, Steve, I never "came home".)

[azskyman]

Bill...anxiety nearly cost my job and my family in 1984 and again in 1988. I can indeed relate to the isolation, loneliness, and helplessness it can bring. It was crippling in the real sense of the word.

My therapist said a lot of things...and let me say a lot of things...as I fought my way back to a productive state again.

Control was such an issue with me. I HAD to have control to survive. And those around me expected me to be, to ALWAYS be, the stabilizing force that never wavered. I was not allowed to be human..to have human shortcomings.

One day Norm opened my eyes to the recognition that my world didn't need to be so perfect, that I didn't need to always be in control, and that it was acceptable to be something less than what I expected of myself and others expected of me too.

Bill...I know you are battling some demons much bigger than mine ever were, but my prayer for you is that you can make peace with who you are...and who THEY are...in a way that frees you even as Annabelle sits quietly by your feet.