Posted on 12/27/2008 3:06:45 PM PST by managusta
A terror of frozen peas, a fear of barns and a dread of kneecaps have emerged as some of Britain's most unusual phobias. Britain's weirdest phobias include a fear of peas and kneecaps.
While spiders and heights are common sources of anxiety, many people's lives are blighted by phobias of seemingly innocuous objects. David Allison, a therapist based at Addenbrooke's hospital, in Cambridge, was filmed treating some of the worst sufferers in an ITV1 documentary to be shown next week.
They included Sue Williams, 37, from Dudley in the West Midlands, who is so terrified of knees that she has not touched her own for 16 years and cannot say "kneecap" without bursting into tears.
"I don't like my own. I can't touch them. I certainly can't touch anyone else's," she said. "I know it's strange. People tease me about it and they have got every right to. But I think I'm the normal one and everyone else is weird."
Until her therapy sessions, Mrs Williams was unable to wash her knees in the bath and could not look at her husband's knees. Mr Allison's treatment involved showing her photographs of knees, which reduced her to sobs.
In the final session, he wore a pair of shorts and encouraged her to look at his kneecaps until the feelings of terror subsided.
Louise Arnold, from Gloucester, has a pea phobia which means she cannot walk down the frozen food aisle of a supermarket. Explaining her dislike of peas, she said: "They tend to just look at me – ganging up on me. All the hairs on the back of my neck go up. I have to know where they are in the supermarket before I go in.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
I fear skanky women with bad teeth. And Spotted Dick.
Of course, but how do you feel about Bangers & Mash?
Still obsessing about the other day? lol
Ventriloquist dummies FREAK me out. Clowns aren’t much better.
But no fear of sharia law.
Jesus wept.
Clowns have always been evil. They originated in Commedia dell'arte aka "street theatre", Nothing good can come from that.
Hatred of clowns and clown phobia is huge. Way back in about 1949 my brother and I were at the Shrine Circus and a clown started messing with us. He probably thought he was entertaining us but he was fat and ugly and he smelled bad and we wanted him to go away. My brother smacked him across the face with his cotton candy. He cursed at us and ever since we have hated clowns (true story). All of you clowns out there keep your distance ‘cause we are armed now!
My fears are:
A strange car stopping in front of my house or pulling into my drive. I know where this comes from but I panic and freeze every time.
An unexpected knock at the door. My heart starts racing and I dread opening the door. Sometimes I don’t.
A closet door that should be closed but is a little bit open.
Looking out into the back yard at night and being afraid of seeing someone standing out there. This happened once about 30 years ago and it has stayed with me.
Some doll faces really creep me out. All clowns except Emmet Kelly.
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