BlackGarden
07-03-2007, 05:42 AM
Okay, this probably seems like the stupidest thing in the world to some people, but I guess a lot of people are scared of things that seem stupid to others, so best foot forward...
I've been trying to cope with a fear of moths for several years now. A few years ago, I slept with a can of insect spray by my bed "just in case". These days, I get my fiancé to stop what he's doing any time a moth is in the same room as me. Anyway, I guess I realised last night, after probably my worst moth-sparked panic attack ever, that although both of those seemed like a way of "coping" with my phobia, it was more like avoiding it.
So I drafted up a list in my head of things that set me off, on a scale of the worst-case scenario (the first 2 would normally result in me curling up in a ball and crying until aforementioned fiancé disposes of the moth), to a slight shudder down my spine. It goes something like this.
1. (worst) Being in a room with a moth, with it flying around.
2. Being in a room with a moth roosting somewhere.
3. Being outside at night, and a moth flying round a nearby light source (at least there's places to run to then!)
4. Driving at night, with moths being attracted to my headlights.
5. Being in a room at night, with a light source of any kind in the room, and the curtains and windows open.
6. Same again, but with the curtains closed and the windows open.
7. And again, with the curtains open and the windows closed (in case one rests on the glass).
8. Seeing a video of a moth.
9. Seeing a picture of a moth.
10. (finally, down to a slight shudder) The word 'moth' - you wouldn't believe I'm shaking just from typing all this!
So those are all the things that terrify me, on some level, and I guess I'm here in the hope of some advice and support with this, because it's getting ridiculous and if I keep on letting it get worse I'm not going to be able to live a normal life. My ideal situation, would be to be in a room at night, curtains and windows open, and not be scared that a moth is going to come in.
I've been trying to cope with a fear of moths for several years now. A few years ago, I slept with a can of insect spray by my bed "just in case". These days, I get my fiancé to stop what he's doing any time a moth is in the same room as me. Anyway, I guess I realised last night, after probably my worst moth-sparked panic attack ever, that although both of those seemed like a way of "coping" with my phobia, it was more like avoiding it.
So I drafted up a list in my head of things that set me off, on a scale of the worst-case scenario (the first 2 would normally result in me curling up in a ball and crying until aforementioned fiancé disposes of the moth), to a slight shudder down my spine. It goes something like this.
1. (worst) Being in a room with a moth, with it flying around.
2. Being in a room with a moth roosting somewhere.
3. Being outside at night, and a moth flying round a nearby light source (at least there's places to run to then!)
4. Driving at night, with moths being attracted to my headlights.
5. Being in a room at night, with a light source of any kind in the room, and the curtains and windows open.
6. Same again, but with the curtains closed and the windows open.
7. And again, with the curtains open and the windows closed (in case one rests on the glass).
8. Seeing a video of a moth.
9. Seeing a picture of a moth.
10. (finally, down to a slight shudder) The word 'moth' - you wouldn't believe I'm shaking just from typing all this!
So those are all the things that terrify me, on some level, and I guess I'm here in the hope of some advice and support with this, because it's getting ridiculous and if I keep on letting it get worse I'm not going to be able to live a normal life. My ideal situation, would be to be in a room at night, curtains and windows open, and not be scared that a moth is going to come in.