In my 100 Things post I mentioned my fish phobia. Sarah said in the comments that she wanted to know more about it. :o) So here goes.I've been afraid of live fish ever since I was a kid. Not sure why. Live fish cause me to have a panicky, sick feeling. I can't stand they way they look, their staring eyes, but especially their mouths. It's so silly, and you would think I could overcome it as an adult. I can eat fish, and handle filets when I'm cooking without a problem. But I wouldn't want to mess with one that still had its face.
I wanted so much to snorkel in Hawaii, but I just couldn't do it. The fish in Hanauma Bay will swim right up to you. They are used to being fed frozen peas by visitors. I stood on rocks in the water to watch them, but if any came toward my feet, I'd splash so they would go away. If they kept coming I would panic and run and then feel stupid.
I'm okay if I can't see them. For example, I can water ski in a lake and go into the ocean. But I can remember yelling for my husband to hurry up and pull me up with the boat when I was skiing, because I just knew fish were swimming around me, even though I couldn't see them.
See that picture up there? I can hardly stand to look at it. That would be my one of my worst nightmares.
Oh, and those koi that crowd up to the edges of ponds in a big mass, wanting to be fed, with their slimy bodies half out of the water and their mouths doing that fish thing? Another nightmare. It makes me cringe just thinking about it.
The phobia is called ichthyophobia, and I'm lucky mine is pretty mild. Some people who have it can't even eat fish, and I love my blackened talapia. :o)
6 comments:
Should I say "that is hilarious" even though I know . . . I have weird phobia's that make me feel like I am being silly. Wowza, though. I have never heard of a fear of fish - nor that it had a name. Sorry to make you post about your fear of fish. They do have creepy suck faces, I can't stand cutting them or watching people clean them up . . . I am a texture girl. If it's slimey - YUCK, I'm not touching it unless I have to (like to save my kids or something). My newest thing: my dog licking everything drives me unnaturally bonkers.
Yeah, go ahead and laugh at the phobic old lady. :O) I have to admit, it is funny/weird. And I don't mind posting about it. It gave me something to blog about. We used to have a dog like that.
Given the amount of people that suffer from phobias in the world it's surprising there are not more places online to offer help and advice but there is help to be found at Ofear The Fear & Phobia Forum You will find people from all over the world giving helpful advice as well as specialists from hypnotherapists, psychotherapists and mental health nurses offering their expert knowledge about phobias.
Animal phobias are pretty common and there are a few people on the forum that suffer from this and can relate. You can find a comprehensive list of phobias on the Phobia List
I did a google search for "fear of fish" and your blog entry pulled up. The funny thing is that I have the very exact same fear and have had the very exact same nightmares and experiences that you have had!!! I couldn't even look at that picture you posted! I'm so glad I found someone out there who feels the same as I do...now I don't feel so weird!
Anonymous, thanks for the information.
tinybubbles, I'm glad my post gave you a bit of comfort. We can laugh and make jokes about our phobia, but that panicky feeling really is no fun. I haven't checked out the forum Anonymous (in the comment above yours) mentioned, but maybe it can give us some help.
Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone in my weirdness. :o) And thanks for visiting and leaving a comment!
I have had the same phobia all my life. Even reading about your fear made me feel it.
I've only ever met one other person with it and I'm 43.
I know it's irrational, but I can't ever remember not having it.
Weird, though, isn't it!?
Anyway, you're not alone!
Claire
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