Crippling phobias

[YutoTheOrc]

Now I avoid relationships altogether, and try to avoid getting too close to women that I could see myself being attracted to (and risking unlocking the emotional connection bit), because frankly I can't fucking deal with that shit any more, especially not after how it nearly killed me, and I'd rather be forever alone, and live vicariously through Hanako fucking Ikezawa of all people.

Yeah, I'd say it's pretty fucking crippling.

...and this post is coming off as more angry than I actually am about it...

Oh...well....ummm. I'm sorry you're past dealing with woman were bad. If you're happy the way you are, then no reason to change. Good luck and good fortune I suppose.

[ArazelEternal]

I have a problem with large crowds. I dont do well around a lot of people. I never have. I avoid social gatherings and parties, and its difficult for me to even go into large stores with lots of people. Often times by the time I leave my nerves are frayed. I also have issues with depression, anxiety and panic disorders.

I went to a psychiatrist about four months ago because I suffered a severe mental breakdown. That is when I found out that I was autistic. I have High-Functioning Autism (HFA for short). ITs the cause of a lot of the issues I have (a lot more than I want to list).

Point of this is, there are a lot of causes of phobias. Some have external causes, things that happen to you. Sometimes you are born predisposed to them like I was. Most of the time it isnt the fear itself that cripples you. Its what you do to avoid putting yourself in a situation that could cause an episode of panic that cripples you. Its the fear of the fear, if that makes any sense. Panic attacks are so severe, so blindly terrifying, so intense that a person who has experienced them will do anything and everything they can to avoid them, thus ruining their quality of life and causing severe issues with other areas of life such as work.

The fact that the fears are irrational is precisely what makes them so crippling. You know that there isnt any good reason for you to be afraid, but yet you cant get passed it. You dont understand it and that is why it has power over you. If you understood it, you would likely be able to get passed it,

[LordMarluxia]

I have a problem with large crowds. I dont do well around a lot of people. I never have. I avoid social gatherings and parties, and its difficult for me to even go into large stores with lots of people. Often times by the time I leave my nerves are frayed. I also have issues with depression, anxiety and panic disorders.

I went to a psychiatrist about four months ago because I suffered a severe mental breakdown. That is when I found out that I was autistic. I have High-Functioning Autism (HFA for short). ITs the cause of a lot of the issues I have (a lot more than I want to list).

Point of this is, there are a lot of causes of phobias. Some have external causes, things that happen to you. Sometimes you are born predisposed to them like I was. Most of the time it isnt the fear itself that cripples you. Its what you do to avoid putting yourself in a situation that could cause an episode of panic that cripples you. Its the fear of the fear, if that makes any sense. Panic attacks are so severe, so blindly terrifying, so intense that a person who has experienced them will do anything and everything they can to avoid them, thus ruining their quality of life and causing severe issues with other areas of life such as work.

The fact that the fears are irrational is precisely what makes them so crippling. You know that there isnt any good reason for you to be afraid, but yet you cant get passed it. You dont understand it and that is why it has power over you. If you understood it, you would likely be able to get passed it,

Couldn't have worded it better. Probably.
I don't do well in crowds as well. I can manage now but it was an issue years ago.
I know what you mean mate...

I actually remembered another one, a little leftover from my hellish days (that you can read about in Hanako's Broken Heart Club page 269).
I'm terrified of speaking on the phone with people I don't know personally. I just don't know why. At work I have to talk with a lot of people on the phone... and sometimes I get in trouble because I'll do everything to avoid it. "Marly go put some pressure on that man from that one company" I send an email, and moments later I'm getting shouted at because I didn't phone him. I'm trying to get over it but it's really straining.
My last 35 minutes today at work were spent talking to people I know jack shit about on the phone. I left work shaking, drenched in cold sweat and smelling like a tired horse.

[azumeow]

Rant mode: [ON] OFF

People. Fucking. People. Wherever you are, whoever you are, in some capacity, you scare me. Children? Noooo thank you. Adults? Plsno. It's worse with strangers. Exponentially worse. I find my eyes darting over each person I come across, just checking to see if they pose a threat. Most can. I'm a skinny white kid, 5'5" and 110 pounds living in the Bronx. The gunshots I hear every now and again certainly don't help. The armed robbery three blocks away, right by where I get groceries sure didn't help.

The dark. No thank you. My muscles just clenched thinking about a nice, long dark hallway. Nah, fuck that noise. Not gonna happen, no way no how. Unless I have someone I feel I can at least trust not to murder/kidnap/rape me, I can live. If I absolutely have to go, I have my defenses.

Insects. My apartment (mainly my mattress and bedspring) are suffering from bedbugs. This inspired a complete and utter fear of insects and insectoid creatures. I haven't slept in my bed for about a month. I'm too terrified of waking up covered in tiny, bloodsucking parasitic urchin.

Being along. Just being alone in a room that isn't mine is enough to scare the crap out of me. I can adjust what room is "mine" quickly, but I can't make everywhere "mine."

[Xaredian]

Another person with Melissophobia? Though, I also have Spheksophobia (Fear of wasps).

I will, literally, jump out of a moving car if there's a single bee or wasp in the car.

[Atario]

Bees are kinda cool about things. Wasps, on the other hand, can eat a bag of tiny wasp dicks.

[Zarys]

I'm a little scared of spiders and all the insects that bite, but I don't think to the point of phobia.

[Comrade]

The only thing i fear is fear itself, so naturally this thread terrified me.

[Khalego]

I have a severe aversion to hospitals. Last time I was there (a relative was visiting a sick friend so I was...Moral support or something), I ended up pacing around the halls struggling to contain my trembling.

Needless to say, Hisao's scenario after that first heart attack would drive me out of my mind. Not good times.

[Broomhead]

Although not crippling, I do have a rather strong aversion to hospitals as I said before so I can relate to that. I also have a similar, but unfounded, aversion to churches.

Neither of these are "crippling" to me really, I'm not Christian nor am I a frequent casualty of the world, so I don't need to go to those places often. But if it my friends figure it out it's always funny. (Even got slapped with a bible by one of my more Christian friends after he found out.) I do avoid them if I can though, so it's put me in fairly awkward situations.

Edit: Unneeded quote was unneeded.

[SpunkySix]

I have a severe aversion to hospitals. Last time I was there (a relative was visiting a sick friend so I was...Moral support or something), I ended up pacing around the halls struggling to contain my trembling.

Needless to say, Hisao's scenario after that first heart attack would drive me out of my mind. Not good times.

I was gonna say, Hisao was depressed, but you'd be traumatized.

[Khalego]

I have a severe aversion to hospitals. Last time I was there (a relative was visiting a sick friend so I was...Moral support or something), I ended up pacing around the halls struggling to contain my trembling.

Needless to say, Hisao's scenario after that first heart attack would drive me out of my mind. Not good times.

I was gonna say, Hisao was depressed, but you'd be traumatized.

I'm depressed already. In his place, I think I'd just give up. Unless they had wifi. Sweet sweet distractions...

[SpunkySix]

I have a severe aversion to hospitals. Last time I was there (a relative was visiting a sick friend so I was...Moral support or something), I ended up pacing around the halls struggling to contain my trembling.

Needless to say, Hisao's scenario after that first heart attack would drive me out of my mind. Not good times.

I was gonna say, Hisao was depressed, but you'd be traumatized.

I'm depressed already. In his place, I think I'd just give up. Unless they had wifi. Sweet sweet distractions...

You could even download cripple porn if you were so inclined. How can you not relax with that, amirirte?

[Assertive]

I guess have some sort of phobia , I'm fine in small rooms and elevators, but as soon as I can't move my arms/legs I freak out, first time I realised this I was caving... I would be a bad hostage.

[Khalego]

I guess have some sort of phobia , I'm fine in small rooms and elevators, but as soon as I can't move my arms/legs I freak out, first time I realised this I was caving... I would be a bad hostage.

Or the best hostage ever, depending on one's perspective. But I'd wager being unable to move freaks most people out.