h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Always the way! I often find that I accidently lie on my arm under my back and then when I sit up I can't work out how to get my arm back from it's trip under me.

I once got briefly very panicky because I couldn't find my other head.

I hate spiders, I do remember that when I was about 4 a big spider ran over my bare foot and I hated them ever since. I know is sounds silly coz spiders can't harm me and I know that, so I guess my fear is irrational.

Zombies.

i don't really know why i'm so terrified of spiders. I can't remember anything particularly horrendous involving our little arachnid friends in my younger days. same goes for D.L.L's. I guess it's the old caveperson instinctive fear thingy.

re. Kats post - strange body parts...

I recognise what you describe, only I like when it happens! An arm or leg feels too short - too small - too wide - too long and not totally mine. Usually when I have a slight fever, but it's long ago now. I sometimes try to induce the feeling when I try to fall asleep, but it doesn't happen.

Milla

i have a freind who is afraid of open blinds during the night

I did a bit about phobias during my psychology A level, so here goes:

The reason so many people have phobias of spiders, snakes and suchlike even if they live in a country like the UK where they aren't dangerous is because in our caveman days, they could harm us. Our genes haven't caught up, which is why no-one has phobias of electric sockets and other everyday things which are actually much more dangerous.

That's one theory, anyway.

Also, it's not at all unusual to have no memory of a traumatci event related to your phobia.

I have a fear of heights-es very common. I will never live in an apartment building with a balcony, I have a definite problem climbing even the smallest ladder- I get very dizzy and frightened. Yet will someone explain this. I used to jump out of airplanes (whilts I had this fobia) and didn't think about it -The reason why I don't do it anymore has nothing to do with my fears.

Maybe it's because at that height you don't have a definite clear thing to hit? The distance becomes so abstract that it no longer matters?

I have a fear of insanity, because I know myself well enough to say that I probably wouldn't want to come back.

Kat you're right. When you are up at 3000 ft. over a rural landscape, standing out on the wing of a small plane, everything below sort of looks like a mini 3D map. There is nothing around it for one to relate height to. The cows even look like models. I will say something though, When you pull the zipcord and release your parachute. the 4 minute ride down is awe inspiring ,quiet, filled with solitude and peace- well, it's hard to describe. The only times I have been able to overcome my fear of heights!

Gas bottles.

The ones you hook up to barbeques and such.

Saw a mobile take-away van blow up and kill a couple of people when i was very young at a BMX meet. One of the gas bottles on the side sprung a leak.

Have never liked the damn things since.

Kasei

Fear of insanity was one I also had as a child and teenager, Nunarssuaq - happily I seem to have grown out of this one. It helped when someone once told me that if I did ever go *insane* I probably wouldn't know about it.


az

*shivers*

I think that's a very reasonable fear then.

I was pondering all of this while I was in bed last night, and it's very much how you deal with a fear as to whether it's a phobia or not.

A fear of heights is very reasonable, but if it means that you refuse to stand in the middle of a massive strong platform that happens to be high up, then that's a bit unreasonable and therefore a phobia, however refusing to lean right over and dangle by your feet....well that's just natural fear!

when i was little i was afraid of mick hucknall i still don't like him

*shivers*

I used to live on the 26th floor of an apartment building in Toronto with a huge balcony (and wonderful view of the city and the lake) and every now and then got a *fear* of wanting to toss myself off the balcony! I never minded being on the balcony or even looking over the railing. But on rare occasion I would sometimes look over the railing and think . . . what if . . .


az

I am scared to death of spiders and heights. For the most part scared of heights because I always get the feeling I'm going to fall off a balcony or a roof. If it is an enclosed building then I'm fine. Spiders I am terrified of except for tarantulas. Not sure why.

My biggest phobia, one which I absolutely, positively cannot suppress is that of touching another human being. Shaking hands and handing people change is about all I can muster up and even then I want to go eat chocolate cookies in the shower and cry. Being in large crowds is fine until I'm walking and I have to walk between two people... then I sort of want to curl up and hide.

Oddly enough, concerts don't bother me.

Wow that sounds pretty difficult! What is it about touching people that scares you so much? Do you find actually talking to people and being around them okay? Is it just getting close to them that's the problem? How do you deal with that? How long have you felt like this?

Sorry lots of questions there, I'm very interested.

I have lots of phobias, but mine arent exactly irrational they're post traumatic type things i have an inground reason for them. Like the gas bottle thing