When I was 18 I tried to do my best to avoid using public transport. I went everywhere on foot and if for some reason I had to take a bus… oh, it really stressful for me.

No, I didn’t do it because I wanted to lead a healthy lifestyle. I just had a strong phobia: I was really afraid of buses, cars, subways and all the types of vehicles and public transport. Even one look at buses made me feel uncomfortable. The thought about having to enter it could make me shiver. And when I really had to enter it, it was a great problem for me. And yes, even if I had to travel by bus sometimes, no friend could make me enter the subway. Never.

If I told someone I was afraid of vehicles, they would laugh at me. I would also laugh at myself, because I understood that my fears were stupid. But at the moment your phobia triggers you’re not able to think about anything or to analyze and understand that there is nothing to be afraid of. You start to shiver, your mind goes blank, some inadequate black spots appear in front of your eyes. You feel a panic attack and can’t control yourself.

Modern psychology knows many phobias — starting with the “standard” darkness or height fears and ending with more original “Pope” or balloon fears. Psychologists say that phobias are more common among children, because they can’t explain many things they see, and so different fears are being developed. If the fears aren’t dealt with, they may turn into phobias.

Different accidents and emotional experiences may start phobias in adults, too. The reason of my phobia was the car accident I got in when I was 18. Soon after that I felt I was afraid of cars and buses. At first the shaking of vehicles made me remember what I felt during that accident. And I started to feel that mad fear every time I was in a bus or car.

I guess phobias have much in common with fleas: if your dog, for example, catches a flea and you don’t remove it immediately, soon you’ll discover there are lots of fleas in his fur. Phobias are just the same: when you get one phobia and don’t get rid of it immediately, be sure your phobia will “invite” some “friends” to bear him company. And you’ll become an owner of two or more phobias.

I guess phobias aren’t the things about which you can say “the more the better.” That’s why it’s very important to overcome phobias as soon as possible. In my next post, you’ll learn about how I managed to overcome my phobias. And how you can do the same.

Photo © by Janine

Related posts:

1. Phobias vs Books: The Books Win
2. Know Common Phobias
3. Driving Without Fears

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