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@Count Trashula: That is a really good way at looking at them! Honestly and getting through them~ Sort of an exposure therapy way. That is how my most recent therapist would explain and it is also something I suggest to my students. It is a slow process but it will get there over time~


@Tsundererra: You are doing it though! They are not weird at all! I used to be afraid of the toaster popping and also pokemon popping out of the pokeballs after I tried catching them... it shocked me and spiked my anxiety OIHDOFIH
I am glad you are aware of them though~ It is sometimes hard to get through life with them but you are doing well!

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oof idk.... just kinda hope they go away at some point lmao

i mean it does work for some i guess? xD

i used to be scared of gross slimy worm-like bugs to the point where I would cry if I saw any. lol. now it's just whatever.

I was just watching a vsauce video on youtube about fears and it was pretty interesting. I recommend.

anyway, my biggest fear is driving/being in a car. Its such a high necessity so I HAVE to push myself past it, but it has still taken me nearly 10 years to work on. I didn't see myself driving until last year, but even now I can barely handle it. if the slightest thing jumps me, or if something obscures my vision even a little (ie window fog) I can go into a full hyperventilating panic attack and its not safe at all lol I once blacked out cause of a rain storm panicking me and got hit back in 2013 or 14. That has improved in me a little, thanks to some help I've received.

Also driving at night, while usually doesn't bother me when its late enough that there's barely anyone out, but if there are enough vehicles I cannot drive. Everyone drives with their brights on here and it severely screws with my vision, so I cant see in front of me. Like I'm sorry, its a mostly lit city, you dont need those on xD But yeah, now that association makes me even more terrified in a car at night, I cant handle it even if I'm not driving/not blind

@koneko:
Yeah that was me for a long time. It wasn't without trying, and in some cases financially I couldn't afford a vehicle/insurance. But mostly too scared to drive.
In my case, I just needed someone to play the role of a long-term instructor that has the patience and understanding to deal with me in practice.
Cant afford therapists or real instructors (also I tried one that my mom paid for and I had the worst experience). But my bf was super helpful, otherwise I wouldn't be driving now.

But yeah... you can't thrive in the US without driving. D:
I've missed out on a lot of things by not being able to fight the fear.

Parking lot practice never helped my anxiety at all. I wasn't scared of making a vehicle move and the lots helped in learning how to function that. But my fears come in when there are others on the road too. What are they going to do, how can I react timely and safely, and I have a hard time sensing how far something is from me also. Everything feels closer than it is, in my perspective.

So my practice had to be in neighborhoods where a car will occasionally pop up. I used to have full blown break-slamming panic when a car would turn the corner lol so it took a while, but eventually I got over little by little. I'm still not on highways yet, still baby walking my way there.

@koneko:
cities dont always make it easier. Depends on the specific layouts and everything. In the south I didnt feel a need for driving. Even if it didnt scare me to drive, I would've walked to work anyways cause it was more convenient. xD
but the cities where I live now are more difficult. more spread out