Also I live in the spider capital of the world 
Death
this post was submitted on 22 Jan 2025
31 points (100.0% liked)
askchapo
23055 readers
342 users here now
Ask Hexbear is the place to ask and answer ~~thought-provoking~~ questions.
Rules:
-
Posts must ask a question.
-
If the question asked is serious, answer seriously.
-
Questions where you want to learn more about socialism are allowed, but questions in bad faith are not.
-
Try !feedback@hexbear.net if you're having questions about regarding moderation, site policy, the site itself, development, volunteering or the mod team.
founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
Mmmm another good one
I fell from a four story scaffolding when I was about 25 back when I used to do stucco work. I was the scaffold bitch, and was up on a single 2x10, across two scaffold frames when a fork operator bumped the scaffold and I fell.
My fault for not being clipped into fall protection, drunk operators fault for bumping the scaffolding. I’m the only one who had any repercussions, on top of a broken tibia. Six weeks in a cast.
I developed a healthy fear of heights after that. To the point where I won’t stay in high rise buildings unless there are no windows. I can’t ride rolly coasters any more, will never fly again.
I surprisingly didn't develop a phobia of heights after falling from an even higher height than four stories, despite becoming permanently disabled because of it. Like I thought maybe I would, but I can look over the side of buildings from the roof just fine.
Still scared of most theme park rides, though. I got that from when I was a toddler.
Just the thought of looking over the edge of something like a building elicits a fear response in me.
Panic. Fear. Irrational, even.
ETA - I’ve flat out told my employers - if you send me on anything beyond two floors to chase roof drains/vents (I’m a plumber) Iwill turn in my keys and shove off. This is something I am firmly non negotiable on and have quit over, in the past.
Whales. Baleen whales specifically. Orcas? Sperm whales? Those are just giant dolphins and therefore cool. Orcas are even comrades. But pics or video footage of a humpback from any angle will reduce me to tears. Pure lizard brain terror. It's fun because other people think they're like, majestic and shit, so whale pics are common and seen as harmless.
But no.
Whales are sea monsters.
Wow that’s a good one. I’ve never heard anyone have that phobia before
It's a weird one cause it's not thalassophobia. Subnautica is one of my favorite games, and I didn't find it scary (can't play the sequel though, it has a whale that is close enough to trigger the phobia).
Very specifically baleen whales, and a few key sharks that remind me of them (whale sharks, basking sharks, and megamouths are all very borderline).
load more comments
(2 replies)
I appreciate that phobias are deeper than rationality, but spiders are cool and good and they do their best to eat your pests
Yeh I’m actually better than I was when I was younger. I can tolerate them to some degree. But seriously if a big huntsman scampers out from somewhere I freak TF out
It's the insects that run like cheetah's on crack that get me, even when they're small.
being stabbed in the eye. viceral imaginings of it very consistently, and am extremely wary around ANYTHING pointed even being near my face
Don't play Dead Space 2 lol
also fuck off massive objects like planets. that shit removed me
these are both reasonable fears imo
load more comments
(1 replies)
Trypophobia or whatever the clustered holes one is. Frick it's gross aaaah. Like strawberries or lotus pods or the like
Love these lol and the popping videos. I don't look them up but I can never look away haha
I don't like looking at the mouths of parasites. Specific, I know, but it makes my skin itch and I get antsy. Especially those photos of the lamprey mouths stuck to aquarium glass. Woof. No thx.
Heights and the dark. Heights I get woozy standing on a chair, unfortunately I have to do a lot of maintenance that involves ladders so I've just gotten really good at being afraid and keeping going. Tried to break myself of it, did giant drops/VR falls/exposure etc. Nope, stools still make the floor yawn away and adrenaline spike but it turns out if you just sit with terror for a while it becomes boring and less distracting.
I've been attacked a few times at night, that shit is scary ok. Also sometimes there might be spooky monsters alright? I'm 35 and I still can't shake the dumb fear of spooky monsters if I wake at night from a nightmare. I carry an extremely bright torch because I'm enough of an adult about heights so dark can just fuck right off. Science beats spooky monsters that are definitely maybe there 🫣
I've just gotten really good at being afraid and keeping going
This is what heroes do. Meanwhile I’m like “big spider better run away”
I love spiders, they're good for keeping pests away and can be so cute at times, but I'm also terrified of them
Yeh in abstract I think they’re crazy cool, they eat annoying stuff and looking at (small) ones in their web is amazing. Like what an insane trick of evolution, this thing that can make art with its ass to trap and brutally murder other bugs.
But then I see a big scary one and it’s pure lizard brain time.
Tarantulas are super cool though and largely (pun intended) Harmless.
heights and needles. heavy on the second. i have multiple piercings and tattoos and i do an injection on myself weekly, and it has not gotten better and warrants the same level of panic every time.
Heights where you could die if you fall.
Sincerity
Nice try, FBI.
I love spiders, though. Wanna trade?
Heights, bugs (some are cute tho), small spaces. Big softies of the world unite!
Heights, can't even stand on a chair. The vertigo is so intense that it raises my chance of dying to heights because i completely lose any semblance of balance. Very counter intuitive fear.
Next up is being vored
load more comments
(1 replies)
can't do spiders. I've gotten better to the point of tolerating house spiders, but any sort of media that shows close-ups of or actions of spiders will make me drop my phone or make me fall out of my chair.
Spiders creep me out and I get SUPER anxious in high up places if I can see the ground.
Know the Sears Tower in Chicago where they have the glass room you can step out of and see from the top floor to the ground? Yeah, instant panic attack.
I used to do rock climbing for fun and have climbed some pretty tall mountains but laying down on top of half dome in Yosemite and looking down its face freaked me out.
nice try 
Thanatophobia. Been following me around for too long
Heights but it very specific contexts. A roller coaster is fine where a ferris wheel of the same height isn't.
he/him
sissy
I actually originally wrote it as cissy just by reflex LOL hexbear has broken my brain
I have no fears, I just don't go on roller coasters because of my back...
view more: next ›