I don't know what other section to put this under. The other day my roommate was cutting my hair. She's a really good friend of mine. I've been trimming my own hair for the past two years but I thought I should let someone else even out the back. I picked someone I should trust.

I was fine. For about half an hour she snipped away. Then at the end when she was blow drying my hair she started running her fingers through the hair at the top and patting it and I just started going into a panic. I had to stop her. I stood up and got angry and wouldn't let her near me. She got a little upset and started trying to tell me I could get over this like she got over her claustrophobia and I just got pissed off at her for trying to help me.

I've always been like that with my head. I'm short, some people think it's cute to pat me on the head. For first-time offenders I just back off and tell them not to do that. But I've had minor panic attacks. One of my exes had one of those weird, thin-wired head scratchers and apparently they're supposed to feel great but I can't even look at one without feeling shivers all over my body and having trouble breathing.

Is this a normal sort of phobia? I don't know what to think of it, I've never been able to explain it. I wouldn't call it a phobia. It's almost like a physical feeling sent through my body. Like, static. Like an electric shock. And I go into a panic if it doesn't stop. But I don't know what else it could be.

I mean, I've had a fair amount of head-related trauma throughout my life but I'm not aware of any concussions or anything. I assume it's related but it's just really weird. It kind of puts people off when they find out. No one thinks it's a big deal, like I should just get over it but it's a big deal to me.

Anyway ... long story, sorry for all the reading. Just wondering if anyone else gets this or knows something about it.