What is a phobia?

Phobias are persistent and intense fears of a particular:

object

person (like a doctor or clown)

situation

activity

If you have a phobia, you may experience severe anxiety and panic attacks when you’re:

exposed to the object or situation you’re fearful of

thinking about the thing you’re afraid of

anticipating an encounter with the item you’re scared of

  • Tuss@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Entomophobia, arachnophobia and ostraconophobia.

    So bugs, spiders and seabugs.

    The seafood with shells is the worst one but it has gotten better. I didn’t even know I had it since I haven’t really been exposed to seafood with the shells on until I was at a dinner party and they came out with shrimp cocktails with unshelled shrimp hanging off the sides. I got so anxious and sick at the sight of it I had to excuse myself to go to the bathroom and throw up. Now I can almost manage to sit next to someone who has unshelled shrimps. But lobsters and such served in the shell with legs and shit makes me sick.

    However.

    My phobia is a bit special because since I’ve had seafood without the shells before I saw them with the shells it doesn’t really affect my diet.

      • Tuss@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Had no idea what they were so I had to look it up and now I hate you.

        Why would it ever be a yes-go?

          • Tuss@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            No. All bugs are scary and vomit inducing. And those fuckers are definitely worthy of the title “sea bug”.

            Spiders are strangely enough kind of okay as long as they are hairy. Spiders without wigs are scary.

            Shellfish of all kinds are scary and vomit inducing unless they are cooked and the meat is served without the shells.

            I have been brave enough to actually try to work with my phobia by stopping and looking in the seafood section at the store. Some times if I’m brave enough I will try to touch a crab if it’s packaged.