• Phobias
    200 replies, posted
I'm not sure if there is already a thread dealing with this, but this is for phobia help. I want to start it because I really need help with my phobia now, and I hope I can lend a hand to other facepunchers. I've lived with my phobia of taxidermy my entire life, as far back as I can remember I've hated taxidermy, statues, and dioramas. They've caused me panic attacks and ruined a lot of really awesome vacations. Now I'm starting to wonder if I need some professional help with my fear. For the last couple of months I've been losing sleep over nightly vivid panic dreams filled with taxidermy. I wake up crying and so afraid. The dreams are becoming more and more vivid. I'm afraid to open doors or walk into familiar places where I know there will be no taxidermy, because now I'm scared it'll just appear from thin air. Usually in every dream I have a reoccurring head of a gemsbok with unusually long, curly ibex like horns, sometimes I'm forced to walk through the horns to get to someone that I love before something horrible can happen to them. He just stares at me other times, I'm pretty sure he hates me. Taxidermy tends to give me this slightly claustrophobic feeling mixed with the need to run or make myself as small as I possibly can, some of you might know that feeling. I'm so tired (literally) and I don't know how much more of this mental torment I can take, it's making me sick. I need solutions. I really wish I could explain this more, but I'm pretty freaked out just thinking about it right now.
I'm going to think it's safe to assume you had something happen to you in your childhood involving some kind of statue or perhaps...a mannequin?
Have you tried interacting with any taxidermy? Having someone there to help you and show you they pose no threat would help.
[QUOTE=CrispexOps;32933486]I'm going to think it's safe to assume you had something happen to you in your childhood involving some kind of statue or perhaps...a mannequin?[/QUOTE] Actually no. I was maybe about five when I had a really traumatic experience with taxidermy, I've just never gotten over it.
[QUOTE=Smokes;32933517]Actually no. I was maybe about five when I had a really traumatic experience with taxidermy, I've just never gotten over it.[/QUOTE] Which was?
Is that a phobia? NOPE Chuck Testa Staircases at our school have really tall railings, still have that thought of impending doom as I approach them.' EDIT: I suggest you don't search up Chuck Testa, but do some still photos of animals freak you out? Is it the starchy old fur that gives you the fear or the glass eyes? Other than that, they're just still animals. EDIT 2: It had to be done guys, thanks for the Dumb's :downs:
[QUOTE=Smokes;32933517]Actually no. I was maybe about five when I had a really traumatic experience with taxidermy, I've just never gotten over it.[/QUOTE] Mind sharing what that was?
[QUOTE=TearJerker;32933513]Have you tried interacting with any taxidermy? Having someone there to help you and show you they pose no threat would help.[/QUOTE] A few months ago while I was on vacation with my boyfriend there was an RV park we stayed at where the store had a HUGE freaking elk head and a bison/buffalo. He lead me around a bit with my head down, slowly I got enough courage to lift my head up and look around. I lasted long enough to pick out some crystal earrings and wait in line at the check out where the heads were. I then had a mental breakdown and had to leave. [editline]24th October 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=CrispexOps;32933585]Mind sharing what that was?[/QUOTE] My parents took me in to a Wildlife Preserve Visitor's Center, I was very small so I was holding onto my mother's hand while we walked through the different environments the preserve had, where they displayed different types of taxidermy. I don't remember much, but I do remember that I really wanted to leave and I was crying and having a panic attack. My mom thought I was just throwing a tantrum and made me walk through the whole place, I was absolutely horrified. I've never felt so trapped.
It sounds like you felt trapped by the animals, like they were waiting to do something to you. Was the place itself small?
[QUOTE=TearJerker;32933716]It sounds like you felt trapped by the animals, like they were waiting to do something to you. Was the place itself small?[/QUOTE] It was pretty large, but they had the taxidermy everywhere. There were bird suspended from the ceiling and everything.
I think that every phobia requires professional help. So yeah, go see a doctor.
Arachnophobia.
[QUOTE=Caragolpe;32933766]I think that every phobia requires professional help. So yeah, go see a doctor.[/QUOTE] Just my regular doctor? He's already put me on an anti-anxiety medication for my panic disorder, which I also use for phobia related panic attacks.
[QUOTE=CrispexOps;32933486]I'm going to think it's safe to assume you had something happen to you in your childhood involving some kind of statue or perhaps...a mannequin?[/QUOTE] Show us on the dolly where they touched you. ...hm...okay maybe the doll isn't such a good plan.
[QUOTE=Smokes;32934151]Just my regular doctor? He's already put me on an anti-anxiety medication for my panic disorder, which I also use for phobia related panic attacks.[/QUOTE]A psychologist is probably a better bet since they can actually get rid of the problem rather than cover it with medication.
Nyctophobia. It fucking sucks.
Death.
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solipsism[/url] Would this count as a phobia? Seems kinda like a mental disorder to me ._. I hate it... Makes me think I'm the only real person alive.
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[QUOTE=Jarrod;32934286][IMG]http://www.facepunch.com/avatar/412294.png?garryis=awesome[/IMG][IMG]http://www.facepunch.com/avatar/305548.png?garryis=awesome[/IMG] Now we just made a reference. Sorry, it just had to be done.[/QUOTE] *Sigh* Just leave.
[QUOTE=Binladen34;32934271][url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solipsism[/url] Would this count as a phobia? Seems kinda like a mental disorder to me ._. I hate it... Makes me think I'm the only real person alive.[/QUOTE] I can vouch for my sentience. Unless I'm just part of your mind telling you that.
[QUOTE=Spycrabz;32934204]Nyctophobia. It fucking sucks.[/QUOTE] also this to a tiny degree, I just get a little anxious at night sometimes. I don't know why, sometimes my head just keeps humming with thoughts and I don't like the fact that I have to go to sleep, maybe it's because I overstimulate my brain just before I go to bed. Do you guys like, do something relaxing for a little while before you go to sleep?
[QUOTE=ultra_bright;32934367]Do you guys like, do something relaxing for a little while before you go to sleep?[/QUOTE] we all know what you mean
[QUOTE=ultra_bright;32934367]also this to a tiny degree, I just get a little anxious at night sometimes. I don't know why, sometimes my head just keeps humming with thoughts and I don't like the fact that I have to go to sleep, maybe it's because I overstimulate my brain just before I go to bed. Do you guys like, do something relaxing for a little while before you go to sleep?[/QUOTE] I have a similar problem, if I think about sleeping, and having to sleep for 6 hours or more, I start to worry about not waking up, then I loose a whole night of sleep. I normally listen to my iPod before I go to sleep, or watch a movie on it. Something to keep my mind off of thinking about sleeping.
[QUOTE=Spycrabz;32934378]we all know what you mean[/QUOTE] No, I'm being serious.
[QUOTE=Spycrabz;32934378]we all know what you mean[/QUOTE] And the answer is yes, multiple times.
[QUOTE=dogmachines;32934406]And the answer is yes, multiple times.[/QUOTE] It doesn't actually put you to sleep sometimes because you can't just go to sleep after you do it. You gotta spend some time afterwards cleaning up.
[QUOTE=ultra_bright;32934367]also this to a tiny degree, I just get a little anxious at night sometimes. I don't know why, sometimes my head just keeps humming with thoughts and I don't like the fact that I have to go to sleep, maybe it's because I overstimulate my brain just before I go to bed. Do you guys like, do something relaxing for a little while before you go to sleep?[/QUOTE] On a serious note, mine is more "fuck fuck there are things in the shadows", I just cannot stand being in darkness.
I fear nothing.
On a side note, dealing with darkness and scariness and whatnot: [img]http://i.imgur.com/tGdgf.jpg[/img]
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