[Trace14]

1.I've always been afraid of Mimes , not sure why, but that fear goes a very angry me if one gets to close.
2.I fear death, not for me but for those I care about, never been able to deal with funerals , especially at the grave site, I cry more than anyone else almost to a point of hyperventilating. This may have something to do with witnessing my grandfathers death and being so young.
3.Close spaces , claustrophobic

I've only recently found out about the death and my grandfather link, but it makes sense now.

[reb569]

Non-CPTSD fears for me include the fear of heights, thunderstorms and the dark.

CPTSD related (on a scale of general uneasiness to very strong fear, depending on the day): crowds, people being behind me, driving to a place I've never been to before, walking into an unfamiliar building, social events.

PTSD related: ambulances with lights on and tv shows/movies with ER Room scenes.

Also - I have this strange fear of seeing anything related to eye surgery on TV. I cringe and have to leave the room or change the channel.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by reb569

Non-CPTSD fears for me include the fear of heights, thunderstorms and the dark.

CPTSD related (on a scale of general uneasiness to very strong fear, depending on the day): crowds, people being behind me, driving to a place I've never been to before, walking into an unfamiliar building, social events.

PTSD related: ambulances with lights on and tv shows/movies with ER Room scenes.

Also - I have this strange fear of seeing anything related to eye surgery on TV. I cringe and have to leave the room or change the channel.

Do you have any idea where these fears came from? Or do you think we are born with certain fears?

[Open Eyes]

I think the fears you are describing are "normal" fears. What helps with these fears is when we have a chance to observe how others handle these fears when we are growing up. If we see some kind of trauma take place when growing up and the adults around us handle it badly it can make these normal fears into bigger fears in that there was no presence there to "help" us understand how to recover from a traumatic loss. That is what you have finally realized took place with the tragic loss of your grandfather.

Often the "anger" that presents when it comes to not wanting other's to get too close is due to being "hurt" profoundly when others you did get close with failed you or abandoned you in some way.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by Open Eyes

I think the fears you are describing are "normal" fears. What helps with these fears is when we have a chance to observe how others handle these fears when we are growing up. If we see some kind of trauma take place when growing up and the adults around us handle it badly it can make these normal fears into bigger fears in that there was no presence there to "help" us understand how to recover from a traumatic loss. That is what you have finally realized took place with the tragic loss of your grandfather.

Often the "anger" that presents when it comes to not wanting other's to get too close is due to being "hurt" profoundly when others you did get close with failed you or abandoned you in some way.

Do you think we are born with fears already ingrained into our minds?

[SoupDragon]

I can be fearful of all kinds of things. Some specific related to past events, but sometimes I just get images in my head of worse case scenarios, relating to anything.

I think fear is normal and in terms of evolution, is what keeps us safe. But I think repeated traumatic events, has led to a distorted view in my head and so everything can pose a danger.

Although maybe it is not a distorted view, I know from past experience that bad things can happen, maybe more so than someone who hasn't experienced trauma. But what I do know, is that having these fears, doesn't make life very enjoyable, so maybe I actually need to distort my thinking, so that I see things as harmless.

[Open Eyes]

Originally Posted by Trace14

Do you think we are born with fears already ingrained into our minds?

I think we are born with a sensitivity that can be receptive towards developing fear as we discover ourselves and begin our journey of self awareness and more awareness of our environment around us and what in that environment can be a threat to our survival.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by SoupDragon

I can be fearful of all kinds of things. Some specific related to past events, but sometimes I just get images in my head of worse case scenarios, relating to anything.

I think fear is normal and in terms of evolution, is what keeps us safe. But I think repeated traumatic events, has led to a distorted view in my head and so everything can pose a danger.

Although maybe it is not a distorted view, I know from past experience that bad things can happen, maybe more so than someone who hasn't experienced trauma. But what I do know, is that having these fears, doesn't make life very enjoyable, so maybe I actually need to distort my thinking, so that I see things as harmless.

I think you said something very important there. I think that is the premise for the PE therapy to make me not react so emotionally to past trauma. To understand that was the past and I'm safe now, I guess. Sounds so easy, and I wish it were that way for all of us.

[Trace14]

Wow, I Googled fear being inherited and was surprised at all the data showing that it could be and even with memories from our ancestors.
Here's one article https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog...phobias-inborn

Like you I have a fear of those I care about dying or getting hurt.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by DaX15

Like you I have a fear of those I care about dying or getting hurt.

I wish I had know what the origin of this problem was, or even know that it was a problem. Could have saved myself a lot of grief and pain if I had known how to better handle death. Still working on that.
Are you doing anything to work on that? Any suggestions?

[Unrigged64072835]

Outside of PTSD I have a fear of heights and falling.
PTSD-wise I have a fear of crowded spaces and confined rooms with lots of people. And people yelling.

I don't know if we are born with specific fears. Probably more general fear of abandonment than anything. We're so helpless when we're infants. Specific fears probably develop later on. I had the fear of heights/falling since I was a child.

Originally Posted by Trace14

I wish I had know what the origin of this problem was, or even know that it was a problem. Could have saved myself a lot of grief and pain if I had known how to better handle death. Still working on that.
Are you doing anything to work on that? Any suggestions?

Im sorry for your losses. I dont know what I would do if someone very close to me died. But time does help it heal a bit. I know from having my dog die and well having a church member pass away, and friends and their family's deaths. etc...

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by DaX15

Im sorry for your losses. I dont know what I would do if someone very close to me died. But time does help it heal a bit. I know from having my dog die and well having a church member pass away, and friends and their family's deaths. etc...

I've heard that time does heal but I'm not so sure about that. Time passes and other worries push the most recent to the side. But if you focus on that death it can be as real and painful as it ever was. That's why I say we need to be taught at an early age how to deal with and process death and not wait till it over whelms us to the core of our being.

[reb569]

Originally Posted by Trace14

Do you have any idea where these fears came from? Or do you think we are born with certain fears?

My fear of heights and the dark I'm not sure of. My fear of thunderstorms I think comes from growing up in an old farmhouse fairly high in the hills, and having to shut our power down when a bad storm was coming in. The electrical wiring was very old I guess was the reason for it. Our house would, shake, rattle and roll during a storm.

My CPTSD fears stem from my childhood and adolescent years trauma is my guess. Those fears were actually quite manageable until last year.

My PTSD fears stem from two events with my daughter that happened in 2016.

I'm not sure where the fear about eyes comes from. I wear glasses though so I'm not sure if that has something to do with it, and having exams.