I understand why you'd think your phobia was odd, I've thought mine were odd too. Apparently so did my shrink.lol I tried medications because a few of my phobias are down right irrationally crippling.

Clowns: I almost got arrested for 'defending' myself from a clown trying to hug me!

Spiders: Only after I was bitten by the nasty brown recluse.

I cannot in any shape or form sleep with a closet door open. Not even a tiny crack. And if someone opens the closet while I'm sleeping I wake right up!

I don't remember the name, but...I have a fear of shopping places, more specifically of crowds. Xmas time for me? You won't catch me in public.

Certain textures of fabric...if it squeaks when you touch it I run.
Same with food...if I bite it and it squeaks I get ill instantly.

Good grief....I am a freak

i recently developed a needle phobia so stay the hell away from me with all that, lol. no im serious though.

I was deathly afraid of needles so to face my fears I went and got a tattoo, (now I have 7)
But I can't stand the sound of velcro, I wont buy velcro shoes for my kids never owned a velcro wallet.
I hate the sound and the feel of velcro.

Originally posted by SilentOne

I cannot in any shape or form sleep with a closet door open. Not even a tiny crack. And if someone opens the closet while I'm sleeping I wake right up!

Good grief....I am a freak

Bumping an old thread because this made me chuckle, haha.

I'm the same as you! I have two wardrobes next to my bed, four doors in total. If any one of them is slightly open, I can't sleep! Hell, I feel uncomfortable if that's the case while I'm awake! I will constantly look over my shoulder to, well, make sure nothing comes out? Lol, I have no clue..

I dont think your crazy, it took me years to be able to look at the microwave while it was cooking, when i was little someone in my family said i would get eye cancer if i watched it, so i always looked down while it was on!

My biggest fear in the whole world is waves. Mostly tsunamis. I used to be a beach person, but i started having dreams a few years ago about tsunamis and now i can't even watch waves on tv without my heart racing! (on a weird note, i woke up one morning after a tsunami dream to find a tsunami alert for my city, really freaky - nothing came of it luckily)

And spiders. Those f*****s always try and bite me. Stupid Huntsmans.

The older i get, the more i fear things i've realised. It's like one morning i woke up and realised how fragile we really are as humans, and how anything can go wrong at anytime and that's when my anxiety woke up methinks.

Originally posted by nssam

Originally posted by Clark W. Griswold
My kid is normal in most all ways, except she has a phobia of......flour. Won't touch it period. Has no problem with anything else similar, but won't touch the stuff. She'll not be a baker, that's for sure.

I'm like that with wet wool, eeeuuugh. Even typing it is making me cringe

Don't know if mine's a phobia because I'm not afraid of them but since I was a toddler buttons just repulse me, I can't stand the thought of touching them....and any kind....and I remember my Mom had a gallon size bag of all KINDS of buttons for sewing which is what triggered it for some reason!

My phobias are:

1. Leaving feet or arms hanging over the edge of the bed. I worry in case the roof forgets it's a solid substance and things in the attic fall through and break my limbs.

2. Needles - father kept me going about how painful a tetanus jab was going to be when I was a kid...it has stayed with me. Cant watch it on telly and have to have some serious distraction when having bloods done, etc.

3. Spiders - father used to pretend tomato stalks were spiders and throw them on me when I was very small. I never quite got over it. Have gotten to the point I can put them into a glass and put them outside.

4. My skin on my feet getting so thin that my bones come through. Cant explain that one.

5. Gollywogs - had a dream one night they were surrounding my bed.

6. Lollipop sticks - the thought of putting one in my mouth makes me want to vomit!

7. Cardboard...oooh I cant bear the noise...hate touching it.

I have some strange 'ticks' - I think my left foot is prettier so will always lead with it and favour it when it comes to choosing socks, e.g. if I have two socks and one has a hole in it...I will give my right foot the one with the hole in it and favour my left foot with the better sock...

Keep them coming, guys!

woodwytch, I've never thought of that before! I'm one of those people, haha. I'll be more than happy to let a butterfly crawl all over me, but I'll be damned if I let a moth hover around me. I think it's the difference of movement that does it for me. Butterflies are beautiful and elegant in both appearance and the way they flutter about. Moths are like butterflies wired on caffeine!

bkaust, that really is a freaky experience! I'm glad it was nothing serious. You're right about humans being fragile. We tend to forget just how fragile we are. That's why I believe pain to be a blessing - to an extent - because it's our body's way of reminding us to be more careful, and that we're not made of steel.

SmokeyDawn, that's an interesting one! The thought might make you shudder, but I actually swallowed a button when I was younger.

chillpill, you've made a very good point. A lot of the things we fear as adults were instilled in us at a vulnerable age.

Oh, I forgot to mention..

Another phobia of mine is when a bus, train or truck (any large vehicle) rushes past me at a close distance. Like when I'm waiting on a platform or am getting ready to cross the street. My body tenses up and I feel the need to flee.

I think that everyone has something that can be classified as a bit off or strange by those around them.

Phobias are generally assumed to be fears that have no rational base. I can see the rational points of your fears with the use of a microwave especially when used to heat liquids.

I have an odd quirk as well. I have a very strong aversion to debt. I hate even the thought of owing anyone money. This makes my life a bit complicated because I don't have any credit cards and we do live in a credit driven society.

I don't think phobias are bad unless they paralysis you or make you so miserable that you can not live the life that makes you happy.

That's very true. From what everyone has posted so far, we all know deep down that our phobias are irrational and we can laugh them off. And they do make for some interesting stories!

When an irrational fear starts to interfere with your life by making you unable to do something, that's when it becomes a big problem and should be taken care of by a professional.

Agoraphobia is one such phobia that must be a nightmare to live with.

I have OCD and my fear is of what else, germs. God forbid if I am in the store or somewhere and someone starts coughing or sneezing I have to get the hell out of there away. Then I have to go home and have a hand washing. Needless to say I have not had any of the seasonal or H1N1 flu yet or for a few years. Also I never touch my face after touching anything in public I would rather take a beating. I also never wear the shoes I wear outside of the house inside of the house. I have shoes I wear only inside the house. How wacko is that. I am glad about that habit because I did step in dog poop the other day and had to throw out a pair of shoes and at least did not track it into the house.

Maybe...maybe not, I'll have to check my local Borders (bookstore) for that title. Thanks!

Iamherefornow, I don't think you're a wacko at all! For instance, I'd prefer it if people didn't cough and sneeze all over the place. And I agree with not touching your face with unclean hands, but what if your nose gets itchy? Are you able to bypass that anxiety? I, too, have inside and outside shoes. So does my mum! Your example is a prime one for why it's a great idea to have separate footwear. Don't be too hard on yourself!

I have had a fear of spiders since I was little. They creep me out whenever I see them. It's so bad that I can't stand pictures or songs about spiders. The worst song for me for some reason is the Itsy Bitsy Spider. I know it's silly but ever since i was little that song has given me goosebumps whenever I hear it. i usually have to leave the room or put my fingers in my ears when i hear it. It just makes me feel like a spider is some where and is going to attack.