Irrational Fears

Started by Monophobia June 2nd, 2014 12:19 PM
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Monophobia

Already Dead

Age 23
Male
Ohio, U.S.A.
Seen August 15th, 2015
Posted July 29th, 2015
294 posts
9.2 Years
Not sure if this has been done before, but...do you have any irrational fears? Something you're scared of that has a little to no chance of happening or is simply ridiculous?

Mine is letting my arms or legs hang over the side of my bed before I go to sleep. I feel like something is gonna grab me if I do. o_O
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Alexander Nicholi

work hard, play hard

Age 25
Male
Research Triangle / Jakarta
Seen February 15th, 2023
Posted March 5th, 2021
5,498 posts
13.5 Years
The deep end of the swimming pool. I don't know what it is as logically I wouldn't mind it… but there's something that makes me incredibly uncomfortable, and that's not being able to touch the bottom of the pool.

My mother told me the other day that when she was still in the Army and I was no more than 3, she decided to get me swimming lessons on Fort Sill; the swimming instructor threw me and one other boy who was reluctant to get into the water into the deep end and expected us to just 'learn like that'. Apparently I have yet to fully recover from that. D:
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ヽ(;^o^ヽ) the beat goes on
the beat goes on (ノ^o^;)ノ
ヽ(;^o^ヽ) the beat goes on
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☆Rei☆

Age 26
Female
Nearby my feet.
Seen April 18th, 2021
Posted November 21st, 2018
1,748 posts
13.8 Years
the swimming instructor threw me and one other boy who was reluctant to get into the water into the deep end and expected us to just 'learn like that'. Apparently I have yet to fully recover from that. D:
Actually, the most effective way for someone to learn is in extreme conditions where failure leads to extreme consequences, in your case it was death. (Well, they'd probably pull you out the water before you drowned if you couldn't do that, but you didn't know otherwise.)

maccrash

foggy notion

Age 24
Male
Massachusetts
Seen October 7th, 2021
Posted April 17th, 2017
3,583 posts
9.2 Years
I get worried I'm gonna get swept up by a riptide or something whenever I go into the ocean (I can't swim well so I don't really go in the water much anyhow) and also whenever I see a bee I get the ♥♥♥♥ out, even though I've been stung by one and it doesn't really even hurt that badly.
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Alexander Nicholi

work hard, play hard

Age 25
Male
Research Triangle / Jakarta
Seen February 15th, 2023
Posted March 5th, 2021
5,498 posts
13.5 Years
Actually, the most effective way for someone to learn is in extreme conditions where failure leads to extreme consequences, in your case it was death. (Well, they'd probably pull you out the water before you drowned if you couldn't do that, but you didn't know otherwise.)
How is that so? Apparently not here. I'm far from the type to be comfortable in being slung way outside my comfort zone against my will and being expected to not only cope but be okay with that, especially at 3 years old.

I learnt anyway regardless, I just prefer to refrain whenever possible. :p
the beat goes on (ノ^o^;)ノ
ヽ(;^o^ヽ) the beat goes on
the beat goes on (ノ^o^;)ノ
ヽ(;^o^ヽ) the beat goes on
( don’t stop the groovin’ )

☆Rei☆

Age 26
Female
Nearby my feet.
Seen April 18th, 2021
Posted November 21st, 2018
1,748 posts
13.8 Years
How is that so? Apparently not here. I'm far from the type to be comfortable in being slung way outside my comfort zone against my will and being expected to not only cope but be okay with that.

I learnt anyway regardless. :p
It doesn't matter if you're comfortable with it or not, the point is most people can accomplish tasks under extreme pressure.

Alexander Nicholi

work hard, play hard

Age 25
Male
Research Triangle / Jakarta
Seen February 15th, 2023
Posted March 5th, 2021
5,498 posts
13.5 Years
It doesn't matter if you're comfortable with it or not, the point is most people can accomplish tasks under extreme pressure.
the point is most people can accomplish tasks under extreme pressure.
most people can accomplish tasks under extreme pressure.
most people can accomplish tasks
most people
I'm not one of them. Also, my comfort level is far from irrelevant with a task like swimming. :V

☆Rei☆

Age 26
Female
Nearby my feet.
Seen April 18th, 2021
Posted November 21st, 2018
1,748 posts
13.8 Years
I'm not one of them. Also, my comfort level is far from irrelevant with a task like swimming. :V
Was so many quotes necessary?

But anyways, I wasn't referring to you in general, rather to the method performed onto you.

Belldandy

Ice-Type Fanatic

Age 30
Female
Ottawa, Ontario
Seen October 29th, 2018
Posted December 27th, 2016
3,978 posts
10 Years
Seaweed, lakeweed... I can't swim in it because I'm scared to touch it. It freaks me out. I also imagine scary things in the water, too, and that makes it worse.

This may or may not derive from almost having drowned like, five times lol! /shudders

I have a super irrational fear of people. Like jeez Kyain everyone is not out to get you.
Don't worry, I'm scared of people, too! but it's not so irrational for me, since people have assaulted me in the past in various ways. It's gone from a theory and a "could happen" to "already has, so it can happen again." The experience made it obviously more realistic rather than a hypothetical scenario. That's why I stop and move to the side when someone, especially men, are walking behind me. I let them pass because I don't want to be mugged or something.

Oryx

CoquettishCat

Age 30
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Seen January 30th, 2015
Posted December 27th, 2014
13,184 posts
12.2 Years
Actually, the most effective way for someone to learn is in extreme conditions where failure leads to extreme consequences, in your case it was death. (Well, they'd probably pull you out the water before you drowned if you couldn't do that, but you didn't know otherwise.)
Uh, if you're trying to learn a skill you need or want to comfortably repeat, you probably shouldn't be under threat of death. Then you end up like Alex. You sound like you're mixing up immersion learning of languages (where you won't die if you mess up) and learning under threat of death - what's your source on this claim?

Travel irrationally freaks me out. Not the travel itself, but building up to the travel - the planning when to leave, the packing, the getting tickets ready, the going through security. Once I'm on the train or plane I'm fine, but getting there has more than once made me nauseous through fear.


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Skystrike

As old as time itself.

Age 24
Male
Beyond the Sky
Seen 3 Days Ago
Posted March 7th, 2021
1,640 posts
14.7 Years
Travel irrationally freaks me out. Not the travel itself, but building up to the travel - the planning when to leave, the packing, the getting tickets ready, the going through security. Once I'm on the train or plane I'm fine, but getting there has more than once made me nauseous through fear.
This isn't irrational. This is rational. I'm surprised I don't have a fear of travel--especially on the vacation I just went on recently. My mom wasn't helping at all.


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☆Rei☆

Age 26
Female
Nearby my feet.
Seen April 18th, 2021
Posted November 21st, 2018
1,748 posts
13.8 Years
Uh, if you're trying to learn a skill you need or want to comfortably repeat, you probably shouldn't be under threat of death.
That's not what I meant, I meant if you learn under some extreme pressure (which the pressure is usually caused from the cost of failing will be severe), most people can effectively learn whatever it is that they were to learn.

I forgot what the term of it is called, but it's similar to how if your body senses that you're endangered then your full potentials is unleashed and you can do many things you yourself didn't think was possible.

Such as there was a case where a half ton boulder fell on top of someone and he was able to toss the boulder aside and prevent himself from being crushed, and under normal conditions a half ton boulder would be nearly impossible for an average person lift a boulder of that weight, let alone move it off of yourself.

Which under those statements death is one of the things that could cause pressure, but it's not like they'd really let you die, unless however it's like the story I mentioned about the guy and the boulder.

Okay, I'm not really good at explaining things, so sorry if I'm still being confusing.

Oryx

CoquettishCat

Age 30
Female
Seen January 30th, 2015
Posted December 27th, 2014
13,184 posts
12.2 Years
That's not what I meant, I meant if you learn under some extreme pressure (which the pressure is usually caused from the cost of failing will be severe), most people can effectively learn whatever it is that they were to learn.

I forgot what the term of it is called, but it's similar to how if your body senses that you're endangered then your full potentials is unleashed and you can do many things you yourself didn't think was possible.

Such as there was a case where a half ton boulder fell on top of someone and he was able to toss the boulder aside and prevent himself from being crushed, and under normal conditions a half ton boulder would be nearly impossible for an average person lift a boulder of that weight, let alone move it off of yourself.

Which under those statements death is one of the things that could cause pressure, but it's not like they'd really let you die, unless however it's like the story I mentioned about the guy and the boulder.

Okay, I'm not really good at explaining things, so sorry if I'm still being confusing.
So after that, was the person who lifted it suddenly able to lift all boulders? They didn't learn a skill at all so it's not relevant, they had a one time fight-or-flight response with a rush of adrenaline. To learn a skill you have to build up slowly, feel confident, and not feel like if you fail you're going to die. No one can count on a rush of adrenaline every time they need to use a common skill, so the effect of adrenaline on a long-term skill is irrelevant. Threatening someone's life to help them learn a skill is a terrible idea.


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☆Rei☆

Age 26
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Nearby my feet.
Seen April 18th, 2021
Posted November 21st, 2018
1,748 posts
13.8 Years
So after that, was the person who lifted it suddenly able to lift all boulders? They didn't learn a skill at all so it's not relevant, they had a one time fight-or-flight response with a rush of adrenaline. To learn a skill you have to build up slowly, feel confident, and not feel like if you fail you're going to die. No one can count on a rush of adrenaline every time they need to use a common skill, so the effect of adrenaline on a long-term skill is irrelevant. Threatening someone's life to help them learn a skill is a terrible idea.
Like I said, I'm horrible at explaining. If someone who was better at explaining things explained it, it would make sense. Sorry about all the inconveniences.

Trev

i gave you everything...

Age 26
Male
Seen December 31st, 2021
Posted March 27th, 2019
1,505 posts
11 Years
Due to anxiety, I often fear that I'm irritating my friends or that they secretly hate me the more I hang around them. Case point, I thought that someone who was my best friend was starting to hate me and didn't want to be around me because he was constantly insulting me and seemed eager to get away from me at any chance. It turns out he was actually under a lot of stress and didn't mean to be non-compassionate. I always do stuff like this to myself and it kills me.

Xilfer

Just won't die.

Male
Your mind
Seen May 5th, 2015
Posted May 5th, 2015
1,880 posts
12.7 Years
I guess you could call it irrational; I have this fear of bees, wasps, and hornets. I dunno why. I've been stung by them a couple times before but it was never a big deal, and I was scared of them way before I ever got stung in the first place. It's their buzzing noises and the thought of their stingers, I think, that freak me out the most.

Come to think of it, maybe the fear was brought about by this friend I used to have. He, too, had an irrational fear of bees and the like, and he was always using me as a human shield when they were nearby. I guess his irrational fear ultimately caused mine.

Man when I find that guy... >.<

Candy

Age 26
Female
In OJ Land
Seen 1 Week Ago
Posted August 22nd, 2020
3,813 posts
14.3 Years
The minute I go above the 2nd floor (or 3rd if G isn't used) of a building, I'll start to go all "the floor is going to crumble under me", or "the escalator will fall I know it will".

I mean, if most acrophobics fear of falling from a great height, then I fear that the whole freaking structure will collapse while I'm on it.

But for some reason, riding airplanes doesn't make me as terrified as being in a building at least 4 stories above the ground.
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Dustmop

Fight for what makes you happy

Age 30
Seen November 27th, 2022
Posted September 7th, 2016
932 posts
9.2 Years
The minute I go above the 2nd floor (or 3rd if G isn't used) of a building, I'll start to go all "the floor is going to crumble under me", or "the escalator will fall I know it will".

I mean, if most acrophobics fear of falling from a great height, then I fear that the whole freaking structure will collapse while I'm on it.
omg this. Except even on the second floor, I'm convinced my weight alone will break the entire floor and I'll fall through and die. It's only 10 feet, but I very well might die.

I'm also afraid to go down stairs. I can go up them but I cannot go back down. I am a cow. Moo.

Two years ago, I had this brilliant idea that if I took the time and effort to completely gut the second floor down to the studs, and remodel/refurbish it to a beautiful master bed and bath (it was two small bedrooms and a very small closet bathroom) then MAYBE I'd be comfortable on the second floor.

... I think I was better off staying on the first floor. D:

starseed galaxy auticorn

PC's Resident Auticorn

Age 34
she/he/they
the land of magical unicorns
Seen 1 Day Ago
Posted 1 Week Ago
6,648 posts
18.9 Years
I have a fear of thunder. It's not so much the fact of it hurting me because that's just ridiculous, right? It's actually because it's loud and extremely unpredictable. I just can't stand when it thunders outside. ><

I also have this extreme fear of spiders. I can't even look at pictures of spiders without freaking out. O_O I just got so scared and feel like they are going to eat me or something. I have a lot of fears though, like I have this fear of dentists and a fear of hospitals as well. I'd rather go to my primary doctor for something than risk stepping into a hospital. It's mostly because of the fact that where I'm on a high functioning spectrum, they don't quite get how I can have so many mental and emotional issues or have to be treated the same way a child would be treated.

I also hate needles. Like, I don't mind having my blood drawn, but when it comes to IVs or anything than I will literally fly off the bed on an extreme panic mode. It happened once at the hospital. The lady there could easily see how terrified I was, and she was going to give me ANOTHER needle to calm me down, but it only made my situation worse instead of better. I cannot stand IVs no matter what they do to get me to calm down. Because you'd have to give me a pill to put me to sleep in order to get an IV in me. =.= Otherwise, there's no way in hell you're sticking me with an IV. Most, if any of them (hospitals), don't do stuff like that. It really sucks too because I think they should.

I also fear that I'll get diabetes just like my dad has. This ties into my fear of needles. I don't mind them being in my upper arm, but anywhere else on my body will cause me to freak out entirely.

Oh! I also have a fear of planes as well. I can't even imagine being on a plane, and I'm not sure if it's the fear of it crashing or just a fear that I'm not going to like being so high up. I'm not even afraid of heights at all.

I have a lot of fears due to anxiety. I can't even walk out my front door without becoming absolutely terrified of what will happen to me. D:

Blake Belladonna

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Non-binary
Vale
Seen June 10th, 2019
Posted June 16th, 2015
870 posts
9.6 Years
I have pyrophobia; basically irrational fear of fire. I don't know why but I just will never go near even candles on a cake (yup my birthdays never had candles). And the kitchen is literally my most disliked place in the house.

I also have a fear of ravens. Oddly I'm not affected when I see crows. Maybe it is the differing physique or something, I don't know. If I did, it wouldn't be called irrational...