Hey Pandas, What’s A Fear People Usually Demonize But Is Actually Valid? (Closed)

Dogs as well, i used to think they were all good until a pt bull bit me. Not saying dogs are awful and i dnt blame the dog. I blame the owner as the dog wasnt on a leash

Fear of certain/new foods. I have a desperate, deep-seated fear of certain foods which dates back to the fact I had a horrific digestive condition as a young child. I was constantly being switched from "you must not eat" to everyone standing over me watching me eat, feeding tubes stuck in my face, drinking disgusting xray contrast, being in pain from food, projectile vomiting, several operations, it was just a total mess. I'm not exactly cured but these days I mostly eat food. But all people take from that when I am forced to eat in public is "picky eater". I'm picky because as a child with my child logic I felt it was going to keep me alive. A year of therapy and I can tentatively try certain new things without puking. I hear "I hate picky eaters" and all I can think is "you know who else hates picky eaters? Picky eaters!"

I have a fear of elderly people and everyone thinks it’s rude but I genuinely get chills on my whole body when I see one I can’t help it. I know an old person (probably) wouldn’t kill me, but I think it every time they’re legit so scary. And the skinny ones that look like skeletons/zombies, I’m sorry but I can’t

Butterflies, or really any flying insect. Even tho most can’t hurt you, they fly at you unexpectedly. They are just so scary and if you look up close they look like aliens🦋😱

Any fear is valid - and every fear gets demonized. You get made fun of for it - despite the person making fun of you having their own fears. What I dislike most is when people torment you with it. I'm afraid of basements. Why I'm afraid of them doesn't matter, but people can't stop asking me why. Then you get the people who torment you by trying to make you go into a basement forcefully or tricking you into it. Flip the coin and you have people who want to 'help' you who wind up doing the same dang thing the tormentor will do but 'they have your best interests at heart'.

This happens with every fear out there.

I’m scared of getting struck by lightning, people say it’s so rare but it’s more common than winning the lottery and lots of people win the lottery! Also dry lightning, lightning that strikes in broad daylight that’s the most terrifying.

Spiders. Everyone's like "don't be scared of spiders. They eat other pests."
Okay, but they are a pest, themselves, get inside, build big webs around the home and are just really creepy and make my skin crawl and heart race.
They're not my biggest fear but up there. I don't want to get over my fear of them.
And they bite. They're bites leave big, itchy welts.

I’m scared of bugs……please don’t say I’m just a weak girly girl (I’m not) or I should toughen up. I am legit petrified at them and I can’t help if I have nightmares about it!

Wasps. I was stung when I was 4 and ever since thing even jaut seeing or hearing them will send me straight into a mini panic attack or flight mode. My family thinks I am just being dramatic. Wasps literally live in our roof (and I'm always the one stung)

I’m terrified of snakes. I opened the garage door one time and a big one fell on my chest. You could have heard me scream all the way to China. I live in Texas.

Open water. A thousand eyes are on you, big and small. A lot of them have teeth. None of them are visible to you until you are lunch. No. Thank. You.

I also have an irrational fear of choking, gagging or throwing up. Don’t understand why or where it came from but when it happens I start shaking and panicking. Like I fear I’m going to choke to death or something.

I'm honestly afraid of those pop-up toasters, or more specifically, jump scares. I hate anything that I know will jump out at me at some time, but I'm not sure when. Gives me MAJOR anxiety.

Everything can be scary. Even a flower.

There was a horrid smell in the air in the middle of nowhere. It was the smell of a fire. We got scared and some of my classmates were crying. 5 minutes later the school computer lab’s computer caught on fire and we were evacuated from the classroom. Since then my Teachers and parents beloved even the air we breathe is scary

Tight spaces- I’m claustrophobic and it’s a real fear. There’s just something about that feeling of not being able to escape- bring trapped that can literally paralyze me. People minimize the fear but it’s very scary.