Re: Your 20 worst fears

On Thu, 30 Mar 2006 20:34:14 GMT, zadoc <zadoc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


Your 20 worst fears
Last week, in response to an article about phobias, readers were
invited to send in their own fears. Here are some of things that
leave you shaken and stirred.


PEAS RELEASE ME
Peas

Why do people get phobias?
As the Magazine reported last Friday, the list of
officially-recognized phobias is long and often bizarre, and it
is estimated that 13 percent of the adult population will develop
a phobia at some point.

In response, you weren't slow to share your own fears. Many were
so pungently described as to be almost contagious; some were
intended to amuse. Here, we present a selection of 20 of your
fears - look away now if the mere mention of buttons, animal
costumes or takeaway forks send you into a cold sweat.
MORE at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4849832.stm

{Zadoc comments start}
Note: None of these would be common, some may even be unique.


The number of phobias is quite large, though, and a Google search
for the string
alphabetical list phobias
will provide ~ 105,000 returns

For a start, try
http://www.phobialist.com/

These are mostly alphabetical. Another interesting Google search
is the string
most common phobias
which will provide ~ 2,170,000 returns

Naturally, opinions vary, but this is a fairly reasonable sample:

-----------------------------------------------------
What is a phobia?

A phobia is a fear which is caused by a specific object or
situation. The fear can be caused by the actual presence of or by
the anticipation of the presence of that object or situation.
Anxiety, triggered by the fear, can approach the intensity of
panic.

The following is a list of the most common phobias

* Achluophobia - fear of being in darkness
* Acrophobia - fear of heights
* Agoraphobia - fear of open spaces or fear of leaving home
* Claustrophobia - fear of being in closed spaces
* Demophobia - fear of being in crowded places
* Mysophobia - fear of germs or dirt
* Social phobia - fear of being around unfamiliar people in
social situations
* Xenophobia - fear of strangers

Other phobias include:

* Fear of public speaking
* Fear of insects
* Fear of certain animals
* Fear of flying on planes
* Fear of the sight of blood
* Fear of certain foods
* Fear of using public restrooms
* Fear of the dentist

http://www.athealth.com/consumer/disorders/Phobias.html

Phobias are not rare in the US either. How many people do you
know that have no fear of snakes, spiders, rats or death?

Although, surprisingly enough, one of the most common phobias
used to be fear of public speaking in front of an audience.

Does anyone on the group claim to be completely free of all
phobias? Even to a slight degree?

Heck no. Flying (extreme) and acrophobia (pretty bad).
Daughter #2 has a fear of moths.
Sue


{/Zadoc comments end}
Cheers,




zadoc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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