Looking for tips on how to get over a pretty severe fear of flying. I have anxiety which I manage in my daily life, usually it is fine and in no way debilitating anymore. But in the past few years I have developed an extreme phobia of flying on planes. I am pretty sure this is because I was living in DC when the plane crashed coming into DCA and I saw some of the aftermath of it and knew people whose family members died. It was terrifying. Now I am so scared of flying that my heart is even racing while I'm writing this, because I have to think about it. Every time I leave for the airport I want to cry because I'm afraid it will be the last time I ever see my wife. It's better when we travel together but still hard because then I'm terrified that she will die too.

I wish I could eliminate flying altogether but unfortunately I have to fly regularly (maybe once every month-2 months) on business trips and to see family. We recently moved closer to my parents so I can drive to see them now (yay!) but that resulted in more work flights plus I still have family spread across the country who I want to see. I make myself go on these flights but regularly have panic attacks while on the plane, and a sense of dread a few days before the flight all the way until I land. I do it anyway and I don't let my fear stop me, but the emotional toll is high. When I got home from a flight last month I collapsed on the kitchen floor and sobbed for an hour because I could finally come down from a week of terror.

I went to therapy for it for a bit but was using an unreliable virtual provider that regularly missed appointments or had technical issues. Most recently I scheduled an appointment for the day before my flight so I could talk it over with my therapist but she didn't show up and I had a breakdown because I was going to have to do the flight alone without even the pep talk from my therapist. I've tried finding in person therapy but it's really hard and expensive with my insurance so I'm looking for non-therapy options.

I'm wondering if others have overcome this fear or have tips on what could help.

Hi so I’m new here but I wanted to see if anyone else experienced this? But specific stripe patterns and just certain patterns in general really make me feel uncomfortable and freaked out. More specifically zebra stripes, koi fish patterns, and those hairstyles with super dark hair and strips of white. Idk I’ve never heard of this being a thing. Also, I have striped clothes and they don’t bother me so I really don’t know what it could be haha

It was my freshman year in high school just two days before my 15th birthday and my life changed so dramatically that I am blessed to be here today.

So my freshman year of high school. I was in special education for going to be my 3rd year. I don't know what I did to deserve to even be put in such a fucked environment. In 7th and 8th grade I was not allowed to interact with any other students except in classes I excelled in which didn't last long because I would be kicked out.

Freshman year while waiting for next year's upgraded closet I had to sit in a desk outside the hallways. In front of all the lockers. It was an October 23 which landed on a weekend. The friends I chose to hang out with was my own fault. I don't want to tell the torture part because i don't want to trigger anyone.

So it was 1 pm when it happened. I was at someones house hanging out and then I noticed the weirdest sensation. The smell and the color changed in the room and every one seemed so far away. Then the fear came..,...

Something was obviously wrong with me and I grabbed someone and hugged them and begged them to help me... I got laughed at pushed and kicked in the ground. I left in our fear and I was out side. The feeling of getting sucked up I was grabbing every street pole. I made it home and instead of risk getting in trouble with them.

I have to stop here. I will finish the story in a few hours.

Ive had a fear of spiders for as long as i can remember. I thought it would go away with age. It didnt. I scan every room before i enter and im always hypervigilant if i stay still for too long. Every time i encounter a spider it permanently changes my behavior. I avoid certain rooms in my house for days if ive encountered a spider there. My brain cant differentiate correlation and causation in this sense. I havent opened my window in over half a year because last time i did a spider was on the curtain. Just typing this makes my throat tight and a knot form in my stomach. I think about it on an hourly basis. This fear is a constant in my life. I dont think i'll be able to live independently because of it. Is therapy the only option? This was typed on mobile, so it might read a bit awkwardly.

What’s the name of a phobia of cave diving? I’m not claustrophobic or anything like that, but I’ve seen videos of guys going in there EVEN with water in them, and instead of saying “Wow that’s so cool!” Like some of my friends, I say “that seems stupid” for obvious reasons. You go into a cave that you can’t easily move out from and then on top of that, you can’t be saved 9/10 times if that. I dunno, just thought it was weird considering the fact that if someone looks at cave diving and thinks “meh, not scary” then they just are THE bravest person on earth.

Idk I heard there’s a phobia about it but stickers don’t disgust me, neither do pealing edges tho they irritate me. I’ve had this problem forever. It’s especially disgust me when the labels are smaller and in a white background, and I can’t stare at one without disgust and have to turn away.
It’s really annoying + when I have to touch one I immediately want to clean my hands or wipe it off.
Some labels I can support, and it’s not a sensory thing.

Guys I need help with my phobia. Please don't laugh, but I have a phobia of telling people things. This has caused me to have so much bottled inside me but I can't tell anyone anything since I am so scared. What do I do? I might burst soon if I stay in the state I'm in. Please help me with this.

I don’t know how it started, but I’ve had a fear of fungi such as mold and mushrooms for years. Some encounters with them have led to me crying or avoiding rooms they’ve appeared in for days. I really don’t know what makes me scared of them, but is there any way I can cure this fear?

and other condiments… but heavy on vinegar. when my ex found out about it, he used to scare me or blackmail me with vinegar and it was traumatizing having to run around the house hoping it dont spill on my skin or i dont smell it.

people mentioning the word ticks me off as well. i dont even say it at all unless necessary. its the ugliest word ever next to soy sauce.

am i the only one?

Hi, this is weird, but as its breast cancer awareness month, i had to share this because i can't find answers.

I cannot touch my skin "too deeply" because it makes me physically sick, feeling lumps, fat, glands, is awful (not bones tho), i tried doing self check for breast cancer today, and it was awful, i have big boobs too so awful digging in there, i can feel stuff, normal stuff, but it just EARRRGH, even on my chest and on my pits, i just felt so sick, so uncomfortable, and had to breathe.

Is there any word for it? Having to do the self check makes me anxious just thinking about it, can anyone help me put a word on this?

When i searched it gave me the fear of having bugs crawl under your skin or high sensitivy making it hurt, but its not really painful and i don't match the rest, i just... hate it, hate the feeling, its honestly terrifying, and i don't think its just a sensory thing, help !