Phobias

[Opheliac]

Anyone else here suffer from phobias?

I've had arachnophobia (fear of spiders) for as long as I can remember, and it has only gotten worse with age. And it's not just the typical "OMGZ SPIDERS EWWW!!!!!" thing that mostly all girls go through, it literally controls my life. My car and house, especially my bedroom, reek of bug spray. I often have to get people to check for spiders when I enter an unfamiliar place. I refuse to install an air conditioner in my bedroom because spiders might crawl in through the holes. I hate being outdoors, for obvious reasons. And I have constant nightmares about being attacked by spiders. And when I actually see a spider, or worse, if one crawls on me, I have an anxiety attack. Rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, shaking, crying, screaming, the usual crap. I can't even look at pictures of spiders or watch nature shows without freaking out. Even detailed conversations about spiders or toy spiders are enough to set me off. It's hell, especially because everyone thinks I'm just being squeamish or girly and won't take me seriously. I likely have entomophobia (fear of insects) too, but its not as severe as my arachnophobia (I'll only have an anxiety attack if I'm somewhere with A LOT of insects, for example, a garden, and they don't occupy my thoughts nearly as much as spiders do).

Does anyone else have a phobia? How do you manage it? Have you ever sought treatment for it? What does treatment usually involve?

[Tig]

I am emetophobic (fear of being sick) and like you described, it rules my life as well however much I try and not allow it to.
I'll keep checking back here because I'd like some ideas too!
Get in touch if you want to chat :)

xx

[one_step_closer]

I used to be afraid of elevators but forced myself to keep using them and i'm now not afraid at all. Therapies other than those that Trace mentioned include systematic desensitisation where you create a hierarchy of what would be least frightening for you (e.g. looking at a photo of a spider) to what would be the most frightening (e.g holding a spider) and you work your way through them with your therapist. Before you do that you are taught relaxation techniques so that you can be relaxed while going through the hierarchy. Usually you then feel more calm around the thing that you fear.

It might be a good idea to talk to your doctor if you'd like help with your phobia. Take care.

[Opheliac]

Haven't exactly sought help yet. I'm still on the waiting list for the psychiatrists I want to see for my SI, but mayhap I'll ask him/her (I'm on three therapist's waiting lists, eek!) about treatment for my phobia(s?) once I actually get to see one. I'd like to find a doctor that specializes in phobias, but being in America, I have to rely on the free market for my healthcare, and since I live in a state with a corrupt government that's insanely hard to run any kind of business in, the "free market" isn't offering me much choice here. In fact, the therapists I'm scheduled to see specialize in AIDS and sex addiction, neither of which I've ever had any sort of problem with, but they're the only doctors with any experience with SI around here. :/ Anyway...

I've heard of systematic desensitation, and quite frankly, it scares the heck out of me, haha. Although I've never heard of CBT being used to treat phobias. I'll have to read up on that.

[Popple]

I have a fear of fire. I guess it had kindof grown into a phobia now cause I obsses about it all the time I need to know where every exit is in a building I need to be able to list at least 4 ways out before I will even consider going into a building.. I know every way out of my house and how I could get out even in the most difficult situation...
If I have to use the hob on the oven I do it at arms length and get really anxious about it and often have panic attacks cooking but we have an electric oven (just not hobs) now so it's not so bad =]
Oh and I get worked up if people light cigarettes near me
But I did have my jumper set on fire when I was little so I know why >.<

I hope you can find something/someone to help you though and I will have to keep checking back here too now see what ideas people have =]

Take care of yourself lovvie
Need to talk feel free to pm me
Much love
xx

[[pretty on the inside]]

I have a phobia of wasps. If I go outside I am constantly checking to make sure there is not one nearby, and if one flies anywhere near me I have to get away from it. If there is a wasp in the room I get extremely anxious, shaking, crying, breathing quickly, etc. I'm not sure how to handle it really. I told my therapist about it and she just gave me ways of coping with anxiety like breathing and stuff which doesn't help that much tbh, but I'm anxious about lots of other things as well.

I'm also going to keep checking this thread because it would be nice to go outside without constantly obsessing over wasps which may or may not be in the area.

Kayl xx

[MrsNutkin]

I'm not sure whether my thing is classed as a fear or a phobia.

Fears tend to real and anxiety and phobias in the mind.

[mmmMinty...]

Yeah I'm emetophobic. Completely controls me sometimes, and other times it's alright. I can't travel really, and I don't do late nights out unless I'm absolutely sure it's not going to happen. I started cbt for it but i couldn't carry on with it because I got referred to an ed unit. I might go for exposure therapy one day though, when i'm brave enough.
On the positive side, I don't purge because of it :)
I dislike panic attacks but rescue remedy spray keeps me sane!
<3

[Sweetest Downfall]

I have quite a lifecontrolling phobia of fire...Pyrophobia?? is it. Doesn't help that my brother likes setting fire to things..
I don't really "manage" it which is why I am in a bit of a hard situation rright now.
I did try and get treatment but they said that exposure therapy would be the best way and I have already tried exposure and it just made the fear 100 times worse.

I really hope you manage to find a way to work through yours!! If you ever need a chat, please message me :)
xx