Phobias

Today I watched Human Stories talking about Phobias. I think everyone has the right to be afraid of something. But some phobias are very serious, developing into anxiety disorders, for instance, Agoraphobia: "An anxiety disorder defined as a morbid fear of wide open spaces, crowds, or uncontrolled social conditions." Many people in America are literally unable to leave their homes for various reasons.

I have a fear of crowds, Ochlophobia. For example, I didn't attend any rallies during the recent SG elections. I was also not looking forward to sweating and standing for 3 hours, alone. But I think I would be fine, if I have 3 friends with me, like at Zoukout! And those were friends of my friends.

I have a fear of falling, Bathophobia, which is different from a fear of heights Acrophobia. This was most apparent when taking on the trapeze last year. After I climbed 4 storeys, I stood on a shaky, narrow board with nothing in front of me. I didn't wanna go on but the professionals refuse to let me climb down; I was close to tears. I clung on to the bar, toes on the board while one of them held my harness. Those were the scariest 15 seconds of my life! When he finally let go, I did like the sliding down bit but my arms were too drained by my phobia and I had to let go. Getting down from the netting was even worse, I had to somersault while holding onto the underside of this same netting! By this time, I couldn't take it and started crying. I literally crouched there for a good 5 minutes. When I finally made it back to Earth, I sat on the bench, unable to comprehend my phobia.

Thinking back, I'm fine on chairlifts and air-gondolas. I'm also ok standing on a balcony at great heights. Maybe it was the shaky structure, with nothing much to hold onto. I attribute this phobia to having had one too many nightmares of plunging lifts. And another nasty fall when I was 13 and suffered a head concussion.

I'm not really claustrophobic. I feel extremely uncomfortable getting squashed by strangers on trains and in elevators, but I'm ok if I know these people. I can sit in a small box on my own and I'll be fine, which I did in poly, to hide from the security guard, hehehe!

I have a fear of some insects, especially cockroaches and beetles, which is pretty normal. This is because these two have unpredictable flying patterns and are most often, not afraid of you.

On the contrary, I'm ok with rats, lizards, snakes, frogs, toads, rabbits, cats and dogs. I'm ok with public speaking and I laugh off embarrassments easily. I'm not afraid of the water.

I hate weird food and spiders, but I'm not afraid of them. I dun like going near kittens as they have not learnt how to retract their claws. Birds too, they have sharp claws and they might shit on you, ew!

So, do you think I need help?