Tricia
05-13-2001, 08:30 PM
I have a very embarrassing phobia. I am afraid of seatbelts, and haven't worn one in over two years! I haven't even learned to drive yet because of them! I told about three people (not face to face either) and two out of three of them don't think I'm crazy, but urged me to get professional help! I am feeling so stupid over this phobia, I can't tell anyone to their face!
When I have to wear them, my heart pounds, and I end up shaking after I take it off. I don't know how people don't notice this afterwards! I guess I'm good at hiding my feelings. Once, after being forced to wear them, I was with my friend, and I was acting very hyper. Maybe my fear got my adrenline going?
I never told ANYONE face to face especially my family (they all use them!) I also sit in the back seat, and refuse to have anyone give me a ride somewhere because I'm scared they will force me to wear one. It's definitely interfereing with my life. Once I thought I was going to be forced to wear one all the time even in the back seat, and I was in tears (not in front of anyone!) and I know they are supposed to save lives, but I really have a problem with them. I can't bring myself to get over my fear!
I guess I will have to continue suffering because I can't bear telling a counselor either how I feel. Not directly to their faces, especially. I don't know why that is a problem.
In all the time I've been afraid of them, I haven't gotten into an accident, so that is NOT the cause of my fear! I DON'T KNOW what the cause is!
Does anyone have any advice? Like how to lessen my fear, maybe? I HAVE TO learn to drive, and this is the only thing that is stopping me! This phobia has existed for as long as I can remember! (I'm in my early 30's now)
This took a lot of courage to share. As I'm typing this, I'm feeling very anxious and embarrassed. My hands are actually COLD!!! I don't know how they haven't guessed my fear. They always ask why I never sit up front and I give them a vague answer. And fortunately, they don't push me any further than that.
When I have to wear them, my heart pounds, and I end up shaking after I take it off. I don't know how people don't notice this afterwards! I guess I'm good at hiding my feelings. Once, after being forced to wear them, I was with my friend, and I was acting very hyper. Maybe my fear got my adrenline going?
I never told ANYONE face to face especially my family (they all use them!) I also sit in the back seat, and refuse to have anyone give me a ride somewhere because I'm scared they will force me to wear one. It's definitely interfereing with my life. Once I thought I was going to be forced to wear one all the time even in the back seat, and I was in tears (not in front of anyone!) and I know they are supposed to save lives, but I really have a problem with them. I can't bring myself to get over my fear!
I guess I will have to continue suffering because I can't bear telling a counselor either how I feel. Not directly to their faces, especially. I don't know why that is a problem.
In all the time I've been afraid of them, I haven't gotten into an accident, so that is NOT the cause of my fear! I DON'T KNOW what the cause is!
Does anyone have any advice? Like how to lessen my fear, maybe? I HAVE TO learn to drive, and this is the only thing that is stopping me! This phobia has existed for as long as I can remember! (I'm in my early 30's now)
This took a lot of courage to share. As I'm typing this, I'm feeling very anxious and embarrassed. My hands are actually COLD!!! I don't know how they haven't guessed my fear. They always ask why I never sit up front and I give them a vague answer. And fortunately, they don't push me any further than that.
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Cherokee_Fox
05-15-2001, 05:59 PM
I have a friend who has a problem like yours. Not as bad, though. Her problem started when two people she knew were in a wreck and drowned because they couldn't get their seatbelts off. But the odds of a seatbelt saving you are better than one killing you. Maybe when you were young you heard some horror story about seatbelts. Try going out and sitting in the car while it's just parked, and work yourself up to putting on the seatbelt. Keep at it until you can just sit there with it on. If you you can learn to control your fear, then you can get rid of your fear. This type of thinking helped me get over my fear of spiders. I hope this helps you. :) Cherokee_Fox
blahblahblah
05-21-2001, 11:54 PM
Tricia,
Don't feel bad at all.. Lots of people have fears about different things, probably things you'd think were silly. But there is a reason why you have this fear even if you don't know it. Anyways The best thing to do is like that last person said ,go in a parked car, and play with the seat belt. Try putting it on and getting use to it. Eventually your fear will be less, and probably a lot more tolerable. Seat belts are extremely important, also its the law and you'll get tickets, not to mention when you get your license they make you put it on.
Also I had a friend fly out the window because he didn't have his seat belt on, so if you can't get over the fear alone, you really should get help. Don't even feel embarrassed about what bothers you. I have heard of a LOT of worse things than that. Good luck.
Don't feel bad at all.. Lots of people have fears about different things, probably things you'd think were silly. But there is a reason why you have this fear even if you don't know it. Anyways The best thing to do is like that last person said ,go in a parked car, and play with the seat belt. Try putting it on and getting use to it. Eventually your fear will be less, and probably a lot more tolerable. Seat belts are extremely important, also its the law and you'll get tickets, not to mention when you get your license they make you put it on.
Also I had a friend fly out the window because he didn't have his seat belt on, so if you can't get over the fear alone, you really should get help. Don't even feel embarrassed about what bothers you. I have heard of a LOT of worse things than that. Good luck.
barris
05-21-2001, 11:59 PM
Tricia,
If you have trouble talking to people face to face (like I do), write down your feelings and give the piece of paper to your counselor. That way you can think of what to say and kind of "force" the subject. There are some things I have trouble talking to my counselor about, so I write them down, and bob my head up and down to answer questions. I never have to go into detail (verbally)... because its already written out.
Hope this helps hon,
Hugs,
Elijah
[This message has been edited by Elijah (edited 05-21-2001).]
If you have trouble talking to people face to face (like I do), write down your feelings and give the piece of paper to your counselor. That way you can think of what to say and kind of "force" the subject. There are some things I have trouble talking to my counselor about, so I write them down, and bob my head up and down to answer questions. I never have to go into detail (verbally)... because its already written out.
Hope this helps hon,
Hugs,
Elijah
[This message has been edited by Elijah (edited 05-21-2001).]
Tricia
05-22-2001, 10:14 PM
Thanks for your advice and understanding. I don't know if I'll ever be able to tell anyone face to face, or write it down, but if I tell it to someone face to face, they would have to know and understand sign langauge!!! (that's what I do for a living)Because just HEARING it come out of my mouth would make me cringe! That's how stupid I feel over this! :( The only way I WOULD tell someone face to face (without using Sign) is if they happen to have the same fear and admit it to me first! Then I wouldn't have a problem telling them! :) I once heard a woman in a restuarant at a table next to me admit she had this fear, and I wanted to eavesdrop but I couldn't do it without being obvious! LOL I wanted to go up to her and tell her I felt the same way, but I didn't.
[This message has been edited by Tricia (edited 05-22-2001).]
[This message has been edited by Tricia (edited 05-22-2001).]
[This message has been edited by Tricia (edited 05-22-2001).]
[This message has been edited by Tricia (edited 05-22-2001).]
Brookej
07-06-2001, 06:47 PM
Tricia,
It could be a spin off of claustraphobia (sp?) like a fear of confinement. I felt that way for a short while several months ago. I don't know if this would help you but you could have scissors readily available so you could cut the seat belt off if you couldn't release it for some reason. Or mabey just having the scissors available would help ease the anxiety. Just be sure the scissors are in a safe carrying device so in the event of the car stopping suddenly or something, you wouldn't have a sharp blade flying around in the car that could cause a serious injury. Some scissors come with carrying cases and you could wrap them up even more for safety.
It could be a spin off of claustraphobia (sp?) like a fear of confinement. I felt that way for a short while several months ago. I don't know if this would help you but you could have scissors readily available so you could cut the seat belt off if you couldn't release it for some reason. Or mabey just having the scissors available would help ease the anxiety. Just be sure the scissors are in a safe carrying device so in the event of the car stopping suddenly or something, you wouldn't have a sharp blade flying around in the car that could cause a serious injury. Some scissors come with carrying cases and you could wrap them up even more for safety.
amyocd
06-18-2004, 09:54 AM
OKay, I have OCD, and it took me years to even go to see a therapist, and then she asked me what the problem was and I looked at the wall and bit my lip to stop from crying. I couldnt speak, I was embarssed and scared. BUT, i finally told her. You have no idea how good it felt to let her know, because I was deffentley suffering and needed help.
They are different kinds of ocd and phobias and a lot of them are incredibly embarssing. Some are silly, and others are serrious and others are extremlt embarssing because they have to do with sexual content.
For example, my ocd had to do with perverted sexual things. And they were awful, but when i told her she said it was nothing to be embarssed about. But when i was thinking about telling her, I made my self even more scared. (thats what anxiety does) I was scared she would think I was crazy or many other things. But it was quite normal. and so are you!
You dont have to live like that for the rest of your life. I know you can face your phobia about seatbelts and i know you are able to face your phobia and talk to someone about it or write it down. You can get past this anxiety. You dont have to let your phobia and anxiety control your life.
Your phobia doesnt sound crazy and you dont sound crazy at all. There is nothing to be ashamed of. I promise you that.
They are different kinds of ocd and phobias and a lot of them are incredibly embarssing. Some are silly, and others are serrious and others are extremlt embarssing because they have to do with sexual content.
For example, my ocd had to do with perverted sexual things. And they were awful, but when i told her she said it was nothing to be embarssed about. But when i was thinking about telling her, I made my self even more scared. (thats what anxiety does) I was scared she would think I was crazy or many other things. But it was quite normal. and so are you!
You dont have to live like that for the rest of your life. I know you can face your phobia about seatbelts and i know you are able to face your phobia and talk to someone about it or write it down. You can get past this anxiety. You dont have to let your phobia and anxiety control your life.
Your phobia doesnt sound crazy and you dont sound crazy at all. There is nothing to be ashamed of. I promise you that.
scottskitty
06-18-2004, 10:12 AM
sorry i dont' have any advice to give, but i just wanted to let you know i don't think its a stupid fear.
percan
06-18-2004, 12:20 PM
Tricia,
Seems like you have a real fear of talking about this too, so I don't know if words of encouragement will help that, but I'll try.
Believe me, counselors have heard it ALL. They have been training for years and have heard every possible fear you can think of - fear of numbers, fear of certain letters of the alphabet, fear of water, trees, plants, frogs, fear of seeing certain things on tv, fear of post-it notes, fear of certain words, fear of dolls, toys, all sorts of sexual things, fear of certain colors, foods....the list is endless. Your fear of seatbelts is certainly not the oddest - in fact it is probably quite common due to the "claustrophobic" feeling it gives. Would you feel embarrassed if you were afraid of elevators, or flying in an airplane? Those are very related - they are situations where you are trapped and can't get out. That may be the underlying feeling you have when you put on the seatbelt. I think you could be helped a great deal by talking about this with a counselor and it is ABSOLUTELY not a fear to be embarrased about! (And no one should be embarrassed about any fear they have either!)
percan
Seems like you have a real fear of talking about this too, so I don't know if words of encouragement will help that, but I'll try.
Believe me, counselors have heard it ALL. They have been training for years and have heard every possible fear you can think of - fear of numbers, fear of certain letters of the alphabet, fear of water, trees, plants, frogs, fear of seeing certain things on tv, fear of post-it notes, fear of certain words, fear of dolls, toys, all sorts of sexual things, fear of certain colors, foods....the list is endless. Your fear of seatbelts is certainly not the oddest - in fact it is probably quite common due to the "claustrophobic" feeling it gives. Would you feel embarrassed if you were afraid of elevators, or flying in an airplane? Those are very related - they are situations where you are trapped and can't get out. That may be the underlying feeling you have when you put on the seatbelt. I think you could be helped a great deal by talking about this with a counselor and it is ABSOLUTELY not a fear to be embarrased about! (And no one should be embarrassed about any fear they have either!)
percan