Phobia

We are asked by https://fivedotoh.com/2022/07/06/fandangos-provocative-question-172/Do you have any phobias? If so, have you had these phobias all your life or have the developed or evolved as you’ve aged?

My biggest fear is rats (alive or dead). Even just thinking of them and my stomach lurches, and I feel sick. It makes my whole body feel heavy. If there was a rodent in my front room, then I would not be in that room. I would likely be screaming and going somewhere high to escape.

If there is a rat, then it is my husband who deals with them.

Saying that, if there is a spider, I am the one with a glass, coaster, and a trip outside. I couldn’t harm another creature, and even rats are taken far away and let free. We used to have gerbils, and I was persuaded to hold it. Although they didn’t last longer than a couple of years.

We also had cats.

One night there was a murder most foul, and one lost its head, and the other had a heart attack. Not surprising really. We couldn’t blame the cats, it is in their nature, and we were foolish enough to leave the kitchen door open.

I do have a fear of failure, but I do try my best to fight through that fear and keep on going. I think it stems from being bullied as a child. Also, speaking in front of other people scares me. However, you cannot fail if you don’t try.

Writing my novel showed that it can happen, and I might be at the early stage of my re-writes for my new project, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be able to finish.

Whatever your phobia, the key is not to belittle it. I know I’m afraid of rats because of seeing my own mum scared. My husband is scared of spiders because his big brother put some in his bed. When these things happen we just need to find a way of coping with the fear.

You could say it is only a spider, but the feelings are real. When your stomach is in so many knots you cannot think straight, finding a safe place can help with those feelings. Talking to someone, and keeping in mind – we are all afraid of something.