unusual phobias?

Question

has anyone got any unusual phobias i have one that seems to be on my mind all the time but i am too frightened to tell any one about it because if i ask my psychiatrist i think he will say face your fear and i dont think i will be able to do that without hurting people, you see i am absolutely terrified if people with burns on there faces, or birth marks or dsifigurements i have been like this ever since my mum said something to me when i was young and now if i see anyone with this my face gets flushed and i get a panic attack i am on medication for depression, post traumatic stress disorder but at the moment it seems to be this that is taking over my life, people might think it is me being cruel to these people who obviously have to live like this and it is absolutely not true i have the greatest respect for these people i am just terrified of it , i hope someone can help me thank you very much

Answer 1

I can't offer you much advice, but I can make you feel more normal. I've got a cousin who used to (and probably still does) get physically sick if he saw someone with any sort of infirmity. He threw up once in MacDonalds when he saw some poor person with MS. He even put his dinner aside once when they were talking about health issues on the TV (he was a fat boy who loved his food, so that was really weird for him). So, you're not alone, but luckily enough for my cousin, he was too thick to let it get to him. I hope you get it sorted and start feeling better soon.

Answer 2

A phobia is an irrational fear of something most people find normal.
I suffer from emetophobia - fear of vomit. It used to restrict my life, but I plucked up the courage and went to therapy.
I still haven't vomited in 18 years, but when other people get sick I can somewhat face it.

If you see a therapist, they will probably start you on behavioural therapy, which will eventually culminate in you being able to face someone with a said disfigurements.
But that can take a long time - you'll learn the root cause of your phobia, and then gradually through sessions of "training" you'll learn how to deal with it when faced with it.

Good luck :)

Answer 3

I have pyrophobia(fear of fire) and associated PTSD symptoms, resulting from an early childhood event, where a mentally ill nun attempted to scare other children by attempting to place me into an incinerator chute. I was 3 or 4 at the time and now have intense reactions to uncontrolled fire.

For example, during an intense scene in the movie, "The Towering Inferno", I actually bolted out of the theater auditorium, shaking and sweating.

Answer 4

I would recommend trying to get some cognitive behavioural therapy, which deals with changing thinking patterns about the phobia and learning new thought processes. The ultimate goal is to face the fear but you won't do this until you are mentally ready. I have been recommended this for my phobia and am currently working through it. Good luck

Answer 5

I really think you need to speak to your psychiatrist about this. Dont worry, they will not say that you need to "face your fear" as they would be well aware of the affect this could have on the other people.

I had a phobia of travelling in cars following a motorbike accident. Now, not only do I travel in cars, I drive them too. That was with the help of my counsellor. They really are the best people to deal with things like this.

Answer 6

i have an uncontrollable phobia thats really hard to explain. I'm terrified of windows at night, you know when its dark outside and you can't see out, im always terrified someone will be outside and they will try and kill me. i dont know where it came from or how it started but its horrible and takes over my life at night. So much so that i have had to tape my blind to my window becuase when i sat on my bed i would see the window behind my blind.

i know its hard but you have to try and face your fears and spend some time just looking at what you are afraid of. you don't have to do it alone. But i know sometimes people think that strange phobias are weird and people are just making a fuss, my mum shouts at me when i get funny about windows and my sister makes fun of me but even though i know no one it outside i can't help it. its an uncontrollable fear.

talk to someone you trust about i and im sure they will be willing to help you, your not alone millions of people across the world have strange phobias, its important that you talk to someone about it.

good luck with everything xxx

good luck with everything

Answer 7

They won't necessarily have you face your fear by confronting people like that. There are many other ways such as thinking about it while practicing relaxation techniques or using photographs until you are able to actually confront people if your therapist thinks it is necessary. I think you should talk to your therapist about it, even if you do and they suggest confronting your fear you don't have to. Your therapist pretty much can't make you do anything you don't want to.

As for me, I'm terrified of centipedes.

Answer 8

Your problem is not particularly unusual. There are people out there with every phobia you can think of, but there is always a reason. You may find hypnotherapy helps. There is no need to feel ashamed at all, you have a genuine problem that can be solved.

Answer 9

I am 39 and i have a phobia of Moths whenever i see one i get a cold sweat and if one comes near me i almost faint, The weird thing is i am not afraid of any other insects.
Smurf

Answer 10

...I know what you mean...
Well, i fee the same way, if you tell a professional, they may ask you to face that phoba...but you don't think it will help or don't want to do it

But they have a way of doing things to help you get over it...

My advice to you is to somehow supress that memory of what your mum told you..either by replacing it, or using next information to interfere with it...So you remeber the story, then get Another better story to replace that one...

And see ho wit goes

Good luck, i really feel for you