Thing #29: Visit the Dentist (and a bit about phobias)

So, I’ve managed to overcome my dentophobia.  It’s a word.  If I’m honest, I haven’t really been afraid of the dentist for a long time.  My childhood dentist was a sadist and my 8-year-old brain rationalised that every dentist must be the same (why would anyone voluntarily become a dentist?).  I was so happy to be proved wrong 11 years later when I found Dr. Bernard.

There’s not much to say about my check-up, except that writing this post got me thinking about all the other things I’m afraid of.  Those phobias I haven’t yet managed to overcome.  I know I like to act tough, but the truth is… well, here it is: a complete list of my phobias, in order of the terror they inflict on my life (high to low):

 

Hemaphobia:  a fear of blood.  Well,not really.  This was the closest phobia I could find to what I really fear, which I would sum up as thinking about or confronting any internal workings of the human body.  I can’t talk about, listen to or especially see anything to do with blood, veins, arteries, cells, tissues… even typing these words makes me weak.  I will invariably faint when getting injections or giving blood samples.  I once fainted at the Optician (They put dye in my eye!  In my eye!) and at the aforementioned Dentist’s surgery, where I was scolded for ‘making a fuss’ - Sorry, I’ll try to better control my involuntary bodily reflexes in future!

Felinophobia:  a fear of cats.  If there was a specific phobia for the fear of the skinny, mangy alley cats around here, this would be at the top of my list.  This is not one that many people can relate to; they assume I’m exaggerating it or being dramatic.  There is a difference between ‘being more of a dog person’ and feeling repeatedly terrorised by these disgusting creatures. 

Musophobia:  a fear of mice and/or rats.  Or in my case, both and anything that resembles them.  Gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs.  Shiver.

Ornithophobia:  a fear of birds (specifically, pigeons).  I know where this one comes from.  Maybe my Mam will remember that on our first trip to Paris, we sat down on a bench somewhere near Notre Dame for a few minutes.  Two nearby men were feeding pigeons from their hands and the wing-flapping commotion made me a little jumpy.  They must have noticed and been amused by my reaction because they began not-so-discreetly throwing seed over in our direction, causing a flurry of pigeons around us.  It was so traumatic.

Finally, a fear of horror films, which I’ve discovered there is no medical term for.  This is still a legit phobia.  It may seem like an obvious one (you’re supposed to be afraid, duh), but I’m so afraid. Unnaturally afraid.  The last one I watched was The Strangers and I almost cried during it (almost) and couldn’t sleep properly for nights afterwards.

What are you afraid of?

€5 has been donated to UNICEF Ireland for the completion of this ‘thing’.  Click here if you too would like to donate online.