Monday, 31 October 2011

On phobias.

Its Halloween, so here's confession number 5: I am shit scared of frogs.

And I mean SHIT scared!! I have a frog phobia. If I see one, I break into a sweat. Feel panicky. I feel like it's looking at me and about to pounce on me.
I have a hard time even seeing one on tv or in a magazine and even the cartoon ones make my skin crawl (you will note that there is no photo of one here).

In fact, just talking about it now is making me hyperventilate and feel slightly manic. I'm typing with one hand and holding a paper bag to my mouth with the other. (ok slight exaggeration, but you get the picture).

I have got no idea where my phobia comes from. It feels like it's always been there. I'm trying my hardest to not pass it on to my kids. If we are playing outside and I see one, I bring them in as calmly as I can (usually that involves dropping everything and rapidly making our way to the safety of our house whilst trying to convince the kids that playing soccer really isn't that much fun and telling them that we'll go outside again when daddy comes home in a slightly high pitched voice).

And it doesn't matter how big or small the frog is, they are all as equally terrifying to me! And heaven forbid one gets in my shoe!!

I have got no intention of seeing a shrink to sort this one out. I know exactly what they'd do: they would gradually expose me to the source of my fear. First by talking about it, then showing me photos of it, getting me to touch a photo of it and eventually HOLD ONE!!!!!!!!!!

No WAY!

I'll happily live with my phobia of frogs thank you very much!



What irrational fears do you have?