Phobias - Do you have one?

Have you every been in a position where you feel extremely uncomfortable or endangered? Mostly in a position others may find normal but to you it’s isn’t.

It could be a kind of animal, heights, speed and the likes.
These are known as Phobias.

It took me a while to comprehend one of mine. Claustrophobia - Fear of tight or confined spaces.

I realized I had this phobia a few years ago, although before then I was fine whenever I find myself in a confined space so there is a possibility it could be developed over time.

The first episode I had was in an elevator. I rarely get into elevators so I didn’t realize it was phobic to me. Until the day I got in one and it was stuck. So many scary thoughts we’re going through my head, it wasn’t long till I couldn’t breathe properly. I pressed the emergency button until my fingers hurt.
I was overly panicked and the room was spinning.
When the door finally swung open, words can not explain the relief I felt.
I got home that day and promised myself never to get in an elevator alone again.

Another episode I had was in a car. There was about four of us in the car and it was pouring heavily so the windows had to be up. Unlucky for me the car had no air condition so we were mushed into a tight hot car.
I remember how I started overthinking until I couldn’t breathe properly. It was like I was running out of oxygen.
I had to immediately whine the closest window down for fresh air, even if it was raining I couldn’t care less I just wanted to breathe.

Yet another time was in a concert. This happened before I figured my phobia, I ignorantly entered into a field with so many people active. I noticed the circle was closing up on me, I looked up for a way out but I couldn’t find. Panic was an understatement because I was scared for my life. I tried with all my might to push through people till I found some ground space. Took some deep breathes, drank water and that was how I regained myself.
I was surprised I did not collapse.

The panic attack I felt was similar to the one in the elevator and the car so I made my research and discovered my phobia.

I figured the importance of knowing them and also how to control it.
Now that I have an idea of my fear, I try not to find myself in a situation to face it.
If tragically I do find myself in that situation, I made some research on how to manage it.
For instance if I begin to have a panic attack in an elevator, I take deep breathes and think of my happy place after ringing for a way out. It works for me and just like that I can manage my phobia and gradually get rid of it.

Some common phobias are;
Fear of heights - Acrophobia
Fear of deep sea - Thalassophobia
Fear of gigantic objects - Megalophobia
Fear of the sight of blood - Homophobia
Fear of cats - Ailurophobia
Fear of staying single - Anuptaphobia
Fear of time - Chronophobia
Fear of dogs - Cynophobia
Fear of thunder - Astraphobia
Fear of needles - Trypanophobia
Social phobia
Fear of failure - Atychiphobia
Fear of mirrors - Catoptrophobia. Etc.

This is your sign to know your phobia and get tips on how to manage it, it might save you one day :)

all pictures are mine