Fears

After reading through the thread about the potential home buyer being terrified of the cat, it got me wondering what everyone else is afraid of.
My questions are:

What are your worst fears?
Have you ever/would you ever do exposure therapy?

My fears are (in no particular order):
Spiders, thunderstorms, needles, heights, being in cars going too fast and fire.

I've tried on my own to face them but even after, still didn't feel any better. The thunderstorm one is a brutal one...I have some control over the other fears but I can't just make a storm go away or avoid it. 

I am scared to death of a fire in the house. It scares the heck out of me. How on earth would I ever get seven cats out of the house quickly?? I worry sometimes about somebody breaking in, too, largely because of what might happen to the cats. But fire is my biggest fear.

Love t-storms and always have. I don't like it when the power goes off, especially if I'm alone in the house and it's in the middle of the night. I have a bad phobia about being alone in the dark. Chalk it up to stupid relatives who love to scare a child, I guess. I think that if the lights went out and I was alone in a dark house, I'd probably have a heart attack from the fear. And I know how stupid that sounds.

I have 3 major fears:

1.  Fire

2.  Getting lost

3.  Water

I don't have time to elaborate as I have to leave for work and I can't access the site there anymore.  I'll post more about it when I get home this evening.

good question!

I fear Elephants and Slugs.. then driving across a very narrow bridge.

Of all things, Wind Turbines.

I am totally cool with spiders, snakes etc- I know they are creatures too and in reality, we are probably on their territory.

However, when I am driving by windmills & turbines (not the pesky little farm kind) but the industrial kind:

Like this:



I seriously get sweaty, shaky & teary. My thoughts are varied from them falling on me, me being electricuted, then chopping my head off if I was somehow up near the top of them.

It can happen

http://www.wind-works.org/articles/ASummaryofFatalAccidentsinWindEnergy.html

Violence. But only certain kinds of violence. Specifically, someone bigger/older/more powerful perpetrating violence upon someone smaller/younger/less powerful. Like a parent hitting a child or a man hitting a woman or a human hitting an animal. And it doesn't always have to be physical violence, but verbal threats, threatening behavior, and angry shouting will set me off, too. Then I go into a full-blown panic attack, which is not fun at all (feels like a heart attack), and is embarrassing in public. I also do not like to be touched and will start getting panicky if someone will not stop touching me after I've asked them not to. But that almost never happens, thankfully.

I don't like heights, and will get scared if I think it's possible for me to fall. If I can't fall (tall enclosed building, airplane, etc.), I still don't like it but I don't get scared. I don't like being underwater or in confined places. I will panic if I feel trapped in any way. I can't sleep without the blanket folded under my feet, because I get a weird feeling something will grab my feet if I don't. What would grab my feet? I don't know! :lol3:. But something!

I also don't like wind turbines but only because I saw an episode of Dirty Jobs where he was on top of one, and the thought of anyone being on top of one really freaks me out. . .

Willowy said:

Violence. But only certain kinds of violence. Specifically, someone bigger/older/more powerful perpetrating violence upon someone smaller/younger/less powerful. Like a parent hitting a child or a man hitting a woman or a human hitting an animal. And it doesn't always have to be physical violence, but verbal threats, threatening behavior, and angry shouting will set me off, too. Then I go into a full-blown panic attack, which is not fun at all (feels like a heart attack), and is embarrassing in public. I also do not like to be touched and will start getting panicky if someone will not stop touching me after I've asked them not to. But that almost never happens, thankfully.
I don't like heights, and will get scared if I think it's possible for me to fall. If I can't fall (tall enclosed building, airplane, etc.), I still don't like it but I don't get scared. I don't like being underwater or in confined places. I will panic if I feel trapped in any way. I can't sleep without the blanket folded under my feet, because I get a weird feeling something will grab my feet if I don't. What would grab my feet? I don't know!

. But something!
I also don't like wind turbines but only because I saw an episode of Dirty Jobs where he was on top of one, and the thought of anyone being on top of one really freaks me out. . .

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LOL

Maybe the cats would grab your feet?

Nebula, you're brave to post a picture of them! I can't even look at a picture of a spider. I have one I took on my camera of a big orange one...and now I am too scared to go through the pictures and try to find it and delete it. 

Fire seems to be a common one. I was always nervous about it...but after actually being in a house fire, its even worse now.

Fire iss a healthy respect for me. When I was a kids, I would keep a backpack of prized toys by my bed.i have been in ome house fire. I now keep a backpack for each of us, cats included

Natalie_ca said:

I have 3 major fears:

1.  Fire
2.  Getting lost
3.  Water

I don't have time to elaborate as I have to leave for work and I can't access the site there anymore.  I'll post more about it when I get home this evening.

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I hope you don't mind me asking... but how do you drink water?

Mine are all heights-related:

1. Heights (but not ladders, for some reason)

2. Suspension bridges (I actually like the small bridges). I used to be pretty much ok if I were doing the driving on a bridge.

3. Mountains, though I used to sometimes drive on one to see DH before he was my DH.

I'm not afraid of any animal; though, after having my face torn up by a dog years ago, I'm amazed that I'm not afraid of dogs--I adore them.

Fire is my biggest fear. I go around at night before bed and make sure everything that needs to be is unplugged, turned off, whatever, and I also do it before I leave the house. Since we have been in our temporary home, a raggedy old trailer in the woods, I have been particularly diligent. When I leave the house, the cats usually go visit MIL, about 30 yards away. I don't make them, but they like to and it eases my mind that something should happen, they will be safe.

I finally overcame my fear of bridges. I had to since there are so many high bridges going over the intracoastal waterway around where I used to drive a cab.

Fires. I know theres no way they would all make it and how to choose what area to try and get them from first at the very least open the windows and say a prayer.  Also almost faced evacuation once and few years later there was another forest fire and we were on a main road and seeing everyone jam packed on the street really made me fear there was no way out especially since the almost evacuation was right down the street but since we couldn't see the cars it was a new fear

Things popping-ballons/tires.  I had a decent scooter tire pop in face at close range when i was young.

I've always had a fear of fire since I was little. I don't even like adding wood to the wood burner at home or putting something in the burn barrel my husband uses in the summer. I have a "healthy respect" for fire and the destruction it can do if it gets out of control.

I'm terrified of centipedes. I can handle spiders and most other creepy crawlies, but centipedes are just...gross! Just thinking about them freaks me out!! Needless to say, I'm not looking forward to living in an old house during a rainy spring.

I don't like heights or tight enclosed places but they don't throw me into a panic unless I'm on the very edge of a cliff or building.

The strangest thing that makes me nervous are things that disappear under the water, like bridge supports. I guess I was just nervous about deep water period and what was in it that I couldn't see. I did get over that by learning how to scuba dive so I could see there wasn't anything there....except for the bridge supports and fish of course. I still don't like unexpectedly coming up on something that shouldn't be underwater, like a ship. I'm not into wreck diving and I will NOT go into one!

That's a good way to deal with the fears. Once you are educated about them, they don't seem so irrational or rational, you know the facts.

Snakes:

I read everything I could about them when they scared me- and know the only deadly ones in this area are the Copperheads & Rattle Snakes & Water Moccasins.

A: I don't swim in the lake or ponds, so the water M is not a realistic fear for me., Rattlers & Copperheads- Maybe, however - if you respect & keep your distance you will be fine. Education is the best way to overcome fears.

Spiders

same thing- They are so tiny, you can crush them with your foot or anything really. Worst Case Scenario is a recluse or widow- both have anti-venon readily availiable in most hospitals.

Fires

Make sure you have a plan. Knowing your plan, and practicing it at least monthly- if not weekly is best.

Water

Make sure you know how to swim and have a current, First Aid & CPR w/ Rescue Breathing course

Centipedes, I think they would be in the same class as spiders for me. Healthy respect & knowledge/education.

Heights, The Wind Turbines- I'm not sure what education there is about that. Other than there have only been 20 fatalities by wind turbines since 1970.. worldwide. Still, I'm terrified.

As far as exposure therapy, I might consider it (Remember the old show Now Or Never: Face your Fears? Hosted by Jerry Springer in 2000, then shortly cancelled? They took them on stage and made them face it, offering prize cash money rewards-- I guess it would be considered a form of exposure therapy, but realistically I think education & preparation will cover most fears. Most. Not all. And not Wind Turbines lol

Educating yourself is a great start...but in my case its not enough.

I was big on meteorology as a kid and learned about weather and storms...yet I am still scared of them. Always was. Mostly at night time. I know chances of being struck are low but many people are still killed by lightning each year. I have zero control over it, which is what scares me the most. Part of me fears any storm will turn into a tornado...which I know is rare here but it has happened twice before. Even in the dead of winter in the 50s.!

Spiders...I know none of the spiders in NS are poisonous and are easily killed but they creep me out so bad. I had a black and yellow garden spider on me when I was younger and I screamed and ran the whole way home. My friends got a good laugh and I got some good exercise and maybe a mini heart attack. (Anyone have a kitty that LOVES to catch/eat them that I can borrow for the summer?  )

As for fire...thankfully every room in this house, except the bathroom and laundry room, has a window so I know I can escape easily. We are very diligent about making sure things are off/unplugged. ESPECIALLY things with elements or things that get hot.

Heights is a big one for me too. To this day, I panic if people pick me up. I've been like that since I was a baby. I tried to force myself out of that fear by climbing up on a roof one night...took me over an hour to get down. lol. Never tried again.

Having fears, both rational and irrational has always intrigued me. Some fears I can link to an explanation to...some I can't. Some I was born with. I enjoy watching videos/shows of people getting over their fears...and I do hope to get over at least some of mine one day.

IMO, a fear of any type of weather is going to be hard to overcome, simply because Mother Nature has a mind of her own. I have a fear/fascination relationship with a storm that could produce a tornado (yes, I've done research   ). I was in the vicinity of a F-4 tornado years ago. Nasty storms for 2 days with funnel clouds spotted (but not really touching down), then one night I was at work and one storm produced a monster. It was one of the most terrifying/exciting time of my life! Our building weathered the storm fine with only slight damage to the building. However, right across the road it demolished many houses. 

I'm paranoid about tornadoes, but prepared. I too live in an area that "doesn't get tornadoes". Ummm, well? Yeah we do, but they're rare. 

The exposure/education thing is great with spiders and what not, but it's kind of hard to do with a natural disaster unless you want to become a storm chaser and throw yourself in the middle of a tornado or severe thunderstorm!

calico2222 said:

The exposure/education thing is great with spiders and what not, but it's kind of hard to do with a natural disaster unless you want to become a storm chaser and throw yourself in the middle of a tornado or severe thunderstorm!

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I agree that weather is hard to overcome the fear of, due to the nature of it being so unpredictable.

But I guess I'm crazy, because I am a certified storm spotter and have chased several storms in my time . I still do if I have someone to go with, it's fun

My cats on the other hand and DH are terrified of all storms. Richard is the worst...... one small thunderstorm watch and he is panic mode, where I'm calling up my buddies to see who is free to go chase in their Jeep

I have been outside in many thunderstorms during the day, even filming them (unless they become severe enough to issue warnings). However, at night, it brings on a panic I can't control. I don't like hide under beds or in closets or anything, but I do hide under my blankets having a heart attack until its over. I've TRIED to watch out the window but I can't seem to do it. 

I was doing good for a while though lol. We had probably about 4 years with very few storms all spring/summer. Any that we did get, lasted a few minutes for the most part. Last year we had 2 particular storms that were intense. The first one didn't bring any weather warnings but it was about 5 hours of non-stop intense lightning and that super loud thunder that makes your heart jump lol. Even Parker hid face first in a box all night with that one. Then we had one in August with probably 7 or so hours of crazy fork lightning, that creepy greenish sky and no power. That had warnings with it and I was so scared. I think I got used to us not getting many storms and forgot that we do get pretty bad ones at times. Although, our definition of a "bad storm" is weak in comparison to what other places see.

The tornado in '97 was probably the scariest thing ever. It touched down about an hour from here (weak F0 in a ball field)  but I did see a funnel cloud over my area. It was hailing too...I ran up the street, grabbed my friend by the shoulders and I was shaking her yelling "we're under a tornado watch!!" haha. I looked like a nut. I can't imagine what people thought of the one that happened in the middle of winter way back in the day.   I NEVER say "we don't get tornadoes" because we can and have. 

At one time, I wanted to chase storms but don't think I would ever have the guts. I admire those that have the courage to get "face to face" if you will, with a monster storm.

LuvMyParker said:

At one time, I wanted to chase storms but don't think I would ever have the guts. I admire those that have the courage to get "face to face" if you will, with a monster storm.

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Oh there are definately inherant risks, but again- Education. I am well trained & educated in what to do, how to approach etc, it isn't right for everyone, but for me- I love it.

Something that I know would be wise for ANY citizen to do, is to find out if your Local County has an Office of Emergency Management. Often, they offer free classes on storm spotting & awareness, it is what got me started in chasing & admiration. It will teach you things a meterologist knows, things to look for- be aware of.

As a side note, I am a member of CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and those classes are through FEMA and funded from the govt, they are great - and free. http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/

That being said, I realize not every county will offer one. However, calling your Office of Emergency Management will be a good place to start and ask if they offer community classes on it- and if they don't, see about getting enough people together to offer it (the storm spotting class that is. Taking the class doesn't mean you have to go chase storms, it doesn't even mean you have to like them. But it will give you the confidence of knowing what to look for and the proper precautions to take.