Irrational fears

[Sharlee]

Anyone else have irrational fears?  I'm not talking about being scared of dogs because you were once bitten by one, but fears you have for no good reason.

I'm scared of cows and I have absolutely no idea why.  I was raised in the city, have had very minimal contact with any kind of farm animal, but on the few occasions I've been near a cow I've had this inexplicable terror wash over me.  Just watching them chew their cud completely unnerves me.  Completely irrational.

Someone please tell me they suffer from something equally irrational.  It will make me feel a bit less crazy!

[fuzzbrain]

I think "irrational" fears might actually be something that is "instinct" that might be somehow passed on genetically from our ancestors

like being scared of spiders is useful due to many poisonous spiders, or snakes, or heights

are those considered "irrational"?

[NSgirl]

I am afraid of spiders.

[Sharlee]

Good point Fuzz. 

[Green Hornet]

Does your irrational fear hinder you in your personal or professional life?  If it does not then forget about it.
I am afraid of height but at a certain height.  If I look over side of the Granville Street Bridge while walking and see the building below on Granville Island, I have a twinge of fear from my fear of heights.  I cope by not looking over the side of the Granville Street Bridge when there are buildings underneath.

I got a 1/2 second of sheer fear when I walked down end of stairs of the six story ziptrek tower during the Olympics.  When the zipline held me and propelled me forward across Robson Square, I found the ziptrek very enjoyable.  It was over that fast! .  My friend who came after me was really scared.  She said her legs were still shaking after she joined me and her toddler after her ziptrek ride.

There are treatments for irrational fears that hinder you in your personal or professional life.  The most successful is using Virtual Reality where the patient puts on 3D glasses and slowly expose the patient to their fears and increase their exposure in further treatments until the patient is no longer afraid.

Discovery Health: How can doctors use virtual reality to treat phobias?
http://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/modern/virtual-medicine.htm

[Sharlee]

Thankfully I don't work with cattle or farmers at all in my professional life, so it's no problem.

SMP, I didn't know there was such a thing as a docile bull.  I thought they were all quite agressive.  Guess that shows how much of a city girl I really am!

[GuardianFlash]

I'

I am afraid of spiders.

[Itsy Bitsy]

Germaphobia.

[schmoozer]

velcrophobia.. all things velcro scare me.

(hi y'all)

[Itsy Bitsy]

Hey schmoo 

I guess DV is a goner eh?

[Fatz McGuinness]

large bodies of water 

 hey itsy how are you feeling? i havent seen you since you were  a bit wonky from  the blood work

[Itsy Bitsy]

I'm feeling pretty good now, but I do find myself a little weaker than usual when working out. Apparently it takes two whole months to get back all the red blood cells lost during donation.

[fuzzbrain]

how often do you donate blood? I've got an irrational fear of donating blood, actually

[Fatz McGuinness]

ah darn feel better soon hun

[Itsy Bitsy]

I've only done it once so far. I was under the weight limit last time I tried to donate. You can go every two months though. I have a fear of needles and I got kinda creeped out seeing how much blood was leaving my body, but it wasn't anything I couldn't deal with...

[Itsy Bitsy]

ah darn feel better soon hun

Thanks Irish 

[schmoozer]

Hey schmoo 

I guess DV is a goner eh?

looks like.. was kind of inevitable I guess...

I've never given blood even though I know I should!
 

[Itsy Bitsy]

^ tsk tsk.

Are you registered as an organ donor?

[Fatz McGuinness]

yeah schmoozer you lazy heartless apathetic bastard!

[schmoozer]

yeah schmoozer you lazy heartless apathetic bastard!

you should talk.. with the constant alcohol level in your blood I'm sure you don't either?

[Itsy Bitsy]

^ watch what you say about the Irish, schmoo! 

[immoral1]

I fear Irrational women.