Irrational Fear Thread

[Skylarker]

So, who is willing to admit to at least one irrational fear?

I am terrified of parking garages...absolutely racked with panic the minute I enter them. I'm talking about the big ones, like at museums and hospitals and casinos...the gigantic multi-level ones. My brain cannot understand how those concrete levels and pillars and steel beams can conceivably bear the weight of all those cars; I become totally overcome by the certainty that everything is going to collapse and fall on itself at any moment, and I will be crushed and killed. Every single time. I don't say anything about it, because I know it's stupid, but yeah...totally terrified of parking garages. Heart races, I can't think straight, skin crawls, mind races.

Also, the police. This has been an on-going fear of mine for many years, and it has only gotten worse. Mainly while driving. I am absolutely gripped with the certainty that I will be pulled over and detained on some warrant, or something. It is nearly unbearable. Constantly checking my rearview mirror.

Interesting thing about that...I have never committed a crime, never even had a speeding ticket, even once. I have current insurance, legal plates, I never speed...nothing. Additionally, I have never had a bad experience with a cop...yet I feel this total contempt and anxiety for them. Also, if I am driving my boss's car or my girlfriend's car, the paranoia is extremely mitigated. It's only when I am driving my own car. Or, if I am with someone, like my kids, even in my own car, then it is also much less substantial. But when I am in my own car, alone, I am absolutely certain that they are going to pull me over at any moment and take me to jail.

[Anonymous]

I have the same type of fear, only it's of tall buildings. I fear furniture from the neighbors upstairs will fall through and kill me. I also have fears about jail. If I hit a bump in the road I worry I may have hit someone. I even used to go back and check. I'm trying to adopt a 'whatever happens, happens' approach to my fears, as well as the rest of my life. Because, what else can I do?

[Giselle]

I'm a bit paranoid about burning down our apartment accidentally. And no, I'm not a pyro.
We definitely have renter's insurance, but that doesn't lessen my worry.
I've been known to check to see if I've unplugged my flattening iron, turned off the stove, the space heaters (in winter), etc... multiple times before leaving for work or class. On one or two occasions I've even been known to turn around on the highway en route to wherever I was going and go back and check yet again if I can't remember clearly. I know.

[123xyz]

So, who is willing to admit to at least one irrational fear?


Also, the police. This has been an on-going fear of mine for many years, and it has only gotten worse. Mainly while driving. I am absolutely gripped with the certainty that I will be pulled over and detained on some warrant, or something. It is nearly unbearable. Constantly checking my rearview mirror.

Interesting thing about that...I have never committed a crime, never even had a speeding ticket, even once. I have current insurance, legal plates, I never speed...nothing. Additionally, I have never had a bad experience with a cop...yet I feel this total contempt and anxiety for them. Also, if I am driving my boss's car or my girlfriend's car, the paranoia is extremely mitigated. It's only when I am driving my own car. Or, if I am with someone, like my kids, even in my own car, then it is also much less substantial. But when I am in my own car, alone, I am absolutely certain that they are going to pull me over at any moment and take me to jail.

I'm not so sure that one counts as irrational ...

[Iona Mink]

Clowns.

[Iona Mink]

Did you have to make that picture so big?

Amongst others there is



and



and

[Giselle]

Clowns.

[Iona Mink]

Ok. Not looking at this thread any more.

[!Viva Hate!]

Ok. Not looking at this thread any more.

Why not?

[Thesmithsmorrissey]

So, who is willing to admit to at least one irrational fear?

I am terrified of parking garages...absolutely racked with panic the minute I enter them. I'm talking about the big ones, like at museums and hospitals and casinos...the gigantic multi-level ones. My brain cannot understand how those concrete levels and pillars and steel beams can conceivably bear the weight of all those cars; I become totally overcome by the certainty that everything is going to collapse and fall on itself at any moment, and I will be crushed and killed. Every single time. I don't say anything about it, because I know it's stupid, but yeah...totally terrified of parking garages. Heart races, I can't think straight, skin crawls, mind races.

Also, the police. This has been an on-going fear of mine for many years, and it has only gotten worse. Mainly while driving. I am absolutely gripped with the certainty that I will be pulled over and detained on some warrant, or something. It is nearly unbearable. Constantly checking my rearview mirror.

Interesting thing about that...I have never committed a crime, never even had a speeding ticket, even once. I have current insurance, legal plates, I never speed...nothing. Additionally, I have never had a bad experience with a cop...yet I feel this total contempt and anxiety for them. Also, if I am driving my boss's car or my girlfriend's car, the paranoia is extremely mitigated. It's only when I am driving my own car. Or, if I am with someone, like my kids, even in my own car, then it is also much less substantial. But when I am in my own car, alone, I am absolutely certain that they are going to pull me over at any moment and take me to jail.

You would love the place where I work

I have to drive up a seven-story spiral inside of a massive parking garage just to find a decent space

and it's fun, that spiral.

[Iona Mink]

Why not?

STOPPPPPPP IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!

Thank you for the nightmares.

(And definitely not re-quoting that picture...)

[CrystalGeezer]

I have a debilitating fear of kittens.

[!Viva Hate!]

I have a debilitating fear of kittens.

Don't you mean 'salads'?

[nothappynotsad]

I have a debilitating fear of kittens.

Don't you mean pretzels?

[!Viva Hate!]

Don't you mean pretzels?

Don't YOU mean cars?

[Skylarker]

Don't YOU mean cars?

Don't you mean hats?

[!Viva Hate!]

Don't you mean hats?

No, no..."basic brown types."

[Skylarker]

No, no..."basic brown types."

Goddamned racist, car-fearing bastard...

[!Viva Hate!]

Goddamned racist, car-fearing bastard...

You know, there is ONE car I can get behind...

[Skylarker]

You know, there is ONE car I can get behind...

We have fun, you and I...