Why do so many people have phobias?

[Oxylepy]

My girlfriend is terrified of spiders and snakes, though she's coming around with my snakes. A lot of people I know have various phobias, and I myself used to get all freaked out, twitchy and likely to scream when I was around Jell-O.

At some point I guess I just grew up, developed a strong enough mind, and pushed it all out. Ghosts, animals, random silly stuff, none of it ever freaks me out anymore and I dont see how all these people around me are in college, have been in philosophy/psychology courses, even have their own psychologists they see and so many of them still have goofy fears of things.

[dc4teg]

human.nature.


that simple

[Oxylepy]

human.nature.


that simple

Yes, but the nice part of being a human is that you can question the value of your phobias, then get over them. Just the opportunity to develop oneself further and to have more control over your life should have people chomping at the bit.

[tonyaltn]

Spiders and Praying Mantis scare the bajeebus out of me, and Im 36 years old with Pythons, Lizards, and 2 kids!

If I have a camera in front of my face I will get right up next to them....otherwise I will walk a mile if I have to, to avoid them. Praying Mantis actualy scare me more than Spiders, Ooooh, and those GIANT foot long Walking Stick things, OMG! CREEPY !!!!!!
Also, if I am home alone and watch a really scary movie...I will sleep on the sofa so I dont have to walk down my dark hallway to the bedroom, and I HATE having to go to the bathroom, because I get freaked out having to turn my back towards the end of the dark hallway on the way back to the living room, I actualy get chills waiting for something to grab me from behind. And some movies I simply cannot watch at all.

This one has a reason....TIRES, I am terrified to air them up, or if I am on the highway and a semi passes me, I hit the brakes so he goes by faster, or if I have to pass them I floor it and fly by. Back in 2003 I was almost killed by an exploding truck tire when I worked for a grain elevator, it messed me up really bad and I am still partialy disabled from it today. If I have a flat tire I will put just enough air in it to get someplace that will do it for me, but I will never inflate another tire, I am even scared to air up the tires on my kids bikes when they need it. There was so much blood, my clothes were soaked...when the ambulance arrived they cut off my shirts thinking I had a huge chest wound because my clothes were red from my collar to my knees, every bone in my hand was broken and my little finger was touching the side of my wrist, its still bent to this day. A hand specialist from MN had to come down to do the surgery and he said it was the worst hes ever seen, my knee was the size of a softball, missing teeth, broken nose, sliced up face, dirt embedded in my eyes from the blast of air, 3 weeks in the hospital, 102 pins in my hand, 3 surgeries, a 43 days in bed after I got home, 28 of those days hooked to an ice machine that pumped cold water around my arm, a cane for another 8 months, a year of physical therapy before my insurance cancelled,. Im left with carpal tunnel because my carpal bone is destroyed, I have arthritis, I cant make a fist or move my wrist sideways or up, and only 1/4 of the way down, and other problems with my legs, and from being bashed in the head, I forget alot of things and cant remember alot of past things....oops, Im rambling...sorry, lol. 1:39am, Im kinda spaced out.

So some things come reason, like life experience - tragedy. Others I think we pick up along the way from our childhood, like my fear of spiders and scary movies. Even though I know there is nothing to be afraid of I still am, and some people are tought to fear things as well, thats the way they were raised. All of wich I feel a person can overcome, some things just may be harder than others.

[SpencerShanks]

Two things that I am terrified of:
Burglars/murderers
Falling from a great height and living.

I saw a TV show and a family was sleeping downstairs after watching a movie together. Someone broke into their house, and the dad was shot. Luckily he survived, and the burglar was caught. Until I can get a real gun to sleep with, my airsoft gun and pocket knife are half of the reason I can sleep at night. It took me months to be able to sleep in my own room after that. Not funtimes fortunately I've mostly overcome this fear, I just won't take the trash out after 9:30 and I don't look out the windows at night time ^.^

And after jumping off of 30+ foot cliffs, I know just how amazing it feels to be free falling for just a few seconds. Unfortunately, after watching several videos of people falling five stories down onto concrete etc. and living, the pain that they must go through for years, I'm terrified of falling and living. However, falling from thousands of feet onto solid ground I wouldn't really mind because that would be insanely peaceful until I died. However, I wouldn't want my family to have to deal with that so not falling at all is just fine with me lol.

[Oxylepy]

And after jumping off of 30+ foot cliffs, I know just how amazing it feels to be free falling for just a few seconds. Unfortunately, after watching several videos of people falling five stories down onto concrete etc. and living, the pain that they must go through for years, I'm terrified of falling and living. However, falling from thousands of feet onto solid ground I wouldn't really mind because that would be insanely peaceful until I died. However, I wouldn't want my family to have to deal with that so not falling at all is just fine with me lol.

I got over my paranoia of falling by hanging out a window at 10 stories by my waist. Used to be scared to go near the window when I lived in that place. As for robbers, you just need a good deadbolt. I have one on my bedroom door... mostly to keep my pothead roommate from going near my room, but partially to at least give me some warning when people try and break in.

[CoolioTiffany]

I assume phobias come natural in most of cases. I think it might have come natural from when humans first started as the snakes and spiders would be venomous and dangerous so avoiding them at all costs was something regularly done. I could be wrong but it sounds reasonable.

Others have had bad experiences which cause their phobias, which is understandable.

I love both snakes and spiders, although I hate big flying bugs, like the palverde beatles that are coming out. Saw two of them last night, ugghh. Have you ever had a big black bumblebee land on you?

[Oxylepy]

Have you ever had a big black bumblebee land on you?

I chase after them trying to catch them gently. I also have not told people before when they had bees in their shoes. Probably saved them from getting stun, too, since any motion may have provoked the bee and the first reaction of people is to freak out.

I mean I hate a lot of things, like these big yellow beetles that are a plague in Pittsburgh right now, and all the spiders in my community (everything with an angle on it has a spider web or... 12... In fact the other day I saw some webs all along the power lines on the way to the store.

As for the "natural" phobias, that's part of the whole growing up thing, you should be able to have control over your own mind.

[Zach Nasty]

I got over my paranoia of falling by hanging out a window at 10 stories by my waist. Used to be scared to go near the window when I lived in that place. As for robbers, you just need a good deadbolt. I have one on my bedroom door... mostly to keep my pothead roommate from going near my room, but partially to at least give me some warning when people try and break in.

Dead bolts are nonsense unless you have a steel door frame. Been robbed three times in the past year and they kicked the door in once. If you have a wooden door frame the dead bolt will blast right through the frame with enough force.

[Oxylepy]

Dead bolts are nonsense unless you have a steel door frame. Been robbed three times in the past year and they kicked the door in once. If you have a wooden door frame the dead bolt will blast right through the frame with enough force.

Thats to my bedroom

Also, thats an idea for SpencerShanks. Try a steal door and frame.