What Is Your Phobia?
 

Today was a very bad day for me to have my bee phobia as a big hive of yellow jackets tunneled into our house and the nest was literally exposed to the inside of our house. Last night I got stung and we thought it was a random bee that snuck in an open door. We found a few more bees this morning and we figured there was a problem. We did some searching but couldnt find the problem. However, within an hour after our search there were 100 bees in the house.

I freaked and almost ran over my daughter as I ran to the bee-clear bedroom. However, Mrs. Utah had zero problem with the bees. She called an exterminator but stayed in the main room and stomped bees. She personally killed over 50 and the exterminator did the rest. I couldnt believe she could stay in the room and do that. I was on the phone with her from the bedroom and she was saying, "come here little fella. So sorry, now I have to kill you. whap!" She seemed to even have a bit of glee in her voice for her bee killing adventure. I have such an irrational fear of bees that I have trouble even looking at them in pictures.

one of the many little clusters inside our house today.
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1374/beesfo9.jpg

Mrs. Utah was teasing me and rightly so as I did not put on a manly display. Yet, we were are Valley Fair 3 days ago and Mrs. Utah refused to go on any of the scary rides. I even made a prop bet with her and told her I would get her a car if she went on a ride called the Ripcord. She wouldnt even do it for a car. Earlier in the summer she screamed at the top of her lungs on a kitty ride. They simply scare the daylights out of her.

I can go on any ride and I can dive into the pitch black ocean in the middle of the night during a rough current and swim with shark. But, I cant go near a dead bee.

So, do you have any phobias and/or any good stories about encountering your phobias? Do you have any idea where they came from?

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

You hit one of mine right there. Those [censored] look angry, that picture is enough to make me feel a little weird. I'm not sure where it came from, as I've never actually been stung by a bee or yellow jacket or anything. I've got no idea how much it hurts, and I know I don't mind needles at all. I think they just look disgustingly creepy, and I'd have done the same as you did.

I know my fear of them started earlier than this, but when I was much younger (probably in 1st grade or so?) my house had a big lawn type thing in the backyard, behind the rest of the backyard but still on our property. Nothing could be done to it because there was a gas pipline underneath it, but my brother and I and our family would sometimes go out there for fun. Well, one day, my brother (he's almost three years younger than me), stepped on one of those yellow jacket nests, and they swarmed him and my dad. I most definitely ran as fast as I could.

The only other phobias I have are spiders (though I realized today that this is more spider webs than the spiders themselves). Oddly enough, I think this started from seeing the movie Arachnophobia when I was a kid, which is weird because it's not a scary movie at all. I just remember freaking out about spiders only after seeing that movie.

I don't know if this can be considered a phobia, but I have a somewhat illogical fear of drowning, but that's probably just because I'm a weak swimmer. I have no problems getting out on the water with any kind of flotation device. Being a poor swimmer, I've had a couple of scary encounters with water that probably gave this to me. Though, it hasn't stopped me from getting diving certifications.

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I don't know if this can be considered a phobia, but I have a somewhat illogical fear of drowning, but that's probably just because I'm a weak swimmer. I have no problems getting out on the water with any kind of flotation device. Being a poor swimmer, I've had a couple of scary encounters with water that probably gave this to me. Though, it hasn't stopped me from getting diving certifications.

[/ QUOTE ]

I, too, have a fear of drowning. I am a fair swimmer and am a certified diver. I will only dive in certain conditions-too prone to panic because I am afraid of drowning. I have no problems with being near or on the water, and certainly no fear of the sharks, rays and other things that I have been in the water with.

I must also share the "ride" Utah wanted me to go on. I would be curious to know who would do this...maybe its more of a guy thing.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...63773238884814

note-the rider is hoisted up 180 feet! [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

I've always been a bit afraid of sharks..especially when I surf.
When I was in the Caymans I had an encounter with a tiger shark while snorkeling that freaked me out.

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

Heights, and Whales. Everytime I see a whale, I effin' shudder,especially blue whales they're just so massive, my brain can't handle it.

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

To some degree flying. Not a life-altering fear, but whenever it gets a little bumpy I overreact. This is a rather recent development.

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

I have a few fears:

Heights (although I did a ropes course once that helped)

Open Water (although I just went jet skiing on the Gulf of Mexico last week and was surprised by my not being wicked freaked out)

Bugs - All kinds. There is nothing in the world that I fear more than bugs. It's a crazy and irrational fear too. Just thinking about it...sometimes I get freaked out. Like say I found a spider in my bed. I'd have to have someone kill it. Then I'd have to wash my sheets (with help taking them off because I'm afraid they'll be more) and for the rest of the night I might not be able to go near my bed...even for days. It's bad. Once in my old apartment a cockroach ran across our bed. My Ex got it. The exterminator came and said there was no nesting. We bought industrial stength spray and we tore the bed apart and the whole bedroom. I still couldnt sleep in there for months. I had to buy ear plugs when I did so that I could sleep. For some bizarre reason I think covering my ears helps w/ this. Partly because I dont hear anything that I could potentially assume is a bug ready to come and crawl all over me. I also hate when people say they cant hurt me. No duh. I just hate them and want no part in being anywhere near them.

I'm completely nuts. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

T,

I wanna marry your avatar.

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

Cockroaches.

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

People. I fear most public situations where I don't know everyone. I don't meet people well.

Chrematophobia
 

[ QUOTE ]
What Is Your Phobia?

[/ QUOTE ]What's with the singular ?

The shop list

Re: Chrematophobia
 

Sometimes heights, but especially bridges (I'm okay with flying though).

Driving or riding across bridges I've finally gotten better at but it's taken me awhile. I had to close my eyes when I was a kid and we would cross a bridge on a family vacation or something.

The bridges across the Ohio River in Cincinnati just freaked me out and I would sit there trying to will the driver (either my mom or my dad) to move over to the left-lane (away from the edge of the bridge).

I have had dozens of dreams (probably 100 or more) where the bridge just ends, or gets narrower and narrower and you are just trying to make it across on two narrow tracks, or is a ridiculously steep and curvy incline and then incredibly dangerous descent, etc etc etc.

Now that I live in Memphis I still have similar dreams. Except that some of them will involve crossing the Mississippi River into Arkansas, instead of crossing the Ohio River into Kentucky.


I've also had dreams of a super long (but low and not scary) bridge from Alaska to Hawaii (and a different one from Seattle to Hawaii).
And another about a long bridge from NY to England.


On a different topic: my subconcious kind of rocks (when the dreams aren't scary).
I frequently remember my dreams and I think they are usually pretty interesting. Sometimes really telling. Other times just downright odd. Better than TV at least (most of the time).

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

[ QUOTE ]

You hit one of mine right there. Those [censored] look angry, that picture is enough to make me feel a little weird. I'm not sure where it came from, as I've never actually been stung by a bee or yellow jacket or anything. I've got no idea how much it hurts, and I know I don't mind needles at all. I think they just look disgustingly creepy, and I'd have done the same as you did.

[/ QUOTE ]

Pretty much my thoughts exactly. I think it might be because one of my friends when I was a kid was allergic to them and got stung once when we were in the woods with school. A teacher had to call an ambulance and everything. I'm thinking it's more than this though but this is all I can think of right now

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

I have the usual spiders and public speaking (although I can deal with both if I have to).

The only weird phobia I have is any kind of awkward situation/confrontation where someone is put on the spot who isn't in on the joke, or is about to be confronted with something and we know it, but they don't. Doesn't matter if it's live or taped, real or fictional, tv, radio or even print. Classic examples would be when Howard Stern ambush fake interviews someone, when local reporters confront the scammer mechanic, those Daily show goofy interview segments, most reality shows, a lot of the stuff in Curb Your Enthusiasm. The entire Ali G show is out obviously.

Basically the kind of stuff you want to watch between your fingers. I simply can't handle it unless I'm hammered or something. It's like nails on a blackboard to me (except that actually doesn't bother me). Luckily with Tivo I can watch most of say the Daily Show interviews, then just skip over the awkward moment. But if I'm watching it with someone else I have to grit through it. If it's really bad I will get up and go to the fridge or something. I forced myself to sit through a whole episode of Average Joe, which is basically one gigantic awkward situation, when I was over at my friend's house. I just wanted to see if I could do it and what it feel like. I got through it, but it wasn't fun. The moment where the hot girl sees all the shlubs and realizes she's been had - just about did me in.

I've tried to guess why I seem to have this impulse stronger than most. I think it could be because my parents fought a lot when I was little, before getting divorced when I was 5. No violence but I remember a lot of yelling. I think maybe it's that tension of the moment before the fight erupts--will it or won't it happen--that triggers some kind of heavy anxiety in me. That's the working theory anyway. It's always the parents' fault.

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

http://www.nps.gov/tont/nature/graphics/centipede.jpg

Saw one of these bad asses in my house when first moved to southwest... never saw one again but thought about them coming in un der the door all too often...

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

weird. I have the exact same phobia, the only thing I scared of is bees. One comes near me I freak. I have no idea why really.

Also a few years ago I was also at valley fair with my ex and I'm holding a drink. I can tell there's something going on out of the corner of my eye and she calmly says "give me your drink". She takes it and its covered with bees and I uh get the hell out of there.

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

[ QUOTE ]
weird. I have the exact same phobia, the only thing I scared of is bees. One comes near me I freak. I have no idea why really.

[/ QUOTE ]lol. Imagine looking up and seeing 100 of those angry little things flying in your living room. I am still freaked even though they are gone. I had trouble sleeping last night because I kept seeing them in my head. Like I said, yesterday was a really really bad day to have a bee phobia. lmao.

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
weird. I have the exact same phobia, the only thing I scared of is bees. One comes near me I freak. I have no idea why really.

[/ QUOTE ]lol. Imagine looking up and seeing 100 of those angry little things flying in your living room. I am still freaked even though they are gone. I had trouble sleeping last night because I kept seeing them in my head. Like I said, yesterday was a really really bad day to have a bee phobia. lmao.

[/ QUOTE ]
That freaks me out just thinking about it. I found a dead wasp in my place a couple weeks ago, and it was pretty freaking big. Mean looking bugger. Then, maybe a weak later, I found a living spawn of it, but maybe half the size. I just hope there's not some giant wasp nest that's getting ready to erupt. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

Just be glad you don't live in Japan with these guys:

http://www.hornissenschutz.de/mandar...andarinia1.jpg

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

I hate you for posting that. I detest wasps, bees, etc.. all types. The only time I have been stung is on a golf course when I stepped on a small nest and got stung maybe 3-4 times. But it doesn't matter, I was scared of them before and after. One time I was eating lunch with a bunch of guys from school. It was fall and the yellowjackets were all trying to get inside as they do when the weather gets colder. So they were in the restaurant and it was bothering me. One dude was a nut. Former special forces, had been in plenty of jungle terrain, desert terrain with disgusting creepy crawlers, etc... He starts killing them with his fingers. Just takes his fingertip and smushes down on them. I asked how he could do that. he said with his distictive accent "It's just a f---ing bug man." No, it isn't. It is a disgusting scary deadly fying beast. [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Cockroaches.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

[ QUOTE ]
People. I fear most public situations where I don't know everyone. I don't meet people well.

[/ QUOTE ]

wait wait wait... someone on an internet poker message board with a lack of social skills? say it isn't so.....

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

Being trapped somewhere with nothing to read.

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

I think suzzer's 'phobia' (if it can be called that) is really interesting as well as the theory as to how it developed.

I don't particularly care for such shows but it's not like I have to leave the room or anything.

However, almost anything horror-movie related I have to leave. Even commercials for a movie like SAW or just accidentally skipping past a single scene of Silence of the Lambs can be pretty unpleasant for me.

I tried to joke about how silly they were when I watched 1 or 2 of them with friends when I was a kid. But they were really freaky to me and really disturbed me.


One night we were playing poker and also watched Cujo.
A couple of the guys were really into Stephen King and somewhere in there mentioned the movie Christine.

I was like, "Wait a minute. He does a movie about a killer car, and then does one about a killer dog. What's next? Herman, The Killer Poker-Chip??"

Re: Chrematophobia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Sometimes heights, but especially bridges (I'm okay with flying though).

Driving or riding across bridges I've finally gotten better at but it's taken me awhile. I had to close my eyes when I was a kid and we would cross a bridge on a family vacation or something.

The bridges across the Ohio River in Cincinnati just freaked me out and I would sit there trying to will the driver (either my mom or my dad) to move over to the left-lane (away from the edge of the bridge).

I have had dozens of dreams (probably 100 or more) where the bridge just ends, or gets narrower and narrower and you are just trying to make it across on two narrow tracks, or is a ridiculously steep and curvy incline and then incredibly dangerous descent, etc etc etc.

Now that I live in Memphis I still have similar dreams. Except that some of them will involve crossing the Mississippi River into Arkansas, instead of crossing the Ohio River into Kentucky.


I've also had dreams of a super long (but low and not scary) bridge from Alaska to Hawaii (and a different one from Seattle to Hawaii).
And another about a long bridge from NY to England.


On a different topic: my subconcious kind of rocks (when the dreams aren't scary).
I frequently remember my dreams and I think they are usually pretty interesting. Sometimes really telling. Other times just downright odd. Better than TV at least (most of the time).

[/ QUOTE ]

I googled "Dream Interpreter" and found this

"BRIDGE A link between opposing or different emotions, desires, directions. A way to deal with difficulties. The bridge Often signifies changing from one phase of life to another. So it can mean leaving something behind, like youth. Another meaning is that of a link between people, such as someone you love, or work. A link between yourself and opportunity."

Re: Chrematophobia
 

From the list: Pellagrophobia- Fear of pellagra.

I've had all my clothes pellagra-proofed.

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

This is mine as well - my brother got stung twice when I was very young, and since then I fear bees of all kinds.

I'd never been stung until high school - I was watching the Big Lebowski for the first time and walked out on it 3/4ths of the way through to mow the lawn. I feel like that was God's way of showing my horrible error.

Re: Chrematophobia
 

Potentially interesting twist on fear of heights ...

I am not afraid of heights, per se, I am afraid of an urge that I am going to toss myself from whatever the height is, be it a bridge, tall building, etc. I don't have a suicidal thought in my meager brain; but just thinking about walking across the George Washington Bridge (which I did when I was younger) makes me very nervous, as I picture myself grabbing the railing and throwing myself over. Weird.

Re: Chrematophobia
 

[ QUOTE ]
I am not afraid of heights, per se, I am afraid of an urge that I am going to toss myself from whatever the height is, be it a bridge, tall building, etc. I don't have a suicidal thought in my meager brain; but just thinking about walking across the George Washington Bridge (which I did when I was younger) makes me very nervous, as I picture myself grabbing the railing and throwing myself over. Weird.




[/ QUOTE ]

Not that weird. See Poe on "The Imp of the Perverse."

Re: Chrematophobia
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I am not afraid of heights, per se, I am afraid of an urge that I am going to toss myself from whatever the height is, be it a bridge, tall building, etc. I don't have a suicidal thought in my meager brain; but just thinking about walking across the George Washington Bridge (which I did when I was younger) makes me very nervous, as I picture myself grabbing the railing and throwing myself over. Weird.




[/ QUOTE ]

Not that weird. See Poe on "The Imp of the Perverse."

[/ QUOTE ]

I just read that story and recognized the thought in niss's post but couldn't remember where I read it. I thought it was something from Kundera - thanks for clearing that up.

Re: Chrematophobia
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I am not afraid of heights, per se, I am afraid of an urge that I am going to toss myself from whatever the height is, be it a bridge, tall building, etc. I don't have a suicidal thought in my meager brain; but just thinking about walking across the George Washington Bridge (which I did when I was younger) makes me very nervous, as I picture myself grabbing the railing and throwing myself over. Weird.




[/ QUOTE ]

Not that weird. See Poe on "The Imp of the Perverse."

[/ QUOTE ]

Found it on the net. His description of the sensations and thought process underlying the fear is uncannily accurate.

Re: Chrematophobia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Potentially interesting twist on fear of heights ...

I am not afraid of heights, per se, I am afraid of an urge that I am going to toss myself from whatever the height is, be it a bridge, tall building, etc. I don't have a suicidal thought in my meager brain; but just thinking about walking across the George Washington Bridge (which I did when I was younger) makes me very nervous, as I picture myself grabbing the railing and throwing myself over. Weird.

[/ QUOTE ]
I know what you're referring to. I don't really have a fear or desire or urge or whatever to fall like that, but I do always wonder what it'd be like to fall when I'm up high.

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

Having teeth pulled, broken, or knocked out. I can't watch anything that deals with it, even if it's tame and comical (there's a scene in Finding Nemo where the crazy Aussie dentist accidentally jerks a tooth out...I have to cover my eyes).

Re: Chrematophobia
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Potentially interesting twist on fear of heights ...

I am not afraid of heights, per se, I am afraid of an urge that I am going to toss myself from whatever the height is, be it a bridge, tall building, etc. I don't have a suicidal thought in my meager brain; but just thinking about walking across the George Washington Bridge (which I did when I was younger) makes me very nervous, as I picture myself grabbing the railing and throwing myself over. Weird.

[/ QUOTE ]
I know what you're referring to. I don't really have a fear or desire or urge or whatever to fall like that, but I do always wonder what it'd be like to fall when I'm up high.

[/ QUOTE ]


I think that 'wondering what it would be like' to fall from that high is not the same as being afraid of just randomly throwing yourself over which is something I also have.

Walking across a bridge and even having my hands on the rail I am constantly trying to rid myself of thoughts of 'accidentally' flinging myself overboard.

I also don't consider myself to be the least bit suicidal.


stepbangin - interesting dream interpretation. But I think the dreams are also related to my concious fear of bridges (especially from my childhood).

It probably applies to me in some ways, especially regarding leaving my youth behind, as I've been pretty slow to 'man-up' and actually grow-up in some ways, even though I'm now 35.

But I don't think they are all related to that because I think my general childhood fear and anxiety of bridges.

I also have lots of other driving dreams that don't involve bridges (including yet another one last night actually).

Re: Chrematophobia
 

I get laughed at everytime I say this, but I'm afraid of Balloons. Not totally afraid, but when a child has a balloon in their hand, I cringe. I really freak out, I need to get out of the area immediately.

Second fear is heights. But only when there is no railing to stop you from falling.

Re: Chrematophobia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Walking across a bridge and even having my hands on the rail I am constantly trying to rid myself of thoughts of 'accidentally' flinging myself overboard.

I also don't consider myself to be the least bit suicidal.

[/ QUOTE ]

same here. it's just the power of being able to do it makes me think about it. kinda freaks me out and i try and stay a couple feet away from the railing when i look out at [censored].

What Is Your Phobia?
 

Pickles.
-Sam

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

Torture. Ever seen Hostel?

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

okay, that was freaking weird.

"Pickles are ruining my life." ?????


If she's so afraid of pickles then why did she agree to take the road-trip to the pickle-factory?

Re: What Is Your Phobia?
 

Waking up next to a fat chick the next morning, after I put on the good old beer goggles. That always freaks me out!!!