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Member Since Feb 2013
Posts: 244
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#1
so last night, i'm walking up stairs and i see everyone smiling at me...get all the way up the stairs to find a dog in my home. my brother bought it from the pet store. i am afraid of dogs. have been since i can remember. they make me nervous. tense.
the rest of my family has wanted a dog for a long time and i dont want to be a jerk...they're allowed to have a dog if they want to. im just...really uncomfortable right now. it took me a long time to get up the nerve to go out of my bedroom and upstairs to get food today. every time i go up, he comes over and sniffs me...i automatically stop, i TRY not to be too tense, but whenever he's near me, i become really still and really quiet. i cant even talk! i havent touched the dog...no petting or anything. it's hard to stay relaxed. i dunno...this is gonna be a challenge for me. it's too bad i cannot afford a place of my own at the moment. i guess for now, i'll have to deal with it. =/ |
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Anonymous37781, optimize990h, Rohag
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Legendary Wise Elder
Member Since Sep 2010
Location: North Carolina
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#2
Were they hoping this dog surprise would help you get over your fear of dogs?
If need be, then how about talking to a therapist about this fear? Maybe you can get some help in finally overcoming it. I'd hate for you to have to feel this discomfort so much. There is a technique called "flooding," which has been used to help people get over fears, which involves putting them in the fearful situation. But..... |
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Member
Member Since Feb 2013
Posts: 244
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#3
yeah...i was going to bring it up with my therapist during my next session (saturday). i dont know what their intention was...other than they wanted a dog. they've always said to me that having your own dog is different than being around other people's dogs. ive found no comfort yet. i know it's only been a couple of days.
yesterday, the dog was kinda just sniffing me...today he's trying to jump on me and it's making me even more uncomfortable. i assume it's just trying to play, but i cant...i just cant. i still havent touched him or spoken to him. flooding? sounds intense. im not sure i'd be able to take it. |
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#4
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what started your fear of dogs- do you know? i agree, having your own dog is so diffrent.. it's another member of your family- that's what i've always said!. pets are just the same as family members- i know i'm not helping, but yeah... |
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Member
Member Since Feb 2013
Posts: 244
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#5
i really dont know. ive been afraid of them since i was quite young and i dont remember any incidents that happened to start the fear. i have had incidents with dogs through the years, but the fear existed before those incidets....so, i dont know what the original reason or incident was. maybe i was too young to remember? maybe i just dont want to remember? i dunno.
i dont even feel like a member of my family...im sure the dog will be more wanted/invited/cared for here than i have ever been. ((shrugs)) i do okay with dogs that dont care about your presence...aka old or lazy dogs. the ones that just lay around. ha...but if it comes near me, i just...caaaaaaaaaaaaaaant. |
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