[queenofpanic]

I just wrote something within a different thread, and it got me thinking...then i took to Google to look it up, but found nothing, so now Im wondering if Im really the only one........

Is anyone else grateful for their phobias? I am.

Dont get me wrong, I hate the panic they cause, and would love to be able to find a way to avoid the things I fear but without any anxiety about it. That would be ideal. But I have zero desire to actually overcome my phobias because they keep me safe. When Im afraid of something, its because it poses some sort of danger to me, so my phobia ensures i never go anywhere near that thing. I honestly dont understand why that's a bad thing, or why that is considered to be something to overcome. I understand why the panic surrounding it is a bad thing, but the phobia itself - the avoidance of a dangerous thing - I think is a good thing, and I'm thankful that I notice all the dangers around me so that I dont get caught up in bad situations. . .I just wish it didnt make me feel panic stricken, that's all.

For example, Im phobic of flying. I would never, ever be willing to overcome that fear, because it keeps me from dying in a firey plane crash. I know it's not very likely that a plane Im on would actually crash - but I also know that Ive never heard of an empty commercial plane going down, which means there are always people on those unfortunate flights - people who probably told themselves how unlikely it would be for their plane to crash. They chose to take that risk. I wouldn't. I can only ensure that Im never in a plane crash by never getting on a plane.

How likely the event is doesnt matter to me. To me its about whether or not it is possible. If the worst case scenario is possible at all, and is something Im not willing to go through, then i dont do it. I avoid it at all cost.

I have no problem with my logic. If it stopped at logic, Id be perfectly fine. My only issue with phobias is with the fact that they also lead to panic at the mere thought of the things I fear. So getting rid of the panic would be great, but learning to ignore the logic that keeps me safe, and put myself in danger instead seems silly to me.

Does any of that make sense to anyone? Is anyone else not at all interested in overcoming their phobias, but only interested in getting rid of the anxiety they have surrounding those things?

[Jason1123]

What a great post! Social anxiety made me leave a job that I hated and I would have spent the rest of my life there if it wasn't for that. When I look back, it was forced me to make a positive decision that has continued to reap benefits years down the road.

[queenofpanic]

Yes! Thats precisely my point! Sometimes phobias serve us well. They're not always all bad. They can be all bad, but sometimes they kick in because something isn't right and something in us knows we need to bail. Thank you!! I was starting to really think i was the only one

queenofpanic, like you, i'm phobic of flying.
1 of my phobia's is also heights, so i suppose looking at that, i'm never going to fall down a mountain (relief!) or get stuck at the top of a roller coaster.

i do see your point

[-jimi-]

Well, I am extremely scared of heights. I still have to work on the roof. I simply have no options there. Being fearful actually makes me more unsteady on my feet and the fear itself could make me fall off that roof.

But also, I don't see phobias in the sterile way many people do, like it is just some obstacle to get over. I can totally understand social anxiety even if I don't have so much of it myself. Us humans are social by nature and we are programmed to be sensitive to others and what they think. If we weren't, humans could not live together, since we're destructive at the same time. It needs balance. We need things like embarrassment and guilt and all those things to survive as a species.