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Phobias - The Mix

BillieTheBotBillieTheBot Posts: 8,721 Bot
edited December 2021 in Articles
imagePhobias - The Mix

What is a phobia? And what do you do if you have one? The Mix gets to grips with phobias of all shapes and sizes.

Read the full story here

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    MojoMojo Posts: 1 Just got here
    I need help for my son who needs blood tests and vaccines but has an awful needle phobia! Where can we get help?
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    MaisyMaisy Moderator Posts: 627 Incredible Poster
    Hi @Mojo

    As the article mentioned, you might want to try accessing help for your son’s phobias by speaking to his GP. They may be able to refer him for a type of therapy known as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT works by helping to challenge negative or faulty thinking and may be combined with some elements of exposure therapy to help overcome the fear.

    There are other treatments available such as self-help or medication. More information can be found on the NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/phobias/treatment/ MIND https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/phobias/treatment/ and YoungMinds https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/mental-health-conditions/phobias/

    It’s also worth talking to those who will be administering the needles as they may be able to help calm or distract your son. They will likely have come across people with a phobia of needles before so they should be understanding!
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    Kate_20Kate_20 Posts: 653 Incredible Poster
    I am extremely afraid of mushrooms on the grass but not so much in the supermarket. I cannot look at pictures of poisonous mushrooms. I would always squeal and run away when I see mushrooms on the grass regardless of the reactions of people around me. I am afraid that they would grow on me or inside me. However, I eat mushrooms from the supermarket despite being afraid of them. I am still afraid that the edible ones would grow on my hands where I self-harmed if I do not wash my hands with soap after washing them. I am not afraid of cooked mushroom though because I know they have lost the ability to grow. Is that irrational fear or it is normal?
    Tengo el alma en cuarentena y roto el cuerpo
    Qué dolor, qué pena y qué tormento
    El Kanka - Lo mal que estoy y lo poco que me quejo
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    charlieboyzcharlieboyz Posts: 178 Helping Hand
    I'm scared stiff ofpublic transport and spiders
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    MaisyMaisy Moderator Posts: 627 Incredible Poster
    Hi @Kate_20

    I understand your concerns about mushrooms. Essentially, they are fungi which does grow so it makes sense that you’d be scared of wild ones growing and less afraid of the ones in the supermarket or ones that have been cooked and ready to eat. That said, since they need a particular environment to grow in, then your fear of mushrooms growing inside or on you may be a bit irrational. It’s difficult to say whether this is a phobia or an intrusive thought, but it’s worth exploring with a mental health professional if it interferes with your life!


    Hi @charlieboyz

    Being scared of spiders is very common- I am too!

    As for public transport, is there anything in particular that scares you about using public transport? I know for me, I didn’t like the social interaction part of buying a ticket or getting off the bus. But I also felt scared going to new areas that I hadn’t been to before. If it’s more the social side of things, you might want to look into cognitive behaviour therapy which can help to reframe your thoughts. Otherwise, it may be normal to feel scared of going somewhere you haven’t been before but using google maps (especially the streetview) to learn the way or know what stop is yours might help.


    Take care both!
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    I'm a community moderator. I'm here to help guide discussions and make sure Community Guidelines are followed. I can't send DMs, but you can message @TheMix or email community@themix.org.uk with questions or concerns.
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    charlieboyzcharlieboyz Posts: 178 Helping Hand
    @maisy the noise and all the people scare me.
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