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A week or so ago I suddenly remembered that Cath from Food24 doesn’t like spiders. So, for a laugh I google imaged “spiders” and called her over to my desk to come and look at something on my PC. As soon as she leant over I clicked to the collage of hairy spiders.
It only took me about two seconds to feel awful about my stupid prank. See, I had forgotten that Cath isn’t just “not a big fan of spiders”. She actually has full-blown arachnophobia.
The problem with phobias of course, is that people don’t necessarily share them. It’s not just a normal, everyday fear – it’s an irrational, all consuming fear that you cannot explain.
I can deal with spiders, sharks, the dark, open spaces and so on without blinking an eye. I’m not frightened by any of it.
I am, however, afraid of snakes.
So you can imagine the smirks around the office this morning when I stumbled across the following headline: Huge snake learns to open doors.
After running around in panicked circles and hyperventilating for a few minutes, I got myself under control and made peace with the fact that I’ll probably never sleep again. And I didn’t even watch the video of said snake doing his thing. There are certain things that cannot be unseen.
I get that everyone isn’t as scared of snakes as I am, and as they should be, but for the love of all that is good and holy, SURELY everyone should be afraid of a freaking snake that can open doors? It’s like something out of a nightmare. Hell, it’s like something out of my nightmares.
Which is probably exactly how Cath feels about the spiders, right?
Ja, ja. I get it. No one’s fear is less important than anyone else’s. Everyone’s phobias are equal. Dammit. I guess I’ll have to stop laughing at my sister and her fear of doves.
So what are your irrational fears? Do tell, so I don't put my foot in it again.
It only took me about two seconds to feel awful about my stupid prank. See, I had forgotten that Cath isn’t just “not a big fan of spiders”. She actually has full-blown arachnophobia.
The problem with phobias of course, is that people don’t necessarily share them. It’s not just a normal, everyday fear – it’s an irrational, all consuming fear that you cannot explain.
I can deal with spiders, sharks, the dark, open spaces and so on without blinking an eye. I’m not frightened by any of it.
I am, however, afraid of snakes.
So you can imagine the smirks around the office this morning when I stumbled across the following headline: Huge snake learns to open doors.
After running around in panicked circles and hyperventilating for a few minutes, I got myself under control and made peace with the fact that I’ll probably never sleep again. And I didn’t even watch the video of said snake doing his thing. There are certain things that cannot be unseen.
I get that everyone isn’t as scared of snakes as I am, and as they should be, but for the love of all that is good and holy, SURELY everyone should be afraid of a freaking snake that can open doors? It’s like something out of a nightmare. Hell, it’s like something out of my nightmares.
Which is probably exactly how Cath feels about the spiders, right?
Ja, ja. I get it. No one’s fear is less important than anyone else’s. Everyone’s phobias are equal. Dammit. I guess I’ll have to stop laughing at my sister and her fear of doves.
So what are your irrational fears? Do tell, so I don't put my foot in it again.
