My “fear” post earlier this week got me thinking.  I have some ridiculous phobias.  (And here you thought my fear of landing on the ‘people of walmart’ website was a ridiculous phobia…unless you didn’t because you think there is a good possibility I could end up on that website, in which case, whatever.) 

I’ve always been the type to struggle with over-thinking situations.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve almost passed out…or more accurately almost talked myself into passing out.  This happens  a lot at the dentist’s office.  I sit in that chair and start thinking about all the things that are happening to my teeth.  My ears start ringing, my vision blurs a little bit, I feel a teensy bit faint and then…nothing.   It’s all in my head.

Now, before you start saying to yourself, “M’kay…Mindy is a total head case,” let me assure you I am not.  I’m just someone who has way too much time to think and a slighty overactive imagination. 

I believe that putting things into words is the first step toward healing oneself.  So I thought I would share with you some of the biggies.  Some of the phobias I deal with on a more regular basis.

1) Nyctophobia - fear of the dark

I’m a ‘fraidy-cat, a chicken-butt, a lover of light.  I despise the dark.  Still.  I’ve hated the dark since I was a kid and I kind of thought I would grow out of it.  Haven’t.  I’m a nyctophobe lifer.

2) Surophobia – fear of mice and rats

Okay, bear with me.  This one’s kind of crazy and slightly irrational.  When I walk down my hallway into my bedroom at night I am afraid I will step on a mouse and it will bite my foot.   Every step into that room is purposeful and calculated.  My eyes never leave the carpet until I make it to my bed, narrowly escaping a brutal rodent attack.  If ever I actually do get bit on the foot by a mouse it will probably be the end.  My last moment.  Arrivaderci.

3) Microwavephobia – couldn’t find an “official” name for this (which worries me even more…am I the first one to experience this fear?)

Whenever I microwave something I stand away from the door because I’m just sure there’s something leaking out of that danged appliance trying to eat away at my brain.  I’m pretty sure I can attribute most of my memory loss to over-usage of the microwave in the early years of my marriage.  Dang, I wish I had cooked that chili on the stove.

4) Eisoptrophobia – fear of mirrors 

I can’t pinpoint my exact fear to a phobia but this is as close as it gets.  Every time I wash my face in my bathroom, I slowly open my eyes because I’m afraid someone will be standing behind me.  I’m just sure that some psychopath/axe-murderer will be hovering behind me with a sinister look on his face that says, “Aha..I caught you when you were most vulnerable.  Washing your face.  Ahahahaha.”  Irrational?  Maybe.  Freakin’ scary?  You bet.

Phew.  There.  I already feel better.  Kind of.  Okay, not really.  I guess these silly phobias are here to stay.  Unfortunately, there are many others which I will go over on another day. 

What are your phobias?   Any crippling fears of the mailman, or maybe intense paranoia sets in when the dryer signal goes off??  Come on…help me out here and reassure me that I’m not alone. 

Love to all,  Mindy