Awesome Josh

When I tell people about my phobias they usually look at me weird or say, “Why are you afraid of that?” Sometimes, they just laugh. It’s true, I have weird phobias and I’m not afraid to admit it. On occasion, I’ll even laugh at them myself. Most of them are silly and I really don’t know why I’m afraid of half of these things, so I feel like I have to laugh at them. Otherwise, I’d just be too weird.

• Heights: Also known as Acrophobia. I’ve always been afraid of heights and I don’t mean a little afraid, I mean a lot afraid. I hate jumping because that means I have to leave the ground. I freak out. I hate going up stairs (Bathmophobia). I hate standing on a chair or a ladder, I hate looking out windows, I hate looking up at things even, because I start to imagine that I’m up there (By the way, this is also it’s own separate fear known as Anablephobia.) It’s really bad and I have panic attacks a lot because of this one.
• Birds: Also known as Ornithophobia. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a fear of birds. Even before I was attacked by a bird in Orlando. Alright, the bird that attacked me in Orlando was a super small bird, but even so, having one of those fly full speed straight at your head is definitely scary. But seriously, what other kind of animal flies around pooping everywhere? They don’t care if it lands on your head or another body part. That stuff is deadly. No. Thank. You. This also has to do with my fear of…
• Poop: Also known as Coprophobia. Yes, I have a fear of poop. I have panic attacks when I come in contact with poop. Cat poop, dog poop, baby poop, bird poop, and other assorted kinds of poop.
• Darkness: Also known as Achuluophobia. I can’t stand being in complete darkness. I always have to have a light on or leave my computer monitor on just so I can have some light. It’s a good thing that there’s a street light outside and it shines in through my window at night. But it also annoys me because I can’t sleep when it’s shining right in my eyes.
• Fear of crowds: Also known as Agoraphobia. I hate going to stores, parties, movie theaters, etc. because I know that I’ll get stuck in a crowd. A crowd is the last place I want to be. I have panic attacks. It makes it better when I go with someone that I know, but going by myself is out of the question.
• Crossing streets: Also known as Agyrophobia. Yes, I have a fear of crossing streets. I prefer that when I walk, I don’t cross streets. I know that this can’t always happen, so I will force myself to cross streets, but you can be certain that I don’t want to.
• Bridges:  Also known as Gephyrophobia.  I especially hate bridges over water.  I can’t explain it.  I have panic attacks even seeing a giant bridge.  When Gaby and I crossed the Coronado bridge, she gave me her digital camera to keep me occupied.  It worked.
• Fear of riding in cars: Also known as Amaxophobia. I think this has more to do with control than anything else. I don’t like riding in cars and I don’t like driving cars. I especially don’t like speeding in cars. I will go the speed limit and that’s because it’s unsafe to drive slower than everyone else. I also have a fear of riding in cars while the person driving is speeding on a highway and putting on their makeup (read: Gaby).
• Going to bed:  Also known as Clinophobia.  Well, this one I can’t really explain.  I just really dread going to bed.  I don’t like the fact that I might not wake up, and I also hate the fact that when I go to sleep and I wake up, it feels like I’ve only been asleep for five minutes when in reality I’ve been sleeping for hours.  It’s kinda just, weird to me.
• Clowns:  Also known as Coulrophobia.  Clowns are just scary.
• Making decisions:  Also known as Decidophobia.  I really am afraid of making decisions, even simple ones of what to eat for dinner.  What if I make the wrong choice?  I mean, really, it’s not like I can go back and change it.  I mean, everyone thinks about these things, but I just won’t do it.  Not because I don’t want to or because I’m lazy, but because I’m just scared to.  I have panic attacks a lot.
• Changes:  Also known as Metathesiophobia.  Change freaks me out.  I’ve accepted the fact that no matter what I do there will always be certain things that change.  Like the weather or the seasons.  I have no control over those things, but I like to have some sort of control over things that are in my control and I don’t like to change things.  At all.

I’m also afraid of elevators.  I won’t go in them by myself, and if I have to, I will hold on to whatever possible with all of my strength.  One time I was stuck in an elevator for two minutes and I almost had a heart attack.  It wasn’t fun.

So tell me, what are you afraid of?