Wednesday, July 24, 2013

EEK! (AKA, Fears, Phobias, and Things that Freak You the Eff Out)

I like to think of myself as a strong person. If there's something I have to do, I do it. Generally without dilly-dallying, because dilly-dallying never makes anything easier. 

But there are some things that Freak. Me. The. F***. Out. 

For instance (in no particular order):

1. Spiders. *shudders* I was going to post a picture of one, but I (you guessed it) freaked the f*** out looking at them. Yeesh. You want to see spiders? Go Google them yourself. And then do me a favor--don't link to them. 

2. Cockroaches. (See above. Cockroaches are almost as bad as spiders. But somehow grosser, so there's the ick factor to consider. I'm fine with ladybugs, ants, silverfish, etc., so it's not creepy-crawly phobia in general.)

3. Long bridges, especially over water. I tend to hold my breath as I go over them, which is why I don't like the long ones. Holding my breath for long periods makes me light-headed. This is especially troublesome if I happen to be driving.

4. Extreme heights, especially when viewed from an edge of any sort, even one with a rail. (I'm okay with moderate heights. It's when the people below start looking like ants that I tend to hyperventilate.)

5. Small, enclosed places. (Yeah, I'm claustrophobic. So now you know where Ciel gets that from.)

6. Cranes. (Not the birds. The machinery.) Part of me is just sure one of those things is going to drop an I-beam or something on my car as I drive by one day.)



Apparently I'm in good company with my irrational fears:



Who knew a plastic bin could be so terrifying? 

Special thanks to Jen Stayrook (aka @JentheAmazing) for the gif. I can always count on her for a good camel connection. 


So, what are you afraid of? 


20 comments:

Anne Gallagher said...

I'm pretty much afraid of all those things as well -- spiders and cockroaches at the top of the list.

However, you forgot snakes. As in the kind that when you move the trash can they come slithering out from underneath it. And yes, I'm not ashamed to say that was a freak the F*** out moment complete with peeing in my pants trying to run away from it.

Hope you're having a bang up summer! I'll be back in a few weeks.

Linda G. said...

Anne -- Oddly, snakes don't really bother me. I won't go near a venomous one, of course, but I don't have the same visceral reaction to them as I do when I encounter a spider or a cockroach. Strange, I know.

My summer is going...well, frankly, it's kind of wacky. But I will get through it! Looking forward to seeing you back in a few weeks. :)

Jennifer Shirk said...

I believe cockroaches are my Kryptonite. LOL And probably anything creepy and crawly.

Ladders. They literally make my knees wobble when I'm on them.

Carol Kilgore said...

Spiders, cockroaches, heights from an edge, and small and/or crowded spaces make my list, too. Add snakes.

Love the camel :)

Linda G. said...

Jennifer -- I suspect a lot of people share our cockroach fear. Ladders don't bother me much, unless they're rickety.

Carol -- Pretty standard fears, I suspect. :)

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

Cockroaches have a certain ICK factor, but they don't really scare me, except for in *that scene* from Dean Koontz's book "Whispers." (If you've read it, you know exactly which scene I'm talking about, and if you haven't... not so sure you'd like it...)

Only thing I can think of that totally freak me out are the replicators and Wraith from the "Stargate" TV show. And, um, any scifi creature that sucks out your brains or sticks its claws into your heart. They aren't at all cuddly. Unlike your camel. Adorable!

Jen Stayrook said...

The dark. I'm a complete and total coward when it comes to the dark. At night just before bed, I whip through the house, checking every door and window, to make sure they're doubly secure and then scurry to bed like I'm being chased by the boogie man. I can't play video games in the dark, or sit with my back to the dark. I have nightlights scattered throughout my house. I make my dog go with me everywhere at night. I'M A COWARD.

Linda G. said...

Susan -- I've read a lot of Koontz (I love his Odd Thomas books!), but I must have missed Whispers. Serendipitous, perhaps? *grin*

Jen -- I'm not overly fond of the dark myself, but not because I'm afraid of it. Unless you count being afraid I'll tip over something and break my neck. My night vision sucks. (I'd blame that on getting older, but it's always sucked.) I'm sure your dog is happy to have a job. :)

Patty Blount said...

First, Whispers still gives me bad dreams and I read it many years ago.

I'm afraid of staircases that are open. I honestly cannot walk up them without a horrifying fear of falling through the treads. Which brings to bleachers. Same deal.

I'm also terrified of snakes.

Diane Henders said...

Lots of things get my heart pounding, but there's really nothing I'm truly "afraid of" to the point of avoidance at all costs.

I can tolerate enclosed spaces, but I'm not happy doing it. And I don't like sitting in a public place where I can't put my back to the wall.

I've woken with a spider inches from my nose on my pillow, and I've had a spider crawling around in my mouth. That's not freak-out territory, but I can't say I care to repeat the experience, either...

Judy,Judy,Judy. said...

I recently discovered that there is such a thing as a fear of edges. That is what I have. I'm not afraid of heights but I don't want to look over the edge if there isn't a very good railing.
I can look down from an airplane and it doesn't phase me at all.
Fear of edges manifests in a lot of ways.

Judy,Judy,Judy. said...

I recently discovered that there is such a thing as a fear of edges. That is what I have. I'm not afraid of heights but I don't want to look over the edge if there isn't a very good railing.
I can look down from an airplane and it doesn't phase me at all.
Fear of edges manifests in a lot of ways.

J.L. Murphey said...

I can handle all you mention except the last one. It sends icy fingers down my spine too for the same reason. No, my major phobia is snakes all kinds. I won't watch movies or television shows with them on it either! I only searched for a picture one for my blog and I was trembling all over.

abby mumford said...

i can't stop laughing at that camel. that must be what i look like when i'm startled and trust me, i startle easily. it's annoying. everything from a loud noise to rounding a corner and running into someone to me doing the dishes and someone entering the room. how do i turn off the startle mechanism?

other things that scare me? the dark. pineapples. scary movies.

LD Masterson said...

Spiders. Absolutely. Including pictures of spiders so thank you very much for not surprising my with one.

Heights don't bother me if I'm on something solid, like the edge of a cliff, but I can't do roller coasters or even Ferris wheels.

Al said...

on your list the only one that bothers me is heights.

Al said...

on your list the only one that bothers me is heights.

Anonymous said...

Love that gif. Pretty much exactly what my horse looked like the first time she drank out of the big water tank after my mother put fish in there.

Crystal Collier said...

LOL! I'm actually the opposite of you. Bugs, spiders, no big deal. (That may have to do with my 5 brothers and upbringing...) I recently discovered that being on the open ocean with no land in sight (but only at night) is a wee bit terrifying for me. Never would have guessed. Bizarre, right?

Linda G. said...

Patty -- Open staircase are a little nerve-wracking. We once had a dog we had to carry up any open staircase. He was terrified of them. Regular staircases were fine.

Diane -- The spider thing would have put me in the hospital! *shudders*

JJJ -- I recently heard of that, too. So funny how the brain works, isn't it?

J.L. -- Snakes don't bug me, for some reason. I had a pet ribbon snake that my brother caught for me when we were kids. I thought it was cute, like a lizard with no legs.

Abby -- Hmm. Not sure how to turn it off. Maybe a good, stiff drink? ;)

LD -- Eek! Roller coasters get me, too. Not so much the drops as the ride up to the top. I HATE that anticipation.

Al -- I guess when you live in Oz, it's good not to be afraid of spiders, huh?

Kari -- LOL! Bet that was a funny sight.

Crystal -- No, that doesn't sound bizarre to me. I can see where the open ocean at night would be a scary place.