Phobia of the Moment
I know I’m not alone in my fear of them, and I know it’s pretty daft to be terrified of the things, but I can’t help it. And it happens to be that time of year again when they appear, usually in the place’s you’d rather they didn’t.
They provoke the same reaction in me as a wasp would, one of blind panic, accompanied with a certain amount of wailing and possibly shrieking. Oh, and some arm waving, and running away, in an unusually hasty fashion for me.
So, I take cautionary steps into all rooms, especially in the evenings, armed with a plentiful supply of insecticide, and air freshener, cos that stuff really stinks.
I’m oh-so aware that it’s not logical or rational behaviour, especially considering they’re harmless and I’m significantly larger than them, but phobias seldom are logical or rational things, unless they’re the type that might actually prevent you from dying, like falling great heights or something else that’s potentially fatal that I can’t think of at the present time.
I know plenty of people get into a right state over the tiniest of wee spiders, and the not so tiny. I’m ok with them these days, that’s not to say I’d be happy about picking them all up though. Moths seem to be another big problem for some, including my brother. Tis always a great laugh to hear him wailing and flapping at the sight of one. I have to step in and save the poor thing, the moth that is.
I once saw a programme of high entertainment value (on a Saturday evening on ITV, I believe) that featured a person who was (and possibly still is, maybe a bit more so thanks to this show!) terrified of oranges. The presenter of this illustrious show made the poor sod get into and stand inside for a spell of time, a large Perspex box filled with oranges. The only reason I remember this is because I was thinking at the time, and still do, what the hell happened to them to make them fear oranges?!
In searching the old information super highway for support material whilst I was thinking about this matter, I discovered this site. I almost laughed.
*If you be wondering what “The Things” are, they’re crane flies. Yes, that’s right, daddy longlegs. Eurgh! And I do have a reasonably good explaination for my fear of them, which I may waffle on about another time.
-Bea Whale
