Health, Mental health, Awkward and Phobias: Fear factor

Fear factor

By I need new friends - 11/10/2022 09:00 - United States

Today, I told my friends that I have haphephobia, the fear of being touched. One of them said, "Why don't you try facing your fears?" and they all held me down and tickled me until they realized my pleas for them to stop were actually genuine when I stopped laughing and started crying… which took several minutes. FML

I agree, your life sucks 1 068

You deserved it 155

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Same thing different taste

We live in a society

By Anonymous - 03/03/2022 20:59 - United States - Steele

Today, my family and friends have absolutely refused to comprehend that I hate being touched. They think it's because of how unbearably ticklish I am, and they call me a "Drama Queen" for it. I suffer from haphephobia. We live in a society where people who have very real phobias are referred to as "overdramatic." FML

I agree, your life sucks 929

You deserved it 270

Bee Movie 2: Electric Boogaloo

By Anonymous - 11/06/2021 13:01 - United States - Steele

Today, my "friends" who know very well that I am terrified of bees forced me to face my fears, despite my protesting. As my "friends" watched and laughed while I tried to keep calm, a wasp showed up and scared me half to death, thereby angering the other bees. My face looked like a giant raspberry after the fact. FML

I agree, your life sucks 1 079

You deserved it 117

By BiteMe14 - 07/01/2011 19:10 - United States

Today, I told my boyfriend about my foot phobia. To help me "get over it", he took his socks off, pinned me down, and rubbed his foot against my face until I started sobbing. FML

I agree, your life sucks 39 820

You deserved it 7 393

Intervention

By Alisha - 30/03/2011 17:28 - United Kingdom

Today, my friends sat me down and said they were concerned I was self-harming. I don't self-harm, I'm just a massive klutz. They don't believe me, and want me to get professional help. And now, because I found it all so funny, they think I'm mentally unhinged. FML

I agree, your life sucks 33 989

You deserved it 4 659

Trigger warning

By Anonymous - 13/10/2023 05:30 - United States - Aiken

Today, I was on the phone with my boyfriend and I told him that I was going to tickle him, to which he responded me how he’d “crack” me in the head so that I’d never even think about tickling him again. It threw me into a panic attack and people laughed. I’m a survivor of domestic violence. FML

I agree, your life sucks 826

You deserved it 209

By RIP - 18/06/2016 23:17 - United States - Dearborn

Today, my girlfriend and I found out that if I'm tickled it causes me to have a panic attack until I cry. FML

I agree, your life sucks 12 720

You deserved it 1 218

Dared

By Anonymous - 27/09/2019 02:01

Today, I was dared to stand and hold a sign saying, "Free Hugs." This girl I'd never seen before gave me a crushing hug and cried hysterically on my shoulder in the blazing afternoon sun. I couldn't get her off. FML

I agree, your life sucks 983

You deserved it 1 178

By backtosquareone - 04/10/2009 09:42 - Canada

Today, after weeks of therapy for severe depression, my therapist thought it would be helpful to confess my deepest problems to my friends, to prove that it was alright to trust people. I did. They laughed. Hard. FML

I agree, your life sucks 45 518

You deserved it 4 002

That's… a crime?

By Anonymous - 04/03/2021 05:01 - Canada

Today, I finally told my boyfriend that I see a therapist every week because, amongst other things, I'm terrified of being locked in a room. He didn't believe me, so he locked me in the bathroom "for a laugh." I had a panic attack and passed out. FML

I agree, your life sucks 1 751

You deserved it 124

By pussyOUT - 01/09/2009 06:30 - United States

Today, I was at an amusement park with my kids. When we were on the Ferris wheel, I discovered my fear of heights. I hyperventilated, screamed from our seat "LET ME OUT! OH GOD LET ME OUT!!" I also began crying hysterically. They stopped the ride for me to get off. I'm a 45 year old man. FML

I agree, your life sucks 44 216

You deserved it 16 091

Marcella1016 31

Tuesday 11 October 2022 20:10

That’s so ****** up I’m sorry, man :(

TeaTimeAbyss 20

Tuesday 11 October 2022 18:01

Username checks out, you definitely need new friends. Sorry, OP.

Comments

RichardPencil 30

Tuesday 11 October 2022 16:53

Tickle Monster is real!

mattiagardin 15

Tuesday 11 October 2022 17:18

Woah being 6 must be hard

TeaTimeAbyss 20

Tuesday 11 October 2022 18:01

Username checks out, you definitely need new friends. Sorry, OP.

delicious 7

Tuesday 11 October 2022 18:41

Exposure therapy is quite valid

Charlie Given 26

Tuesday 11 October 2022 20:42

Exposure therapy only works when it's done over a long time and at tiny increments of exposure.

RichardPencil 30

Wednesday 12 October 2022 4:15

That's what I keep telling the pretty ladies at the park, but they still call me a "flasher" or "pervert." Ingrates! They're getting free "exposure therapy."

Anderling 32

Thursday 13 October 2022 14:44

Exposure therapy happens with the person’s consent, administered by a trained medical professional, and small steps and periods of time to build it up. You will note that forcibly holding down your friend for several minutes until they’re left sobbing is none of those things.