Okay, I’ll admit it. I am not scared of buttons. However, there are people who do have this fear. Some can’t be around buttons for fear of them popping off and some just can’t wear them on clothing. I was listening to a radio show this morning and after they mentioned it, a lot of people called in that were afflicted with this phobia. Some of the people couldn’t be in the same room with a button.
As far as I go, I spend my time swept up with other phobias. I haven’t located a name for it yet. But I am beyond scared of having my mouth covered.
The fear is slightly outrageous and seems to be boundless. Anything over my mouth results in me jumping the sanity ship. I even freak out when my daughter jokingly puts her tiny, three year old hand over my mouth. When that happens, I can’t sit still and anxiety builds up in my chest. (I know if you don’t have kids you are thinking, ‘why is that girl putting her hand over her mother’s mouth?’. And well, I have no answer. That’s just how kids roll. Sometimes they want to put their tiny hands over your mouth. It happens.)
I can’t explain it. But having anything over my mouth simply terrorizes me. I can’t even wear masks.
Yeah, I just re-read that, and it sounds ridiculously dorky. Why would I want to wear a mask in the first place?
Does anyone besides me remember Kelly Ripa freaking out because Clay Aiken covered her mouth with his hand a while back? No? Well, I do, and I totally understood that, and not even because it was Clay Aiken and he’s attrocious. I would freak out if David Beckham covered my mouth with his hand. And I don’t mean the kind of freaking out that you’re thinking of, the dirty kind. I mean a genuine attack of fear and nausea.
To accompany the previous fear, because who can have just one (read:sarcasm), another phobia of mine is fear of having my arms confined and not be able to move them. Something about the thought of being unable to move or control my arms do to restriction of some sort is terrorizing. Once when I was a child, my older cousins thought it would be hilarious to tie my arms behind my back. And I nearly burst a lung screaming.
Basically, I’d much rather be covered with snakes and shoved in a dark room than ever have my mouth covered or be unable to move/use my arms.
But not that I think about it, I’d rather be scared of those things any day than be Allodoxaphobic (scared of opinions).
What about you? Do you have a totally irrational fear? Do you have a fear that is common? I’d love to hear about any of them. After all, I did go to school with a guy who was scared of mustard.
EDIT: I just hopped over to The Cheaty Monkey and she has a fabulous post up about celebrity phobias . Check it out also!
Mustard? That’s understandable!
I can’t abide having my nose covered. My kids think it’s very entertaining to sneak up and pinch my nose closed. It’s end ugly every time for them. You’d think they would learn after a while.
Caution’s last blog post..Maybe You Could Pretend That You Know Something About Gardening???
April 24th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Bugs. Over the years I’ve learned to control the screaming when a spider is in sight, but every fibre of my being wants to SHRIEK. If I’m forced to stay in a room with a spider (I’m a meeting or whatever), I will generally feel like throwing up once I get to leave the room. The size or species of the spider doesn’t matter. I can’t even look at photos.
Sadia’s last blog post..Eyes and ears and bananas and toes
April 24th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
There are kinda wierd things that I’m afraid of but none that leave me totally and verbally freaked out..I guess growing up as an only child there weren’t many people that tried stuff on me so I don’t know… Great..now I’m scared someone is going to try something on me..
Strange: I can’t drive over or under a bridge w/out the fear of it collapsing on me.
mp’s last blog post..24 hours of fame
April 24th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
OMG…. my sister is afraid of buttons. We thought she was the only person in the world.
And there is a legit name for it? LOL. I have to email this to her.
OHmommy’s last blog post..Trading my Stilettos for Sneakers
April 24th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Your fear sounds like a past life memory.
Really.
I only fear snakes when they move suddenly, I can look at them and all.
Otherwise? Maybe intractable pain. I fear that.
witchypoo’s last blog post..Dizzee
April 24th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I have no phobias, thankfully. Not a single one.
I think this makes up for the fact that my mother has every single phobia in the book, including but not limited to fear of horses, large dogs, heights, closed in spaces, and gaining any weight.
Law Student Hot Mama’s last blog post..The Insane Asylum Gets Toasty
April 24th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I’ve always had an irrational fear of certain words and numbers (which I’m fairly certain is the result of OCD for which I was never diagnosed with because I thought I was the only freak in the world that had these strange thoughts. Turns out, I’m not). Anyway, about two months before I got pregnant I suddenly (mostly) got over it. I still have issues, and someday I may have the inclination to write about it.
Oh, and arachnids of any sort. Scorpions are THE worst though. Snakes don’t bother me so much, but I’m not sure I would appreciate being up close and personal with them either.
April 24th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I have tons of irrational fears. I can’t think of one thing.. I’m a myriad of anxieties.
All of a sudden I think I have a fear of ironing.. yeah, that’s it! I gotta look up the name. ‘I’m not lazy, honey & I’d love to take all the wrinkles out of your shirt, but you see, I’m actually___ ‘ (crap, I don’t think there’s a name for that one! SOOO close..)
Nissa’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday - Morning ritual?
April 24th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
I hate spiders. It’s a pretty typical fear, but I hate them. I am petrified of them, seriously. If I see one in the house I will have nightmares. *shudders*
April 24th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I hate having my chin touched.
Solomon Broad’s last blog post..The “Things I’m Grateful For” April Contest
April 24th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I am so, so scared of crickets and having my neck touched. Sadly, I have actually punched my boyfriend in the face for trying to touch my neck.
I had a very good friend who was TERRIFIED of doorways. We had to hold his hand anytime we had to leave/enter a room. He was also scared of the number 44, which is bizarre. I also had a good friend who liked to drink Colt 44. They did not get along.
krista’s last blog post..if you’re like me, and i know i am
April 24th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Buttons? Mustard? Wow. Who knew? (not me)
I do get the hand over the mouth phobia thing, and Aiken is lucky Kelly didn’t kick him in the throat like I would have, the nasty little imp. (was that too harsh? he’s not that bad, i guess…)
I have the whole claustrophobia thing and the heights fear (whatever it’s called, tallplaceophobia or whatever). Still, I push myself. I’ve been on the world’s largest ferris wheel on Yokohama (yes, I know how lame that sounded), and it was a proud moment that didn’t even involve pukage or complete meltdown.
Tunnels and super tall bridges (like the kind where you die if you fall off, not the ones over the creek with ducks and random abandoned shopping carts) are not my favorites, but having to drive somewhat regularly through Portland (city of about 9.8 million bridges per block) for past jobs, I had to just ignore the fear, go broke or walk around with stinky pants at work all day. I am still afraid, but tamed the fear.
Maggie’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen 4/24/08 - 14th Edition
April 24th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I share your phobia of not being able to move your arms. I don’t know why, but I FREAK out whenever someone tries to do this to me. My fiance sometimes just likes to run up to me and pick me up, to do this he wraps his arms around my body and my arms and I can’t move them. It freaks me out to where I lose my sanity and I get angry about a hug LOL.
April 24th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
I’m terrified of the dark but I suppose that’s not too abnormal.
Lottifish’s last blog post..When You Want To Leave
April 24th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
I am afraid of the dark. I always feel like something is going to “get” me. Too many scary movies as a teen? Or maybe because my brother always jumped out of my closet after I went to bed. Punk. It used to be a problem in our marriage because my husband would have to get out of bed to turn off the light every night. He used to give me a really hard time about it until 1) our marriage counselor told him to knock it off (ya!) and 2) we got a nightstand and put a lamp on it (duh).
Also, I can’t have people touching my neck or acting like they are going to touch my neck, which is like the covering the mouth thing – why would people do that? I feel like you’d be surprised at how often it happens. And I don’t know why I’m like that, but it really causes anxiety.
Finally, I have a very healthy fear of spiders. Not much that needs to be said about that, I think it’s pretty common.
RubiaLala’s last blog post..Garlic, White Shells, and Other Pregnancy Stories
April 24th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Don’t know if it counts as a full blown phobia, but I get irrationally tense around popping balloons.
Shannon’s last blog post..if you’re looking for me, i’ll be making out with april
April 24th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
I have a lot of fears that border on a phobia, but none that are really full blown irrational fears like phobias technically are.
I have never heard of the button phobia. That’s wild.
This was a fun post. Thanks for sharing your phobias with us!
Rhea’s last blog post..Dragon skin, chore charts & baseball, oh my.
April 24th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
I don’t think you could call it full-blown phobia, but I truly hate driving over bridges.
Tara R.’s last blog post..Meet the family
April 24th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
I am deathly afraid of deer….like Bambi deer. SEriously, won’t even get out of the car if I see one near my house when I pull into the driveway.
I’m also afraid of deep water. Not sure why. I was a swimmer for years and I love swimming. Just totally afraid of deep water, even when I can see the bottom!
Alison’s last blog post..When Did This Happen?
April 24th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I can’t believe we wrote about the same thing!!!
too funny!!
Well, you know what I’m afraid of! My fear of gum is probably the closest thing I have to a “phobia” — I mentioned it briefly next to Oprah….
Haley-O’s last blog post..I Fear…. Plus 13 Celebrity Phobias!
April 24th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
I am afraid of snails. Real ones, as well as pictures of them. I know it’s completely irrational b/c they are slow and could never attack me, but they just creep the hell out of me.
When I was in middle school, I discovered a snail while I was waiting for the school bus. I was so disturbed that I made my way back home, and told my Mom I missed the bus so she would take me to school. [shudder]
This post reminds me of a Maury Povich episode I once watched, where he featured guests who were deathly afraid of cotton balls and foil…
April 24th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Lots and lots of people can freak me out. I feel like I could get trampled. But buttons? Hmmm. Wow. I do so get the hand over the mouth!
This is hilarious! I love reading about people’s fears (it makes me feel kinda normal . . .).
LaskiGal’s last blog post..Top Momma and AWARDS!
April 24th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
For real? I don’t mean to laugh, but I am laughing. I guess i didn’t have to tell you that since you would have had no way of knowing.
So your Fear Factor buster would be a straight jacket and a surgical mask while others can’t get past the rotten sea cucumber they have to ingest and the Madagascar roaches they have to move from this box to that box with their mouths (as long as your hands weren’t bound while doing it)? That is hilarious. Although I truly do understand that everyone has their odd fears.
I hate stinging insects, but I wouldn’t say I freak at them. I just scream, swat at them and run away. Maybe that is a little freakish.
KEEP BELIEVING
Angie @ Keep Believing’s last blog post..a litte of everything
April 24th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
This is sad. I am 25 years old and I am absolutely terrified of the dark and being by myself at night. It’s sad. I get panicky. What’s worse is that it’s not as bad if I am outside at night alone anywhere but at my own home and my parent’s house. I can tolerate it anywhere but there. I don’t know why, but it has always been that way. Now here is the kicker, I am obsessed with scary movies/books. They scarier the better. How’s that for screwed up?
Danni’s last blog post..Good News and Bad News
April 24th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
I don’t have any special fears (well, there are a couple that could result in suffocation, but I’m willing to bet you don’t want to hear about THOSE) but my second son, as a young child, had an extraordinary fear of yellow bowls. We had to buy all new Tupperware.
lceel’s last blog post..100 Word Challenge - Hooked - Plus Tower
April 24th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
I had arachnophobia after the movie Arachnophobia, but now I’m just afraid of fear.
I have no real comment. Just saying hi.
A Whole Lot of Nothing’s last blog post..We Have a Pooper!
April 24th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
O-O! Just thought of one!
I have a fear of becoming my mother, so I keep my house nice and messy so that doesn’t happen.
A Whole Lot of Nothing’s last blog post..We Have a Pooper!
April 24th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
nothing here.
Im ICKED THE HELL OUT by plenty of things (please to see mayonaise) but thankfully no huge fears—-yet
theres always tomorrow.
MizFit’s last blog post..Link Love and a Friday FREEBIE!
April 25th, 2008 at 5:30 am
I have a deep-seated fear of birds. They PETRIFY me. I will not go into someone’s house if they keep a bird as a pet…
Jen’s last blog post..Self-Esteem Week!
April 25th, 2008 at 6:51 am
i have an ice phobia. i mean, i can drink a soda that has ice in it, but i cannot touch it. i have a porcelain doll phobia, i cannot sleep in a room or be in a room with procelain dolls. i have panic disorder, so i have a fear of having panic attacks when i’m alone. shew, i have so many phobias, it’s insane. oh and i have a knife phobia, i cannot use a knife to cut anything!
jess’s last blog post..In Need of a New Haircut
April 25th, 2008 at 7:18 am
I have an irrational fear of tsunamis. Don’t ask me why - I live in Seattle so it’s not like it’s a “thing” here. I just have this big fear of a big, huge wave that I can’t get away from that would pull me in and not let me back up.
It’s not so bad that I won’t swim or go to the ocean or anything, because I love the beach, but it is a scary thought, isn’t it?
Grey Street’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday (Someday…….)
April 25th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Yep, the being restrained thing is my deal too! My husband jokingly will pin my arms down or something and I turn into psychofreakoutmania woman. I can’t explain it. I am going to guess that it has to do with flight or fight.
Guess I’m a fighter…
Amanda- VintageDutchGirl’s last blog post..Coming To You LIVE From Work…
April 25th, 2008 at 10:50 am
My fear is of heights. We were at a mall last weekend where the railing was made of clear glass and I thought I was going to pass out just standing next to it! Hubby was letting the baby stand with his hands on the glass and I kept imagining the glass breaking free and baby going down with it! *swoon* whoa, I almost fainted just re-envisioning it!
SherE1’s last blog post..Teething and Fitness Updates
April 25th, 2008 at 10:54 am
My brother in law cannot stand having anyone touch his wrists.
feefifoto’s last blog post..Gifts For Customers
April 25th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Your fears are at least “rational” in the sense that they’re a means for survival. I have some freakish fears, I am affriad of the following (bear in mind I give this information freely, therefore it is NOT to be used against me):
*white unmarked vans
*cars traveling directly along side of me going the same exact speed
*having my back exposed
*water in/on my face
Yes, this all does mean Im extremely paranoid and never learned to swim underwater.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
I can completely understand both of those fears. I don’t really like either of those but don’t necessarily have a fear of them.
I have a fear of sharks. And that may not sound irrational, but I live in Wisconsin. When I swim in a lake or pond I am still freaking out about sharks. ??? I even went swimming (I love swimming, by the way) at the YMCA and started thinking about what I would do if there was a shark IN THE POOL. Yeah. Now THAT is irrational.
Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting. I appreciate it!
Kathryn’s last blog post..Weekly Wrap
April 25th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Man oh man…I think I have too many to list! lol!! I hate worms and snails…they make my skin crawl. I hate water in my face and I hate for anyone to touch my sides…again it makes my skin crawl. Very neat post! lol!!
jenny-up the hill’s last blog post..A Costume to go Along With the Yell
April 25th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
As I get older I am getting more and more afraid of being in an airplane. I imagine it is partly claustrophobia and part a fear of heights. Also partly a fear of stinky, noisy strangers sitting too close…(seriously)
Eventually I will only be able to travel by train or car. So much for Greece.
On a lighter note, I have a friend who was deathly afraid of being in lakes, rivers, the ocean. When he was little he thought his mother told him to watch out for the “under toad” and he envisioned a giant creepy toad that would eat him if he got too far out. Even as an adult and being able to rationalize about the undertow, he still cannot go more than ankle deep in the water.
April 26th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Buttons and mustard? Bizarre. Now I don’t feel like mine is so weird.
Here goes - I’m terrified of living by the ocean. Even though I love the ocean and am not frightened of water, I fear that some day a giant quake or other event will destroy the entire coast line or island or whatever. Thankfully, there is a mountain range in between me and the nearest ocean, but it really does keep me from moving somewhere cool like Vancouver or New York.
andi’s last blog post..Attempts to maintain sanity during spring snowfall moderately successful
April 27th, 2008 at 10:16 am
I cannot stand if someone tries to scratch my back.. I want to flip out and punch them..
But mustard.. never knew that someone could be afraid of mustard.. learn something new everyday huh..
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April 28th, 2008 at 2:01 pm