General social fears

I have a phobia of using a webcam, I don't know if it's futuristic technology, but it bugs me a lot when i am using one.

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I have a fear of going out in daylight,i feel like someone or everyone is staring at me,anything i do out in the open in daylight,im afraid im being watched.

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I have a fear of sitting in a Barber's chair (also restaurant and cinema seats). It's not the hair being cut or my head being touched, but just sitting there motionless in the immediate vicinity of a stranger. This is made worse if there are other customers waiting. I have in the past come so close to getting up in the middle of a haircut, that the only thing that made me stay was the greater fear of looking a right tit with half a haircut. This fear is coupled with cold chills and shivers from head to toe, sweating, and a face that feels it's on fire.

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I have a strange fear where I become extremely uneasy and scared around men smoking; cigarrette or cigar or anything. I begin to sweat and my heart races with fear.
My greatest fear is to see a man smoking a cigarrette in the dark under a street light wearing a hat.

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I have this major fear of being "trapped" in public spaces. I have panic attacks for various reasons, and I feel like I have a big, flashing sign above my head that says, "Look at this crazy lady! She's freaking out!" I feel like everyone can see me freaking out in my head, and that makes me just want to run. When I start to feel like I'm panicking, I need to be able to escape, to a bathroom stall, an empty room, etc, where people can't see me. I hate being the center of attention, and I am always locating the exits and bathrooms wherever I go, so that if I need to 'escape' I can.

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I have a phobia of being hated by anyone, or not loved the most.
I get really insecure when I think my friends prefer someone else to me even just a tiny bit; I have a constant NEED to be loved the most or else I'll start to panic and cry.

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I have a fear of turning the web cam on most of the times, even for my closest friends. And recording my voice too.

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I have a phobia that people can watch me through the webcam built into my laptop.

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I don't really have a phobia per sé. I have suffered from anxiety for years off and on and in fact, had PTSD to greater and lesser degrees from age 4 to about age 25 due to incidents of sexual abuse and violence coupled with a pair of utterly unsupportive, emotionally frozen parents. I'm 54.

My brain has no off switch and often has music playing, a particular song known or unknown, over and over and over. If I hate the song, at least I can change it to another one but I usually cannot stop it completely. The first song I composed in 2006, played complete in my head with all instruments and voices 24/7 until I got it committed to a CD.

I just finished A Brief History of Anxiety and found it to be funny, fascinating and reassuring in an ass-backwards way. Through all my difficulties; crippling anxiety and depression I intuitively knew I must not EVER take any psychotropic drugs and the reasons why I must never do this were perfectly articulated in this insightful book. I did not originate this expression, (can't remember where I heard it) but I have always referred to the use of those drugs as "The Unplugging the Alarm Instead of Putting Out the Fire Approach."

I was also reassured by the chapter in which the perils of being a creative person are spelled out. Of course I've always been considered a 'nut' by many family members and 'the black sheep,' eccentric, off-balance, driven, etc. I am a writer, and lately have been composing music. A friend says, 'channeling' it.

I think the mental illness of many of the writers, poets, musicians and other artists mentioned in the book may be that they never conformed, always had their own unique drum beat and were/are punished for it in their families, in their schools and in society at large hence their (normal under the circumstances) emotional difficulties. Perhaps of they'd been accepted and engaged they would still have been creative but without the pathology.

In 1980 I went 'off my toque' and had a complete emotional collapse, much like Ms. Pearson's melt-down in Chicago after being ditched by her boyfriend. With great effort and force of will, I recreated myself. My relief mainly came about by way of spiritual pathways and pursuits. Regular meditation was key as well as some shamanic practices.

At this moment I'm in another major transitional phase and have been suffering anxiety again as a result after being free of it for over 20 years. I will move through it and after lapsing somewhat in my spiritual practices, I have returned to them for relief. I'm finding they still help. It's also helpful to know that most if not all emotional distress is reasonable under the varied and stressful circumstances in our lives and histories.

I am working on my own memoir detailing my struggle and have had an excerpt published in gritty Ottawa literary magazine, Front and Centre.

I loved A Brief History of History of Anxiety and will recommend and give it to many friends.

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well im absolutley terrified of kidnappers and rapists and that sort of stuff. i can go outside in the daylight and thats alrite, but i just cannot go outside in the dark. i have this massive fear that someone is going 2 jump out and kill me or hurt me or something. the one time i did go outside i bolted for the car and locked my self in crying and crying. i am TERRIFIED!!

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I have a phobia of Adam apples. If someone with a skinny neck walks by, I have to look away, or I'll freak out. If someone with an Adam apple swallows, I freak out and start running until I'm a good 1/4 or so away from them.

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ever since i got my first ticket, which was a big fiasco, i drive in constant fear of being pulled over again. its really bad, i check my rear view every five seconds to make sure there arent any cops behind me, like for miles. if i see a cop i start freaking out and shaking.

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I get very anxious if anyone sees me brushing my teeth; even at home with my spouse, I have to close the bathroom door, and try to time it so nobody can even hear me doing it. It amazes me that some (most) people think nothing of brushing their teeth in front of just anybody...I would freak out from self-consciousness. It is much worse to do in front of women than men.

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When I was young , my mother would say as we passed a street person or some lonely soul sitting on a park bench, that if I didn't work hard and pull my socks up, I would be just like them, some day. To this day, almost 50 years later, and somewhat successful, I feel that I am never, ever, that far from realizing my mother's warning.

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