I just read this article from the BBC about a woman with a phobia of peas. The article goes on to discuss the origins and causes of phobias, which isn’t particularly interesting. But what I found absolutely beautiful was the online feedback from readers, sharing their own phobias. Some of these were too good to pass by, so I’ve included them below.
“I have a terrible fear of birds, feathers, and anything with wings. Walking around town squares in Europe is frightening and hellish for me – the thousands of pigeons seem like brainless assassins after my life. I detest moths too, especially the huge ones found in Asia. During a trip to the zoo I volunteered to pick up seven or eight huge reticulated pythons and sling them around my neck. However I refused to enter the butterfly aviary afterward. It was too scary.”
“My big brother has a phobia of gravy. There seems to be no logic to his phobia, such as a traumatic childhood experience, but the mere mention of gravy sends him into a frenzy!”
“I have a phobia of mould. I know how irrational it is – until I see some mould, then I run from the room shaking. Interestingly, I like mushrooms, as long as I can see them in a punnet, not when growing. I also get shaky at blue cheese.”
“I’d like to comment, but I’m scared of computers.”
“I have a phobia of flamingos. If one comes on the television I normally retch. Luckily there aren’t many that I come in contact with day to day. I think it might have started with the ones in Alice in wonderland when I was a child.”
“I have severe Globophobia – a fear of balloons. It makes shopping difficult when stores are giving away balloons to children, and it is practically impossible for me to go to a party without first checking if balloons will be part of the decoration.”
“I am embarrassed to admit that I have a phobia of buttons. Even as a small child I hated being dressed in any items with buttons on them. I am getting better as I get older and can wear certain items of clothing but still seeing small white plastic buttons makes my stomach turn (even writing this made me feel a bit odd!)”
“I’ve feared carrots since a very young age. I put it down to them being orange with what appears to be green hair and those teeth like fangs.”
Collectivists. Can’t stand’em.
I have globophobia. I am 13 and I have had globophobia for as ong as I coud remeber. I can’t stand being near balloons, I’m not that sure why i am afraid of them either, but i just am.
I have massive globophobia. I too have had it as long as I can remember. I am turing 25 soon. I don’t like the way they are see through, I feel like they’re looking at me. I don’t like the way they float. I can smell them, and that disgusts me. I can’t stand the sound of someone blowing them up, and the helium tank makes my skin crawl. I shake massivly when there are any around, and I break out into cold sweats. It’s horrid.