Is this a phobia.

I'm a bit confused as to weather what I'm experiencing is a phobia, gaiety disorder, COD or maybe just bad habits or
behaviors I've developed over the years.

As a kid I started to develop a fear of being in situations where I couldn't escape from egg stuck in an elevator but
I've looked at phobias like agoraphobia, claustrophobia and Claustrophobia but I don't fear confined spaces or
Crowed places I only fear being trapped and knowing that I can never escape. I don't mind going in lifts It's just the
loss of control and not being able to escape when you enter one that I fear.

I don't think its a control thing because I'm fine with being driven by someone and not being in control of the car
as I know I could easily get out, unlike a plane where I know there is no escape. I also associate death
with this phobia, I feel that after death I will still be conscious but in some sort of void unable to cease just in
nothingness forever, so its not really death I fear but again being in a situation that I can't escape from and have
no control over. Also growing up I had a fear of
developing a terminal disease as I associated this with death and the void scenario but
Also having someone tell me I'm going to die would put me in a situation that I could not escape from, this is
The same reason I fear situations that aren't assisted with death like becoming appraised or going to prison
Because I can't escape and have no control that situation.

The reason that I'm leaning towards it being a phobia is that
I'm fine when I don't experience anything that might result in me getting trapped, it's not something that
affects me daily like general anxiety, also I don't really have obsessive thoughts that come into my mind, I only
Have them when I know I'm going to have to face a situation that might cause me to become trapped. I did adopt
some COD rituals I guess to try to help me avoid these situations egg tapping something so many times so that I didn't
get cancer, but I don't do theses anymore because I know
they don't do anything, I mean I guess I have touch of COD as I do like to go back and check things like ovens
Taps to see if they're turned off but this doesn't really hold me back from doing thighs like my fear/phobia of being
trapped and not being in control. I would just like to understand what this phobia is (if It is one) and
if anyone else has had similar experiences.

Sorry if its a bit hard to read, I'm finding it hard to describe.

hi johnsmoot
i think it would be a phobia and a fear of a lack of control. i dont think that fear is unnatural. we all want to be able to control our worlds. especially if we lacked that control in our childhoods. welcome to psych central. you will find we have several forums where you can post about your concerns and receive feedback from other members. you will get a lot of support here. again, welcome

it may be. are you seeing a therapist?

Thank you for your reply's, sorry about the spelling mistakes I used an online spellchecker and for some reason it changed things like OCD to COD.

If it is a phobia what would you recommend to get over it. I have tried things like CBT and psychotherapy but this was when I viewed it as OCD or GAD instead of a phobia so maybe they might help if I went back and tried them. I have also looked into NLP as I hear its pretty good for phobias.

(((johnsmoot))) Just wanted to stop by and say hello and welcome to Psych Central!!! I'm glad to see you here and already posting and receiving feedback from other members. Please feel free to contact any community liaison or moderator if you need help navigating the forums. I look forward to seeing you around!!!

Only your therapist would know for sure. I mainly want to welcome you to PC.