Thought someone here maybe could relate. I have fear of being around or near gasoline and/or diesel fuel. Not fear it’s going to hurt me but just the smell and being “contaminated” I guess would be the word. Anyone else suffer from anything like this?
Fear of something most think nothing of?
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Jonathan123
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Hi, and welcome. Anxiety can take a multitude of forms and a phobia is only one. You have a mild phobia in that gasoline fumes cause you stress. Can you relate this to any incident in your life where such fumes caused a stressful situation? Anxiety is normal symptoms greatly exaggerated! Many have phobias such as fear of the smell of cats or any upsetting event. But they pass and the person gets on with their life. Anxiety sufferers tend to hang on to the negative aspect of thoughts. Fear is always at the root of anxiety. No fear no anxiety! I suggest you try and accept that for the moment it's how you will feel, and go along with it without being fearful of it.
That’s the weird part also as I’ve never had any specific incident with it and I grew up on a farm and used to be around gas all the time and didn’t bother me, this started only about a year ago
Jonathan123
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There is always a cause for there to be any effect. But as with all phobias they so often just go away on their own. But if you worry about it it can lead to more anxiety and the old spiral begins. This is new to you so nip it in the bud before it begins to cause problems. We come back again to acceptance. If you just accept that it's how you are AT THE MOMENT! Try not to let it get stuck in your mind.
Lanchparty7
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Yes I can relate! I am finding it tougher to enjoy dining out because of my growing obsession with food temps/textures. I need everything to be really well done or else I have trouble eating it. I am pretty selective where I go and what I order because of this. Only will get a burger or steak at a certain place because I know they always do it my liking…i.e. not a speck of pink in it.
I am also paranoid about strangers filming me or taking a photo of me in public and then putting it on social media to get mocked. When in public, I try hard to avoid eye contact or communication unless completely necessary.
I am also paranoid about strangers filming me or taking a photo of me in public and then putting it on social media to get mocked. When in public, I try hard to avoid eye contact or communication unless completely necessary.
Jonathan123
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Social anxiety can be a real problem because it prevents us mixing with our friends and mixing in general. Humans are social animals. We need each other and we need to be wanted and respected. When we feel we are not it can cause anxiety and fear of meeting others. It can so easily turn into agoraphobia.
Now why do people take photos to mock others? Have you had experience of this? Anyone who does that has problems with their thinking and should be ignored. Some are even mentally ill. That is not an exaggeration. All the time you allow these people to do that to you the more they will do it. Ignore them! Lack of self esteem and self worth is so often at the root of social anxiety. Making eye contact is difficult for so many. But why? Do we fear what they may think of us? Do we fear they may know what we are thinking? Eating out can be a real problem in social anxiety. But try not to give in to it and stay at home. These feelings and emotions need to be faced and dealt with. When you go out accept that whatever happens is a learning curve. We sometimes need to re-learn social behaviour.
You may feel this way at the moment, but it will not always be so if you work at it.
