By Sarah Jio
Fear of Crossing Bridges
Imagine getting a fabulous job offer with all the perks, but you have to decline it because you’d have to drive across a bridge every day to commute. Welcome to the world of gephyrophobia. “It can be pretty common in women,” says Patricia Farrell, Ph.D., a psychologist who has treated people for phobias and fears and the author of How to Be Your Own Therapist. “Some people are very in tune with the idea that there’s a potential to be killed on a bridge, so they won’t cross them—ever.” But here’s the interesting thing: Farrell believes that fear of bridges and other phobias could really be a fear that masks another fear. “People may use these fears to avoid doing something they fear more,” she says. For example, the fear of the bridge may actually be a fear of taking a job that might require you to do more public speaking.Fear of Spiders
Asking your boyfriend, dad or next-door neighbor to kill that big, ugly spider doesn’t mean you’re a wuss. According to a study by Carnegie Mellon University, women may be genetically predisposed to fear spiders and other creepy crawly things more than men.Proof: When researchers showed baby boys and girls images of spiders, the girls were more likely to show a fear response. The boys? Not so much.
Related: 10 Things Every Woman Should Know About Her Body!
Fear of Vomiting
One of the most common fears women have is emetophobia, or fear of vomiting, according to Farrell.“This fear can be triggered by one bad experience,” she says. Example: One woman, Farrell says, got suddenly ill at a restaurant and vomited at the table—in front of everyone. After that experience, she avoided restaurants and social situations out of fear that she’d eat something questionable, get sick and vomit again.
By avoiding restaurants and contact with people, “you’re reinforcing a fear [of something] that may never happen again,” says Farrell. While many women may deal with mild cases of emetophobia (after all, nobody likes vomiting!), if the phobia begins to control the choices you make about food and social interactions, it’s time to seek professional help.Fear of Birds
Afraid of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds? You’re not alone. Farrell says women tend to be more prone to bird fears, called ornithophobia, than men. The phobia can get so bad that some women won’t leave their houses for fear of a bird run-in.Fear of Elevators
“Elevators represent coffins,” says Farrell. “They’re closed and tight spaces. You can’t get out of them easily. For some, it’s a claustrophobic experience, a situation of helplessness.” Guess it’s no wonder elevators are ranked as one of the most common fears by women. There’s help for elevatorphobes, however, and according to Farrell, it boils down to baby steps. Instead of taking the stairs to the ninth floor (gasp!), approach the elevator slowly. One day, press the up button, then walk away. The next day, step inside the elevator, but hold the door open when you do and count to 10. The next day, recruit a friend to hold your hand as you go up one floor. It may sound silly, says Farrell, but reward yourself for each little step, and before long, you may just conquer your fear.See our tips: What to Eat When Eating Healthy Isn’t an Option
Fear of Airplanes
The bad news: Fear of flying, sometimes called aerophobia, can be intense and limiting (how else are you going to get to Fiji for your honeymoon?!). The good news: It’s almost always something that people can overcome, says Farrell.
She suggests buying books or DVDs on the subject or trying a form of therapy called “systematic desensitization” that helps people ease into being on an airplane. Also, most airlines have programs in place or assistance available for people with flying fears—just speak to the ticket agent in advance of your flight.
Fear of Thunder and LighteningTo most women, thunder and lightening can be fun—even exciting and cozy, especially when you’re under a warm blanket with your guy. But to others, it makes their hearts beat faster, their palms sweat and their anxiety levels spike.
It’s called astraphobia, and while most women learn to manage their weather-related anxiety, some can’t. In those cases, Farrell says it’s best to work with an expert who specializes in this area.
Related: 5 Secrets All Guys Keep From You
Fear of Dogs
Woman’s best friend or woman’s worst enemy? What some see as friendly, loyal creatures, others see as snarly beasts. Fear of dogs, called cynophobia, says Farrell, almost always stems from an incident early in life that may have involved a dog bite or attack of some sort. In some cases, women hold on to a scary experience or memory and when they encounter a dog in adulthood—even a friendly dog—the same fear response happens.
Farrell’s advice for dog fearers? “Spend time with puppies,” she says. It may sound silly, she adds, but it really is an effective way to retrain your thinking about dogs. And who can resist a soft, sleepy six-week-old pup?
MORE FROM GLAMOUR:
