I wonder how many of us have phobias. They are irrational fear that has tremendous negative effects on our lives so I'm surprised there's no focused post on here about them yet (or maybe there was but it got lost in time). I personally don't think I have phobia, like I have mild hatred of being touched by others (both authorized or not, as I feel like being violated even if the touch is in innocent place). I also have mild fear of being abandoned but it's not to the point of irrationality.
P/S: If you don't think you have phobia, this post could work as a place to share your rational fear or hatred of certain thing too.
There are situations where I'm not great with heights, but it's not to the point of a phobia. Certain types of, say, balconies or maybe cliff edges that are at least some ambiguous height; I feel a deep seated urge to keep the center of my mass as far from the edge as I can. Doesn't happen when flying in a plane or looking out the window in a really tall building. There has to be nothing physically between me and the edge for me to tense up because of heights.
I could go up into the Empire State Building no problem, but you will NOT get me up a ladder much higher than I stand.
I completely agree, otr, and then some. I don't know, heights are kind of fun, when there is a railing or I am wearing a harness. But I absolutely will not do ladders. Before I reach my own height, my body starts shaking, the ladder rocks uncontrollably, my vision starts to fade as I find myself on the edge of passing out. I can't just push through the fear, my body is going to do everything in its power to kill me.
I have no phobias that I can think of which is kind of interesting when I think of my other problems such as ADHD (which is off the charts).
Humans are born with only two natural fears. The fear of loud noises and the fear of falling. All other fears are learned or taught. The fear of falling is why so many of us are afraid of heights. Like otr I myself have no fear of being on a plane or in a tall building, however I once tried to clime a latter of a 100' tower. I was able to get about 20 feet off of the ground and I couldn't go any higher. The only major fear I have now is going back to prison! Even though prison is a major fear it is not enough to change my love for young girls but it has stopped me from touching young girls. Good thing I also love adult girls!!
Fear of both snakes and insects/spiders/etc is also instinctual. A leftover from our deep, evolutionary past when small mammals were prey for such creatures.
Many mammals have the instinctive fear of snakes as many a viral cucumber + house cat video can attest. ;)
Quote from: on the rocks on 28 January, 2026, 00:23:24I feel a deep seated urge to keep the center of my mass as far from the edge as I can.
For me it's the oppposite. Whenever i am looking down from height, my hands and feet would be sweating and shaking like crazy, but my brain keeps teasing me to lean forward.
Quote from: Driver247 on 28 January, 2026, 21:58:14Humans are born with only two natural fears. The fear of loud noises and the fear of falling.
Quote from: on the rocks on 29 January, 2026, 00:08:24Fear of both snakes and insects/spiders/etc is also instinctual.
Except for loud noises, I don't think these are natural/instinct fears. In fact I'm surprised you guys call them natural at all when there are loads of evidences saying otherwise. Like there are tons of retells and video footages of toddlers going off from height and grabbing insects/reptiles out of curiosity. If they're afraid of those things from the get go, why would they still risk it?
Quote from: Shady on 29 January, 2026, 17:31:02Quote from: Driver247 on 28 January, 2026, 21:58:14Humans are born with only two natural fears. The fear of loud noises and the fear of falling.
Quote from: on the rocks on 29 January, 2026, 00:08:24Fear of both snakes and insects/spiders/etc is also instinctual.
Except for loud noises, I don't think these are natural/instinct fears. In fact I'm surprised you guys call them natural at all when there are loads of evidences saying otherwise. Like there are tons of retells and video footages of toddlers going off from height and grabbing insects/reptiles out of curiosity. If they're afraid of those things from the get go, why would they still risk it?
I think they can be natural/instinctual in the same way as people being attracted to others of the opposite gender and same age. There are plenty of exceptions, but there are still very natural reasons people are typically like this. Just because some people are not born with an instinct, doesn't change whether it is an instinct for others.
Although, I do think loud noises are something else entirely. This sounds like being startled, not scared. It's like someone sneaking up behind you then shaking you. Are people actually scared of loud noises? I didn't know people felt fear at construction zones and concerts, at least due to the noise levels.
Being scared of getting caught is one thing, but it would be way worse if I got "caught" and didn't actually do anything!