Does anybody else suffer from a bone fide, can't do something without nearly fainting, phobia?

I've always had one, but have found it extending into more and more of my life recently (and no, it isn't a phobia of working), and just wondered how common it was - and whether anybody has managed to overcome one.

I figure that as it's only started recently, it'll go away with time too, but not convinced at this line of logic...



PSD

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This is the work of an Italian narco-anarchic collective. Don't bother insulting them, they can't read English anyway.

Now we're all dying to know what your phobia is.
I did have a real fear of walking past people playing with footballs or frisbees. I still get nervous, but it's nothing like as bad as it was. The boys at my junior school used to kick balls against the wall, and if you were walking along the path, you sometimes got hit. And I got hit on the head by a football on the playing field one day. No actual damage beyond a bruise, I think, but it terrified me.
I was always useless at netball and basketball, because I hated the balls being thrown around at head height. Don't think my PE teacher ever really knew

I can't use telephones unless it's a number I know really well. Even worse is answering them. It's stopping me using email as well now... It's a mystery how I keep posting here, frankly (if I suddenly go quiet here, now you know why).

There. I've said it.



PSD

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This is the work of an Italian narco-anarchic collective. Don't bother insulting them, they can't read English anyway.

I hate calling numbers I don't know. Could never EVER do stuff like cold-calling, or sales. I don't mind answering though.

we get so many telemarketing calls, i have my fiance answer the phone now because i can't deal with those pushy sales people.
as far as calling a number that's new, or someone i don't know- can't do it- i used to have to for a job, and i ended up leaving because i just couldn't get up the courage to call complete strangers up and ask them questions...
i'm ok with the internet, though, i can type a message a million times and still decide not to send it if i don't want to...

My mother used to be afraid of flying until one day she was driving with my father and realized she was considerably safer in an airplane. She's been fine with air travel ever since.



Post Edited (04-29-03 05:56)

that could be my mother, but i think she is used to my dad's driving... it's only me that's afraid... and my boyfriend as well... there were a couple of dodgy moments when we went round.

it's not really a phobia but i can't stand clothes just close to my neck, i'm ok with polo necks, it's lower down that's bad, i was either hanged in a previous life or had the umbilical cord around my neck!

Some of my t-shirts look awful coz i keep pulling the collar down

I don't have phobias. A phobia is an unjustified fear with a psychological root cause. Heights and spiders are entirely justifiable and sensible things to be scared of.



Post Edited (04-29-03 10:09)

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I am very interested in the Universe. I am specialising in the Universe and everything surrounding it. - E. L. Wisty

I used to have the problem with phones, but got a job in a law library, which involved a *lot* of calling people to find out random stuff. The worst time was trying to find out how many records a certain artist had sold. Had to call a serious amount of people that day.

Phobia is now gone. I think they call it 'exposure therapy' or some such.

Don't like heights - to be specific, don't like looking down from heights. Have climbed to the top of the Duomo in Florence (scarey) but could only look out from the top, not down.

Also hate going over suspension bridges - just don't like the idea of nothing between me and the water. The first time I drove across a suspension bridge was August 2001 - it was the Humber Bridge and a small tornado had passed by only a couple of hours before! It was pouring with rain, one lane either way had been closed and I don't think I have ever been so frightened but I did it. Only to realise that I had to do it again to get home.

Don't mind spiders - we had a spider living outside the living room window - called it Caligula. Was there a few weeks and then for some strange reason it moved inside the window (probably because we left the window open). Only lasted a few days - Spitfire (the then cat of the house) was fascinated by Caligula dropping down on a thread and then going up again and decided to see if Caligula could still go up after being eaten. Caligula couldn't. And Spitfire was pleased with the outcome of her experiment!

I'm surprised so many people dislike using phones. I thought it was just me. I used to be really bad; partly because my girlfriend at the time used to hassle me about it so much. Still don't use the phone much and haven't got a mobile yet.

I'm fine with Email though. If someone's not in, I'll log in and Email them rather than leave a message on their answerphone (especially work related stuff).

I think it's the awkward silences. And fear of making a mistake. At least with the written forum, you can hit the backspace key. And it seems most people talk faster than they can write. (but then again, there are some of us who type faster than we can think and THAT'S scary!)

you've hit the proverbial nail squarely on the head. Even now when phoning companies with queries I have to sit down and work out exactly what I want to say. Usually end up writing myself a list so I don't forget an important point, especially when making a complaint.

Usually I leave it up to Kate. Her killer lawyer instincts kick in and the shop assistants cower behind the tills...

I also think most people are incredibly afraid of confrontation. And because the telephone is more impersonal than meeting in person, it's harder to judge the other person's emotions. You have to rely only on tone of voice. So that increases the anxiety level nearly as much as the fear of making a mistake and the fear of the "unknown".

that's just my two cents worth of opinion!

You're definitely right on that score. I much prefer talking to people face-to-face so I can judge from their reactions what to say. Also, you can make it obvious you're joking by your expressions. I'm nervous of doing sarcasm except face-to-face as it can so easily be misunderstood.
Then I'm ruthless. Ask Dave !

Yup. 'Ruthless Rob' we call him.

Amongst other things, which I can't bring myself to type on a family fforum.

I don't mind heights if there's something reasonably solid to stand on, but have trouble if what's underfoot is more flexible... 30 or 40 feet up a "proper" ladder, as long as it's properly secured, no problems: 5 or 6 feet up a rope ladder, no way!

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"Some days I diet, other days they serve lasagne."



Post Edited (04-29-03 14:17)

I acctually have to admit to working for a telesales company, although only for two shifts until I gave up because I felt like too much of a bastard.
The thing I noticed there was that people would get really angry with you (understandably), but couldn't put the phone down. Most people seem to have a reluctance to putting the phone down when someone else is talking, regardless of whether they want to hear what they are saying.
Personally I put the phone down halfway though the "we were just wond"//CLICK. The way I get round being able to talk to offical type people on the phone is by assuming that any hard moments are entirely their fault, and metaly blaming them for making life hard for me, but then I always I assume I know better than anyone else.



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I did something like that...I used to have to cold call schools and car dealerships to make appointments for the salesmen to go and visit to try to sell custom embroidered shirts and jackets. I felt awful taking up the time of these busy teachers and advisors. Not so bad about the car dealerships, but they're notoriously bad about hanging up on you. But the teachers are so nice they'd just talk and dream and then say they didn't have it in the budget.

I worked there for about 2 weeks. I will NEVER work a telemarketing job again!

It was bad enough when i had to call people to say the books they ordered had arrived, most of the time i'd have to leave voice mail messages, other times deal with snoopy secretaries wanting to know what the boss had ordered, and other times i'd get really rude people on the phone... i don't miss that, no...