I have a debilitating fear of spiders. I just saw one as I was walking towards my computer to check Daily Kos - it was about the size of a quarter, brown, and it came wandering out from underneath my desk. My scream literally made the spider jump, along with my significant other who says my blood curdling scream is going to give him a heart attack one of these days.
Logically I know I'm much bigger than the spider and that I can do way more harm to it then it can do to me, but there is no logic when you have a phobia as bad as I have. I'm not sure where my paralyzing fear came from - I only know that I have always been afraid of spiders as long as I can remember.
The little wiry spiders don't bother me, I certainly don't like them, but they don't have the same effect on me as the big, hairy, brown ones do.
Where do phobias come from and why does mine seem to be getting worse every year? Does anyone know if hypnosis works? I have to do something as I stood in one spot for about 20 minutes after my SO killed the spider afraid to come near the desk. Now I'm at my desk, but I'm sitting with my feet curled under me because I'm afraid to put them on the floor.
I've bared my fear, what is yours? I would like to hear from other people who suffer a debilitating fear of things you know logically can not hurt you, but you're still afraid. My other phobia is snakes. My mother is afraid of balloons - I guess it is something to do with them popping near her. My daughter, who is tough as nails, is afraid of needles and moths. Moths!? I think it has something to do with the way they dive at you.
I don't get the balloons, moths or needles as I'm sure some people won't be able to understand the spiders and snakes. So, what are you guys afraid of and does anyone have any advice on how to get rid of a phobia?