Is it normal that my phobia is this intense

54% Normal
19 Comments

I have this weird phobia of holes. I recently found out that there's a common but rare (if you know what i mean) phobia of small clusters of holes called trypophobia or something (not gonna look it up to check the name cause of obvious reasons). But i also fear individual holes too.
people say phobias are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain, but people also say that they are caused by a traumatizing experience, but i can't figure out if i've had one.
I have a couple other phobias (germaphobia, phobia of water, etc...) but none of them affect me like this one. I literally go into an anxiety attack. I get panicky and sweaty and even sometimes start to cry. Even typing this post right now is giving me a little anxiety.
Is it normal for a phobia to affect me THIS much?
and do u know of ways to lessen this?
do not suggest confronting the fear, that will not work and I have already read that that usually worsens the situation.

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54% Normal
Based on 39 votes (21 yes)
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Comments ( 19 )
  • imadragon
    10 years ago

    What you need to do when you find yourself in a situation like this is to ignore it and block t out as much as you can. If I didn't block them out, I would have panic attacks too.
    Here is a video explaining how to "box breathe".

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tax-KPT9FPk

    Phobias are often caused by traumatic experiences, but another way of getting them are genetically. I have three phobias now, and I have gotten them from my mother and my grandmother. They came out of nowhere about a year ago.

    Good luck.

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  • uhhyeahidk
    10 years ago

    I completely get that too. I don't really get any of the other symptoms you have except it always makes me cry. its really really awful but I feel you man. as long as its not affecting your life, you're ok.

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  • Wuggums47
    10 years ago

    It's perfectly normal, although trypophobia is an uncommon phobia, the intensity believe it or not is better than alot of people get. Some people go catatonic or pass out. I used to have such a bad needle phobia, that I overpowered two grown men as a child to get out of a blood draw. They were trying to hold me down. I would always cry if the subject was even brought up. Wierd thing is I later became a type 1 diabetic, and after having so many needles jabbed in to me, it got less scary each time until eventually I stopped even batting an eyelid over it. So there is some hope that you can overcome your phobia.

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    • MysticLane
      10 years ago

      oh man. that's awful. did it take you a while to get over it when you first had to start using needles?

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      • Wuggums47
        10 years ago

        It took a what felt like was forever, but I managed to get to a functioning level in about a week. It took about 6 months of managing my diabetes Which involves poking yourself with a needle atleast 7times a day. Once to check your blood sugar before each meal, once to take the insulin so you can eat your meal without dying, and then after you repeat that three times, you have to give yourself a long acting shot every night.

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  • hairyfairy
    10 years ago

    I don`t think that a fear of holes is the worst phobia to have but it would bar you from certain professions, such as sewer work, & gyeanacology

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  • JadedUnknown
    10 years ago

    Hey, I have agoraphobia.. I do feel that panic feeling. It's normal, but it makes life difficult.

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    • MysticLane
      10 years ago

      whats agoraphobia?

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      • [Old Memory]
        10 years ago

        I think it's fear of open space and crowds. That actress Rose Mcgowen has it pretty bad.

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  • RoseIsabella
    10 years ago

    It's normal for someone with a serious phobia to have panic attacks. I hope you get help from a professional for your phobias and anxiety.

    My younger sister is a neat freak and a germophobe with OCD. She makes everyone around her miserable. Everything with her is so one-sided and it's very difficult to have compassion for her and her problems. Sometimes I kinda wish she'd have a meltdown in public so she'd end up in a hospital and get the help she needs. She denies that there's anything wrong with her but can get almost violent when she freaks out about her bullshit.

    Seeing as you posted here and you're inviting advice and opinions I'd be willing to assume that you're probably much easier to get along with than my sister.

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    • RoseIsabella
      10 years ago

      I almost forgot. On at least two occasions my sister has physically attacked our mother who is over 70 years old. Once she spit in our mother's face and another time on Thanksgiving day she pushed Mom and nearly knocked her down in the street. My sister does this all because of her germophobia and fear of garbage cans.

      As far as I'm concerned if my pathetic, self-centered sister causes physical harm to anyone she would belong in jail or a psychiatric ward. I could honestly care less if someone threw her in a dumpster full of rotting garbage.

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      • [Old Memory]
        10 years ago

        Your sister sounds both hilarious and awesome. And I don't mean that sarcastically.

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        • RoseIsabella
          10 years ago

          Hahaha...She wouldn't think that was funny but she does believe herself to be awesome.

          She's so germophobic that if someone chased her with one of her own used tampons she would probably run. Once I scared her away from my door by holding up my hand and declaring to her that I had just touched the trashcan in the garage and that I would touch her with my "trash-hand. It was a thing of beauty; that episode.

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          • [Old Memory]
            10 years ago

            We are what we believe we are at given times. But seriously, she sounds like a riot.

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            • Wuggums47
              10 years ago

              Doesn't sound so funny to me, it seems like she has a severe mental disorder, and probably at least one other one if you want to explain why she gets violent. I have an abusive father with undiagnosed sociopathy, and it was never really that funny. I had schizophrenia for over five years, technically I guess I still have it, it's just less bad and I'm lucid now. It's not very funny being sick. Maybe I'm missing something here.

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    • MysticLane
      10 years ago

      wow that sounds awful. I am a germaphobe as well but I have some control over it. I have to stop myself from going overboard with it sometimes because I don't want to get worse, and i also try to make sure It's not affecting others too much. somedays i have more control than others though.
      but that may just be because your sisters is more severe than mine.
      because i have control over it i havent found the need to go to a thereapist about it, but do u think its worth going for my trypophobia? I'm not really exposed to it that much, its just that when I am it's bad

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      • RoseIsabella
        10 years ago

        I can't really judge how serious your phobia is but having severe panic attacks is pretty bad.

        For instance, some people use those lotus pods in their home decor. I personally am neither afraid of nor particularly disgusted at the pods. I just think they look stupid in any sort of decorative display. But I digress. So basically if you were to visit someone's home or place of business where the pods were part of a decorative display what would happen? Would such a display prevent you from visiting, doing business with, or seeking employment at such a place? Would you be able to maintain your composure? Would you be forced to leave or request (my sister would demand) that the host or hostess remove the pods?

        If so you probably need professional help. This is just my opinion.

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        • MysticLane
          10 years ago

          I don't think it would make me stop going to one of those places, unless they had them everywhere and it was completely unavoidable. I havent run into a situation like this though yet so I'm not certain as to how I would react. Usually though when I'm confronted with my phobias, I hide the affect it has on me from other people, but crazy things are happening in my head.

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