Phobias

Former Member

This is going to make me sound really stupid and pathetic and I'm a bit embarassed to admit it but here goes...

I have got a huge phobia, of insects and spiders. Anything of that variety, flies, worms, moths etc I just absolutely hate them. I know loads of other people have this kind of fear and stuff but mine sort of really affects my life and stuff. I dunno take last night for example:

When I went to bed there was a fly in my room, a bluebottle buzzy kind of fly. I was absolutely terrified and there was nobody in my house to get it for me, and I didn't even want to go near it. I didn't want to spray it with fly spray cos they kind of die for a bit dont they and I didn't want it to fall on my bed or anything. I couldn't swat it either cos of the same kind of thing!

It was crawling over my bed and on my covers and stuff and in the end I was crying and hysterical! I didn't know what to do and it was really upsetting me that it was on my bed and stuff. I finally had to sleep downstairs on the sofa cos I couldn't get it out. Then this morning I put all my bedding that it'd climbed on in the wash and all the things it'd landed on I scrubbed with disinfectant. I know it sounds stupid but I really can't help it :-/ I always think flies are really dirty.

I work as a nursery nurse and in our classroom we had butterflys in a glass cabinet thing (we were watching them emerge out of their cocoons) and I couldn't even go near it. Everytime I saw one even fluttering its wings it made me freeze with fright. It really scares me.

I guess what I'm kind of saying is that I'm a bit sick of being like this, last night was the last straw being so upset about a feckin fly...is there any kind of therapy you can have to sort my head out? Or will I just have to stay like this forever?

Thanks if you can help :-/

Former Member

could try hypnotherapy or summat its gotta be worth a shot you could also ask your doctor they might be able to put you in touch with someone........sorry if this aint much help :rolleyes:

Former Member

there's loads of types of therapy you can try for phobias.

best thing to do is see your doctor, and they can refer you to a specialist. that way you get it on the NHS. there can be some pretty huge waiting lists though.

you can also see a private therapist, which is loads quicker but it's quite a lot of moolah.


i had CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) for a phobia, and i think it would have worked quite well if i hadn't moved away and had to stop going.

Former Member

Most of us have a phobia of some kind, but when it starts to dominate your life like this you shouls seek some help. Start off by reading some of our features:
phobias
mental health special (with lots of features about different types of treatments).
The Phobics Society is also worth checking out. Their website is packed with info and has discussion boards that you may find useful.

Former Member

I have a phobia of phones. Maybe that sounds stupid, but I can't help it! I can't pick up the phone and call someone - unless it's my mum - and a lot of the time, I don't like answering the phone either. I don't know why, just something about it scares me. People always think I'm crazy or something when I say I have a phobia of phones.
But, anyway, I know what it's like to have a fear that affects your life in a big way. I'm also afraid of dogs (I was attacked by one) and insects, but not to the same extent. And if I kill any, I always feel really bad afterwards, because I murdered it. lol.
Anyways, much love.
xXx kwiss xXx

Former Member

Originally posted by kaffrin
there's loads of types of therapy you can try for phobias.

i had CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) for a phobia, and i think it would have worked quite well if i hadn't moved away and had to stop going.

Hmm thanks for the info! I do kinda want to go to doctors about it but I'm a bit embarassed I don't think she'll understand and will probably think I'm being a bit silly over something just like a spider :-/

What kind of thing do they do with cognitive behavioural therapy?

Former Member

Originally posted by spanner
Most of us have a phobia of some kind, but when it starts to dominate your life like this you shouls seek some help. Start off by reading some of our features:
phobias
mental health special (with lots of features about different types of treatments).
The Phobics Society is also worth checking out. Their website is packed with info and has discussion boards that you may find useful.

Ooh thank you spanner! I'd already looked at the feature on phobias on thesite but I didn't see the mental health special thing.

Thanks for the link to the Phobics Society thing too, that website is really useful

Former Member

Originally posted by FireyFirenze
Hmm thanks for the info! I do kinda want to go to doctors about it but I'm a bit embarassed I don't think she'll understand and will probably think I'm being a bit silly over something just like a spider :-/

What kind of thing do they do with cognitive behavioural therapy?

If it is affecting your life then it is not silly.

CBT is all about changing your thinking - it's short (usually 6-12 weeks or so) and pretty intensive. You challenge your thought processes - recognise negative and irrational thoughts and learn how to deal with them and challenge and move past them.
If you're willing to put the effort in (and it definitely sounds like you're wanting to change) then it is well worth looking into IMO.