Conquering Phobias

[monster_munch]

Following on from the other phobia post, I was wondering if there was anyone else on the forum who has a phobia they want to try and conquer?
The one i'm desperate to shift is my phobia of water and water related things - mainly the bath When I was at my most poorly I was desperate for a bath, but just couldnt bring myself to get in plus a nice salt bath might help my nether regions at the moment - doesn't really work in the shower

I am determined to have a bath - when, I don't know, but definitely by the end of 2009. There, i've said it! My New Years Resolution is to have a bath... how pathetic does that sound?

If anyone else has something like this they want to conquer, I was wondering if we could make our own little 'weirdos support group'??

 

[lisa&alex]

i dont... but i wanted to coz your not weird... i think if you write things down and say how you feel even if its privatly it will help.. what is it about the bath that frightens you?

 

[monster_munch]

I honestly have no clue - but I cannot bear to touch the cold enamel **shudders** I have to wear flip flops when I get in the shower so that I don't touch the bath

I wish I knew why, I haven't always been like this - it's gotten steadily worse. I used to be able to get into my parents bath (although I did have to steel myself up for it) but now they've moved out I'm stuck!

 

[lisa&alex]

so its not the water? its the cold enamel? how about using a stick on bath mat and a towel on the enamel.. and slowly move the towel so that part of your body touches the enamel.. try desensitization..perhaps put a small bit of water in the bath and put your one foot or hand in there on a mat or towel... have control so you can take it off at any time.. and try to think rationally.. run the water so the enamel isnt cold.. if that is the feeling you dont like. then allow yourself to touch the bath.. take it slowly and write down how you feel before and after... write down when you shower how you feel about touching the enamel.. before and after.. if you accidently touch it etc.. then you can look back at the dates and see if you are improoving.. perhaps set yourself a little task every day? or once a week to start with?

 

[Lou]

Thats a really unusual phobia.

My sisters boyfriend is scared of big mushrooms

I don't have a phobia to conquer but I'd like to help anyone else if I can? I conquered my fear of spiders so maybe I could help with that?

 

[daftscotslass]

I hate spiders and heights. I don't mind going up tall buildings, being in planes and being on the inside but something like the Eiffel tower would just scare the pants off me so I think it's probably more a fear of falling. That's the one I'd really like to sort out but I'm not sure how I'd do it. It doesn't really affect me day to day though.

I had a horrible fear of water and drowning and was a terrible swimmer for years. In 1999 I worked in Toronto for a few months for a day cruise company that sailed on Lake Ontario. Nothing like meeting your fear head on - they had me out on the net at the front of this ship to fold the sails at the front with only a lifejacket and a net between me and the water. That sorted me right out and I've been fine ever since.

 

[monster_munch]

yeah i suppose it's not the water specifically, but all the things i'm afraid of, contain water - lakes, the sea, baths, showers, sinks swimming pools
With most of them it's things like grills, filters, taps, plug holes etc. With lakes etc it's what i can't see that scares me (the thought of touching something underneath the surface .... Urgh)
There's alot more to it but i'm posting from my phone so i can't fit it all in!

 

[lisa&alex]

sorry i didnt reply earlier.. i havent been on all day... now i cant sleep lmao.. i think that you are avoiding water.. completly.. if you have a fear of pretty much everything that can hold water? avoidance can most certainly enhance fear. because the more emphasis you place on avoiding facing anything that may confront the fear... the more things you become afraid of.. which then in turn spirals into irrational fear.. which probably started out as a rational fear... lets say for instance.. someone held your head under water at a swimming pool when you were 6... this fear is rational.. as you could essentially drown.. avoiding a swimming pool.. and then having a panic attack in the bath and a flash back of the ducking created a fear of the bath..then being afraid of washing your hands in the sink... spirals into having a fear of everything that holds water.. this fear has now become irrational because a sink of water cant hurt you.. the key is to control those irrational thoughts.

have you ever spoken to anyone about this M_M?