Fear Versus Phobia

Fear protects you from danger.   More than 19 million Americans have a phobia -- an intense, irrational fear when they face a certain situation, activity, or object. With a phobia, you may know your anxiety and fear are not warranted, but you can't help the feelings.

When talking about phobias, experts divide them into three categories – agoraphobia, an intense anxiety in public places where an escape might be difficult; social phobia, a fear and avoidance of social situations; and specific phobia, an irrational fear of specific objects or situations.  Here are some specific phobias:

• Claustrophobia
• Zoophobia
• Brontophobia
• Acrophobia
• Aerophobia
• Emetophobia
• Carcinophobia

The good news is that phobias can be treated.  Click HERE to learn more about the various phobias, what they mean and how they are treated.

That is great he is doing both.  There's some people who won't do either one.  Anxiety does cause fears.

I used to have social phobia.  I once stood a guy up because it was going to be our first date and it was to a family wedding.  I bought a new dress and everything, but just couldn't go through with it.

I used to have social phobia too, as you already know.  I missed out on so many weddings, parties, and other social events.  Things started changing for me about nine years ago when my husband and I became part of a wonderful church family.  They gradually help pull me out of those fears, and now I will go to weddings, galas, picnics, and all of the fun stuff I use to miss out on. 

Being her in the Women's Forum also helped because I found a great group of non-judgemental friends when I was asked to be part of the staff.  An invitation, I have to admit, I almost did not accept because of the fear of letting people down.

I have felt confident enough to start searching for part-time work, but there really isn't much out there right now, and I am trying to not be so afraid to volunteer more at my church, without fearing letting people down.

Debbie

Women’s Forum   

Debbie,

My daughter and I both have the bridge phobia too!  I don't close my eyes, but I almost hold my breath.  I guess tunnels don't bother me b/c when I was little, my dad would always honk his horn while driving through tunnels.  Other cars did too.  It seemed to be the thing to do back then, but no one does it anymore.

My daughter and I both have the bridge phobia too!  I don't close my eyes, but I almost hold my breath.  I guess tunnels don't bother me b/c when I was little, my dad would always honk his horn while driving through tunnels.  Other cars did too.  It seemed to be the thing to do back then, but no one does it anymore.

The tunnel fear, is probably because I am claustrophobic.

Glenn was flipping around channels one night, and I can't remember the name of it, but he landed on a Sylvester Stallone movie -who by the way I've never been a fan of, and I kept wishing he would turn it.  The movie was about people trapped in a tunnel, and the tunnel was filling up with water, and they needed to find away out before they all drowned.   It was like my two fears combined.

Now it's going to drive me crazy until I find out the name of the movie.  I have to go search.

Okay, I am editing to say, the name of the movie was Daylight.  What I forgot to say is that part of the movie was filmed at the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel,  a nearby tunnel, I've been through several times.  This only made the movie more disturbing for me.

Debbie

Women’s Forum   

No, but there was a time I was afraid to close my eyes in the shower

Sounds like the song.   "I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watching Me."    The words are: When I'm in the shower, I'm afraid to wash my hair, 'Cause I might open my eyes and find someone standing there!  HERE is the link to the video on you tube, if anyone is feeling nostalgic and wants to watch it.

The last time I stayed in a hotel, the shower curtain was clear at eye level.  I noticed they are now selling those same shower curtains in the store. 

Sometimes when I am alone in the house and hear a noise, I do get spooked, but it's usually just the cat jumping around.

And darn that song is stuck in my head now!

Debbie

Women’s Forum   

Its kinda nice though knowing I have a snake guarding my property out there somewhere !

Yeah and scaring the moths away!  <g>