Face Your Fear

[intothewoods]

I'll try almost anything once....but I'm not sure even I could get off on fucking seaweed. I think I'll stick to women, thanks.

Terrible, MWY!

i once had to "freak out" at my own mother who kept gushing over the drop off along side a road once despite my repeated pleas for her to stop. she didn't seem to understand that even if i closed my eyes, her detailed descriptions made the picture so clear in my mind that the unconscious physical reactions continued!

Geesh - I hope that was cluelessness. Otherwise that sounds really mean!

 

[katt_g]

Geesh - I hope that was cluelessness. Otherwise that sounds really mean!

crazy as it may sound...i honestly think she thought it would help!

 

[graceanne]

crazy as it may sound...i honestly think she thought it would help!

I think all of us with height phobias have dealt with people who are just sure if we knew how awesome the view was, we'd be okay.

Me and K went to crater lake. He took me to the hole that evening and went himself the next day. I did not enjoy myself, and spent most of the day with my eyes covered and the rest of the day trying to keep my son from falling over the cliff. I had such a headache by the time we got back to our hotel, and was quite happy to have an afternoon just to putter around and relax.

 

[katt_g]

I think all of us with height phobias have dealt with people who are just sure if we knew how awesome the view was, we'd be okay.

omg...that is it exactly!

i have three children: two have inherited some of my phobia and the other is fearless! (of course she is the 'baby'). every time i am in the mountains with that one (struggling with my own issues all the while), i have to cringe watching her scramble over rocks and waaayy too close to edges certain that she will tumble over the edge at any moment. gives me a wicked headache too! sometimes i just can't watch and am forced to hold my breath until she returns to a reasonable distance from the nearest drop-off!

 

[graceanne]

omg...that is it exactly!

i have three children: two have inherited some of my phobia and the other is fearless! (of course she is the 'baby'). every time i am in the mountains with that one (struggling with my own issues all the while), i have to cringe watching her scramble over rocks and waaayy too close to edges certain that she will tumble over the edge at any moment. gives me a wicked headache too! sometimes i just can't watch and am forced to hold my breath until she returns to a reasonable distance from the nearest drop-off!

Well, I do that, too. And normally I force myself just not to watch, but in my son's case the drops are literally sheer and he was even scaring my hubby who is NOT afraid of heights. The only thing between you and a fall, several times, was a lot rock wall, and we caught him OVER AND OVER on the wall looking down. I swear, that child wouldn't know common sense if it bit him in the ass.

 

[katt_g]

Well, I do that, too. And normally I force myself just not to watch, but in my son's case the drops are literally sheer and he was even scaring my hubby who is NOT afraid of heights. The only thing between you and a fall, several times, was a lot rock wall, and we caught him OVER AND OVER on the wall looking down. I swear, that child wouldn't know common sense if it bit him in the ass.

*sympathy sweaty palms*

 

[graceanne]

*sympathy sweaty palms*

yeah, this is the same child I found, at the lloyd center, on the third floor on top of the fence, looking over. He was three and I had been tying his sisters shoes when he undid his belt in the stroller and bolted over there. I found my first grey hair that night (I kid you not). Coincidence? I think not.

 

[katt_g]

yeah, this is the same child I found, at the lloyd center, on the third floor on top of the fence, looking over. He was three and I had been tying his sisters shoes when he undid his belt in the stroller and bolted over there. I found my first grey hair that night (I kid you not). Coincidence? I think not.

i think it must be something in certain children that is built in to make their parents have rapid aging experiences! my high-flying mountainside gymnast also ran full force thru a patio door in mexico once....

maybe that is why i seem to have another fear...worry that my "invincible" child will just go too far!

 

[graceanne]

i think it must be something in certain children that is built in to make their parents have rapid aging experiences! my high-flying mountainside gymnast also ran full force thru a patio door in mexico once....

maybe that is why i seem to have another fear...worry that my "invincible" child will just go too far!

My dad made my my laugh her ass off talking about my sister, who was their invincible child. He said "[Grace] has a good, healthy sense of fear. I can be pretty sure she won't do anything stupid. But [my sister] is another matter. We'll be at Del Valle, and I'll be just settling into a nap and she'll wander by and say something like 'I wish someone would take me over my head' and I'M AWAKE!"

I just don't know why I have a dare devil child, I was always a very fearful child. You wouldn't catch me climbing trees, or swimming where I couldn't touch down, or anything like that.

I blame my hubby.

 

[katt_g]

I blame my hubby.

oh this just made me giggle! i guess i can blame my ex then!

 

[Aquila1]

Is there a component of fear that is instinctive - like a cellular memory?
I have read a little bit about cell memory systems over recent years (not in huge detail I will add), and it seems to me there is something to this. Do we have fear responses to some things already programmed into us from birth?

I was watching my cat respond to the 'threat' of a belt lying on the floor a few years ago, and her entire reaction and response screamed 'snake...snake..... SNAKE..' Interesting, considering the fact that there are no snakes in this country at all and therefore no way she could have been exposed to one previously.

I'm not a behaviourist, but I do know that many animals display traits of memory/instinctual behavior. As human mammals are we any different?

Are some of our fears learned from our culture and from those who have held significant influence over us, and are some of our fears more primal than that?.

I love seaweed btw - some of it is beautiful (to look at and to eat)

 

[Keroin]

I love seaweed btw - some of it is beautiful (to look at and to eat)

Ditto on the seaweed.

Turkish towel is so pretty!

 

[rida]

I'm not sure it goes all the way to a phobia but I hate needles.

I was able to talk myself into being ok with them to the point that I even went to donate blood a few times and was ok with it (I prefer to look at the needle than not seeing it).

Curiously enough, since embracing being submissive, my aversion has come back to the point that when I have to have blood works done, I get all nervous and feel really silly and I have to control myself from crying ... I wonder thou if it has to do with the fact that I've been promised (painful) needle play for a long time that my mind is now focused on it to the point that any needles triggers a fear reaction in me.

Also, roller coaster. Put me on one and when I get off I'm ready to kill someone, anybody. Where is the fun in having your intestine churn and your head get dizzy and the world around you spin like crazy??? For the same reason I will never bungee jump, sky-dive or any of those activities where you get to experience sudden accelerations (and there went my dream of becoming an astronaut).

ETA: There's nothing wrong with failure. It's giving up that hurts.

To me is the other way around: giving up is easy. Failing thou ... hurts.

Is there a component of fear that is instinctive - like a cellular memory?
I have read a little bit about cell memory systems over recent years (not in huge detail I will add), and it seems to me there is something to this. Do we have fear responses to some things already programmed into us from birth?

I was watching my cat respond to the 'threat' of a belt lying on the floor a few years ago, and her entire reaction and response screamed 'snake...snake..... SNAKE..' Interesting, considering the fact that there are no snakes in this country at all and therefore no way she could have been exposed to one previously.

I'm not a behaviourist, but I do know that many animals display traits of memory/instinctual behavior. As human mammals are we any different?

Are some of our fears learned from our culture and from those who have held significant influence over us, and are some of our fears more primal than that?.

I love seaweed btw - some of it is beautiful (to look at and to eat)

I've been wondering the same, if we have memories of previous "existences".

and I like seaweeds to eat, but hate to swim in them when they tangle around your ankles ...

 

[neci]

i once had to "freak out" at my own mother who kept gushing over the drop off along side a road once despite my repeated pleas for her to stop. she didn't seem to understand that even if i closed my eyes, her detailed descriptions made the picture so clear in my mind that the unconscious physical reactions continued!

interesting thoughts these two...

in my case, i am most fearful and get the strongest reactions when i am out of control of the situation somehow. the worst seems to be riding in a vehicle on winding mountain roads where all i see past the edge is sky! i think my mind conjures visions of loss of control of this huge metal box which then plummets off the side completely unstoppable by human means.

my tummy just turned upside down.

I'll try almost anything once....but I'm not sure even I could get off on fucking seaweed. I think I'll stick to women, thanks.

oh my.... yes. i set myself up for that one. i hate gulf coast seaweed. the kind that wraps around your leg, and you're not sure if it is a jellyfish or some other creepy sea creature coming to eat you alive. ewe.

 

[culloden]

I used to be scared shitless of public speaking. Then I got a job that required it. Little bits at first. Now, a few times a year I go to conferences and present hour long clinics. I kind of get off on it. But still, sometimes it's months between gigs, and when I do the first one after a dry spell I'm still a little anxious.

I find the same thing happens with other scary for me stuff - rock climbing and downhill skiing come to mind. They're great once I get doing them again, but it takes a slight effort of will to start.

 

[Kristiana]

I think one thing many people without intense fears to understand is that there (usually) isn't anything rational about it. (Maybe it is instinctive like Aquila1 said). I am terrified of needles and spiders, despite the fact that I have never had a bad experience with needles, and there are no poisonous spiders where I live.
When I see a spider I freak out and usually end up in another room. I can stand there and tell myself that there is no reason to be afraid, that I could kill it with a fly swatter etc, but I will still be actually dizzy from fear!

 

[jenniferbaby]

I'm terrified of mice and needles. I'd call these phobias because my reactions are involuntary and irrational. I can't even watch mice on TV or in movies and thinking about getting a needle makes me hyperventilate.

There is probably something to the whole facing your fear thing, but I don't care. I have no interest in doing what it takes to face my fears; they don't interfere with my life enough for me to care.

Unfortunately, my fears do interfere with my life, but I can't seem to face them.

i also get anxious in large crowds. it's not the small space that scares me, but the feeling of being crowded in. i don't really like clubs or crowded bars for that reason. i don't have a problem with calm orderly crowds, but when there is a lot of noise, it can really get to me.

I have this fear of crowds too. And I think it's due to my general fear of people. I've done lots of research on social anxiety and I have plenty of the symptoms.

I wonder if they could sedate you for an MRI. I'm just lookin' out for ya, JM!

My mother is severely claustrophobic and has been struggling with it for what seems like my whole life. She recently was in the hospital and they drugged her for an MRI--she didn't like it, but it certainly got the job done. I've learned from her experience with claustrophobia and her other phobias that the reactions are definitely involuntary and if she could change it she would. Of course she could seek professional help and it might improve the quality of her life, but there's something about phobias that keeps us from wanting to change sometimes. I've certainly seen that in myself.

 

[~Haze~]

However, just thinking about comparable "therapy" for my own claustrophobia makes me want to kill somebody with my bare hands.

I'm watching tonight's episode of Chasing Mummies on The History Channel and feeling very uncomfortable as I watch these archaeologist (and crew) crawling through these 10-12 inches cracks into these coffin sized 'rooms' .

Just watching unsettles me. Especially as they crawl into these tightening spaces and narrowing cracks that they can't even turn around in.

It's very interesting.

 

[Soumis]

My phobia is in full swing tonight. I've always had a bug problem. Ever since I had an anaphylactic reaction to a bee sting in high school my fear has gotten progressively more debilitating. A year ago I moved into a house in a neighborhood with scorpions. I'm washing my sheets for the third time this week thanks to my fear of those bastards. I'm at the point where I'm considering a therapist. :/

I encountered a surprise phobia a few weeks ago. I went zip lining in Wisconsin. I've never been afraid of heights. I love planes, roller coasters, that funny feeling when your stomach drops. I went into the harness thinking this is going to be awesome. Sometime between jumping off the ledge and smacking into the foam at the bottom my brain jumped ship. I was practically catatonic. I had started crying and didn't know it. It was was one of the most bizarre moments of my life. I went on to finish the coarse thinking, surely it would get better, after all I was excited. I didn't get better, not one little bit.

Weird thing is, I still think it sounds like fun. I'm not sure I wouldn't do it again, because I'm so completely baffled by what happened.

 

[Cinner]

I think it would be the other way around... if anything. Fear of public speaking would include symptoms that are common in other forms of social phobias.? I ask because I know people who don't show any form of SAD but could never get up in front of a crowd.

I'm asking, not to instigate (well, a little instigation never hurt anyone), but because I am genuinely curious. Especially because I find myself being asked to speak to large groups with some frequency now.



This wasn't my original source. I read what I posted a few months ago and I'm pretty confident that I remember it correctly. I just googled it and found this....


and this

Maybe this is why I hate my job so much. Can you imagine being forced to face your fears every day if you want to be paid?