Does anybody read these?

Odd phobias...

pho·bi·a (fb-)
n.

1. A persistent, abnormal, or irrational fear of a specific thing or situation that compels one to avoid the feared stimulus.
2. A strong fear, dislike, or aversion.

I have a weird phobia that I was just reminded of, and it got me to thinking how many folks probably have strange phobias. Mine must not be too bad, because I definitely can't avoid the situation, but it's a totally irrational fear that is really odd.

No matter if I can see the lock in a bathroom or how many times I check the door to make sure that it's locked, I have this odd fear that someone is going to open the door on me. There's no way they can really, but sometimes I worry about it until I leave the bathroom. I'm not even sure where it came from, because no one's ever walked in on me because I thought the door was locked and it wasn't.

The only thing I can think is that I often worry and/or panic about things I cannot do anything about. When I worked in politics, I didn't get nervous about an election until after the polls closed and there was nothing else I could do to get one more vote. Never worried about a test until I handed it to a professor. So...I'm thinking this is the same thing. Once I get in the bathroom, if the door's not locked I can't do anything about it until it's time to leave anyhow. I think it might be less of a fear of unlocked bathroom doors, and more a fear of being in a situation where I don't have control.

And I think we learned yesterday that I very much do not like it when the ball is completely and totally out of my court...

Do you have any phobias? I'd be curious to see what they are. Post them here.

I'm also deathly afraid of snakes, but I don't think that meets the definition of phobia. It's not irrational; those suckers can kill you!!!!!

posted by Laura at 9:05 AM