# Have you ever discovered a new fear in yourself? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 1, 2023, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422 "2023-11-01T15:12:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2023, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/41 "2023-11-02T20:19:55Z")
And would it help or hurt to know that the starfish is technically [a disembodied head](https://www.science.org/content/article/genetically-speaking-starfish-have-no-arms-only-head)? ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2023, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/42 "2023-11-02T21:24:42Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > Ever since then I white-knuckle that kind of situation That sounds like PTSD, something I discovered I have from dealing with racing fatalities. One I didn’t know I had until I saw a very similar crash to a fatality but a much-better built car. It took me weeks to get over the fact that I had PTSD and hadn’t known it. Similarly, I white knuckle driving in storms since I had the questionable pleasure of driving on a highway almost directly under a hook cloud, with no place to go for shelter. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2023, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/43 "2023-11-02T21:38:30Z")
Oh god! I thought that watching a clip of that Hand thing from Addams family. I was always afraid of germs. But COVID gave it a whole new life. Plus, I got to say to everyone “I told you so” In essence being vindicated for all my _foolish_ fears. The autumn season has brought on a fear of pumpkin aroma. I walked in a store the other day and spun around and went right out. I was hit straight in the face by a wall of pumpkin. I was thinking about shopping for Christmas and having to face all those aromas and broke out in a sweat. Oh well, Online shopping is my fun thing anyway. Better start soon, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2023, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/44 "2023-11-02T23:51:57Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I was thinking about shopping for Christmas and having to face all those aromas and broke out in a sweat. There have been a few stores that I could not get past the door. If they want to bury their customers in incense, they are telling me to FO. ---
**Author:** ![Tarataratara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tarataratara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarataratara)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/45 "2023-11-03T00:19:43Z")
I was never scared of the dentist until the dentist told me in my early twenties, next time you come in, let’s make an appointment to take out your wisdom teeth. I didn’t go back for about 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/46 "2023-11-03T16:24:19Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > > [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > > > someone shoved me onto the glass floor of the CN Tower > > I would worry about anyone who _didn’t_ get freaked out by that. > > They did an fMRI of climber Alex Honnold and found (unsurpisingly) that the neurons in his amygdala basically don’t fire unless you stab him in the eye or something. > > [The science of risk: How a neuroscientist and professional climber learned from one another | MUSC | Charleston, SC](https://web.musc.edu/about/news-center/2019/03/18/how-a-neuroscientist-and-professional-climber-learned-from-one-another) I read about that. I find it fascinating. The interesting thing is, they don’t know if he was born that way or if years of climbing has turned off that part of his brain. As for me, I have a rather significant social phobia which developed for some reason later in adulthood. When I was a child, even though I didn’t fit in, I didn’t care what other people thought of me. Then one day I just really cared a lot. Some days I won’t leave my house to walk in my neighborhood, and it comes up a lot in groups and when I’m driving. I can still make friends, but I’m scared doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/47 "2023-11-03T16:31:31Z")
> [@Tarataratara](#): > > I was never scared of the dentist until the dentist told me in my early twenties, next time you come in, let’s make an appointment to take out your wisdom teeth. I didn’t go back for about 20 years. TIL that apparently it’s routine to take out all four at the same time. That does seem pretty daunting. I’ve only ever had one at a time. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/48 "2023-11-03T16:40:57Z")
Geez, after all these more exotic ones, developing a fear of standing on a shaky ladder seems pretty plebian… . > [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I didn’t care what other people thought of me. Then one day I just really cared a lot. Psst! Hope this helps, but all of us walking by you… we don’t care. We barely even notice you. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/49 "2023-11-03T17:16:30Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Yep, same here. I used to love driving down the mountain roads when I had the rare opportunity. But I discovered on my last two road trips that now I’m almost white-knuckled going around those curves. Yep. Me too. I also discovered that I really really hate the Alligator River Bridge that takes you from the mainland of NC to the Outer Banks. Straight as an arrow, but narrow and there’s one lane that goes each way. Basically if something happens, you’ve got nowhere to go. Some people are much more bothered by the high-rise bridges there - the Virginia Dare and the Basnight, but they’re much newer and safer. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/50 "2023-11-03T17:21:51Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > Some people are much more bothered by the high-rise bridges The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is about 4 1/2 miles long and evidently is extremely daunting to some drivers, as there’s a service that will drive your car across the bridge for you. I’ve driven it a couple of times…I wasn’t exactly relaxed, but I made it across with no issues. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/51 "2023-11-03T17:22:27Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > TIL that apparently it’s routine to take out all four at the same time. That does seem pretty daunting. I’ve only ever had one at a time. I had all four done in my early 20s. At the office of Dr. Fear & Hitchcock. No joke. Dr. Fear was like, “I probably won’t have to break your jaw or anything!” It wasn’t the worst pain I ever experienced, but it wasn’t exactly fun, and when I woke up my tongue was numb and I thought I was choking on it. I hate dentists too. (But I started going every six months starting in the last few years. A good thing too because since having a baby I get cavities all the time.) ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/52 "2023-11-03T17:28:30Z")
I used to live in Virginia Beach and went across it many times - it never bothered me, as there are two separate spans for each direction, and thus no oncoming traffic zooming by. Some folks really don’t like the tunnel part of that bridge either. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/53 "2023-11-03T17:43:01Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > since having a baby I get cavities all the time What’s the connection? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/54 "2023-11-03T17:50:54Z")
I was going to say, the child sucks all the calcium out of you, but apparently it’s a hormonal thing. > **[Pregnancy and Oral Health Feature | CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/publications/features/pregnancy-and-oral-health.html)** > > Pregnancy and Oral Health: use a free resource Protect Tiny Teeth to talk to pregnant women and new moms about the importance of oral health. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/55 "2023-11-03T17:53:22Z")
Thanks, my google skills were failing as I kept just finding info on baby teeth. > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > the child sucks all the calcium out of you And there’s probably a causal relationship between having teenagers and grinding your teeth. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/56 "2023-11-03T18:09:58Z")
No really fears, but a short story about a planet where clothes possessed people gave me a nightmare. A short horror story about creepy things living in the drains made me leery of drains ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/57 "2023-11-03T18:25:27Z")
> [@Tarataratara](#): > > I was never scared of the dentist until the dentist told me in my early twenties, next time you come in, let’s make an appointment to take out your wisdom teeth. I didn’t go back for about 20 years. Currently, my only fear of dentistry is in the ledger. When I was 14, the dentist removed an upper bicuspid, which involved a palate shot (I mean, he could have at least warned me straight up, _brace yourself, this will hurt_) and the tooth had a root that went all the way to the top of my head. After that, I stayed away for well over a decade.        When I decided I really needed work done, I made sure to pick a female dentist, because I _expect_ pain from women. And my tolerance for procedural pain got better – she even drilled on a tooth without novocaine and it was ok. But the bill, that has started to hurt a lot more that the torture. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/58 "2023-11-03T18:35:03Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > because I _expect_ pain from women 🤨 ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/59 "2023-11-03T18:58:07Z")
agree that was over the line ‘meant to be funny’ but only if you’re a man. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2023, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422/60 "2023-11-03T20:36:50Z")
In the 90s I took a trip to England and discovered a fear I didn’t know I had. I don’t even know what to call it. I’m not afraid of heights, nor open spaces. I’d been to a bunch of cathedrals in southern England and sometimes climbed to the roof level or up the bell tower just to admire the building and the view. No issues. But then I got to St Paul’s in London. I climbed up to the balcony above the center of the building and below the dome and became disoriented and terrified – I couldn’t tell which way was down and it felt like _every_ direction was down! This is what it looks like from that balcony: [![](https://offloadmedia.feverup.com/secretldn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/18090430/St-Pauls-Cathedral-6-1024x1024.jpg) ](https://offloadmedia.feverup.com/secretldn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/18090430/St-Pauls-Cathedral-6-1024x1024.jpg) As I enjoyed my panic attack, I became aware that I couldn’t just reverse course and descend the stairs I’d just come up and be rid of this horrid optical delusion. The stairs were one-way, and the stairs down were clear across the dome from me! It took a while but I finally made my way to the opposite side and descended. Covered in cold sweat. I’ve never had that reaction before or since. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-discovered-a-new-fear-in-yourself/992422.md?page=4)