http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7?format=rss Tribe.net. Local Connections http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#3226b2c0-1af6-4244-b40c-0c611b59bda9 Sounds like a form of claustrophobia. I've also been scuba diving and the first open water dive freaked my out. I used my air up faster than any of the other divers I'm sure due to my anxiety. The idea that I was 30' under water and the only thing keeping me alive was the tank on my back was just a bit unnerving. I still love diving but sometimes have to consciously think about what I'm doing and seeing instead of the fact that there's tons of water bearing down on me from all sides. Mon, 25 May 2009 13:28:32 GMT http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#3226b2c0-1af6-4244-b40c-0c611b59bda9 Nathan 2009-05-25T13:28:32Z http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#c3899684-69b1-4f7a-b623-0bb25d8c22c7 I hear you Anon, I have the same issue with arrogance and I try to knock it down in myself to a nice self-depricated level. Aach! Time to work on the third way, I guess (the middle way). Seems like a lot of phobias are based an wise, healthy ideas/ideals that have for some reason run amok. and the farther they swing the further our wise concerns swing into the realm of no longer healthy and into automatic emotional responses. From what I've read about INFJ is that we have a spread out knowledge/interest base and are pretty sensitive (sorry for the gloss over) so makes sense that we would try to reign ourselves in with things like OCD and unconsciously turning things over to the automatic response systems - especially if we had some rough triggers as a child. **"I used to be worse about it"** An inspiring statement, Anon, means to me that it can get easier and have less of a hold on us in the future :) Thank goodness! Mon, 11 May 2009 19:16:03 GMT http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#c3899684-69b1-4f7a-b623-0bb25d8c22c7 Michelle 2009-05-11T19:16:03Z http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#c3733a6a-b24d-4de3-8072-91d3ed7246b0 I understand this photo thing. I used to be worse about it, thinking that if I had any photos around the house with me in them (even with family members) that it meant I was a vain person. I really dislike vanity as a characteristic and I think I overcompensate by being too self-deprecating. Last year when I was rejected by someone I really liked, I took down all pictures of myself and covered up the mirrors in my house for a few days. He didn't reject me for any physical reason, but I convinced myself of it, I guess. It helped to realize people saw the whole me, not that my arm looks fat in the picture or something...and that even photogenic people take bad pictures. I have a weird paranoia about people watching me while I jog, so I always run at night (with my dog, who is really a wuss but I figure it's a deterrent anyway). I know rationally they probably are thinking "maybe I should be running," or just don't care at all, but I am always afraid they are judging my abilities. Even people who are much heavier than me and probably not judging me for not sprinting along. I don't know why that is - ? Mon, 11 May 2009 18:22:10 GMT http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#c3733a6a-b24d-4de3-8072-91d3ed7246b0 Rachel 2009-05-11T18:22:10Z http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#bff868b1-2cec-43e2-9482-88f8ee9ca084 **"I avoid the falling part . yes. yes ;)"** Glad to hear that Siievey! lol **"Completely irrational phobias"** I so understand that. I always remember, as a little tyke, knowing I would go down the drain when the plug was pulled out of the bath. Didn't matter how many times I was shown the size of that drain and the size of my foot, I knew I was going down! Do you guys notice that you are drawn to the things that cause the phobias - like being drawn to the edge when you are afraid of falling or keep focusing on the sharp knife if you are afraid of being cut? Wonder if it is the old idea of matching frequencies - what we focus on we draw to ourselves and the harder we push it away the more energy we put into the focus thus drawing it faster to us. Mon, 11 May 2009 17:56:24 GMT http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#bff868b1-2cec-43e2-9482-88f8ee9ca084 Michelle 2009-05-11T17:56:24Z http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#1eb13103-b8b7-4512-b9a2-f06b2a26176b I avoid the falling part . yes. yes ;) I have fallen down a flight of stairs though. Once, in childhood ...but i escaped the incident with a bruised bottom and bloody elbows nothing more. The phobia began a few years later. The car & tongue scenarios began when i was a wee thing.. -completely irrational phobias. My ocd definately began in childhood...from things my elders would say to me. Mon, 11 May 2009 17:08:51 GMT http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#1eb13103-b8b7-4512-b9a2-f06b2a26176b $item.owner.firstName 2009-05-11T17:08:51Z http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#d4889f14-ffc7-480f-9400-4ad6176d824a **"I have a phobia of falling down stairs...also of falling out of cars at high speeds. I don't avoid either of these things..."** I hope you avoid the falling part of both of these things ;0) **"I can obsessively ponder the pain such accidents would cause.."** Wow that sounds familiar, Siieveh. I always thought mine came from a rough childhood of having to always be aware of consequences but maybe not. I used to have a horrible time with seeing accidents-waiting-to-happen (like a mom constantly wanting to push everyone's water glass away from the edge of the table, lol). Was called borderline OCD (creating the illusion of internal control by controlling the outside world) when young. Maybe I should have gone into the Quality Control or Safety Consultant/Risk Management fields, lol. Mon, 11 May 2009 02:38:13 GMT http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#d4889f14-ffc7-480f-9400-4ad6176d824a Michelle 2009-05-11T02:38:13Z http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#c40c3806-264d-40ca-a28b-b52acf10cfbb I have a phobia of falling down stairs...also of falling out of cars at high speeds. I don't avoid either of these things...but sometimes I can obsessively ponder the pain such accidents would cause..especially to my face. Also I can obsess over the idea of swallowing my tongue before sleep. but I have o.c.d. I wonder how many infjs are plagued by o.c.d.? Sun, 10 May 2009 18:18:37 GMT http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#c40c3806-264d-40ca-a28b-b52acf10cfbb $item.owner.firstName 2009-05-10T18:18:37Z http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#a4252d77-544f-4cd4-ba66-7f102a405496 I don't like speaking in front of groups either, but I have found it helps if I am speaking about something I feel passionately about, otherwise I"m a nervous wreck and build up a lot of anxiety. Tue, 21 Apr 2009 02:30:19 GMT http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#a4252d77-544f-4cd4-ba66-7f102a405496 shifting4now 2009-04-21T02:30:19Z http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#43438b18-2ee1-41ce-9d9f-2932c62fec96 Actually...that isn't a irrational phobia. But still... Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:56:25 GMT http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#43438b18-2ee1-41ce-9d9f-2932c62fec96 Maura 2009-04-20T00:56:25Z http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#1605e6d7-6777-40ec-a1a9-e06a91887565 Fear of speaking in front of large groups. I simply can't do it. Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:53:24 GMT http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#1605e6d7-6777-40ec-a1a9-e06a91887565 Maura 2009-04-20T00:53:24Z http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#ad2e2bcf-3d33-4c84-97bb-3b2b036f6550 I can totally relate to the pool drains. They really freak me out too. Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:17:14 GMT http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#ad2e2bcf-3d33-4c84-97bb-3b2b036f6550 Nat 2009-04-09T01:17:14Z http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#0b64594b-d343-44df-a86c-724a94856b50 I do a lot of scuba diving, and even then I can relate to the "fear of the unknown" thing. The only times I'm uncomfortable when diving is when I'm in a situation where the visibility is really bad. As long as I can see 6-8 ft or so I can manage it okay. I joke that I have to be able to see the tips of my fins in order to dive. I've been in some situations where the visibility decreased and it gets pretty scary. If I can't see my hands at the ends of my arms I get really wigged out. If I can't see my hand in front of my face then I have to get out of the water right then. Even if I'm somewhere I *know* there's nothing that's going to come and get me. For instance, when I'm cleaning barnacles and stuff off the bottom of my boat in my marina, I know there's nothing but tiny fish around. However, after scraping a while there's a lot of debris in the water and it messes up the visibility. I deal with it by trying to focus *only* on what I can see (the part of the boat right in front of me) and not looking away into the abyss. Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:54:27 GMT http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#0b64594b-d343-44df-a86c-724a94856b50 Waylon 2009-02-06T14:54:27Z http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#3ea593d4-c094-412b-9594-d4fbf8028a2c Oh and you'd think I could avoid this by swimming in lakes but I won't get in bodies of water where I can't see the bottom... fear of the unknown. When that plane crashed into the Hudson River a couple of weeks ago I remember thinking "I might have rather died a fiery death than to have to swim in that water." Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:43:42 GMT http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#3ea593d4-c094-412b-9594-d4fbf8028a2c Samantha 2009-02-06T05:43:42Z http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#d2770388-df79-4fc7-8d7b-052cbe7f5b67 My irrational fear is swimming pool drains (and really all pool plumbing). I love to swim but am totally freaky picky about what pools I will swim in based on where the drains/inflow things are. I don't even know what I think is going to happen. Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:41:41 GMT http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#d2770388-df79-4fc7-8d7b-052cbe7f5b67 Samantha 2009-02-06T05:41:41Z http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#386c583d-4925-48e2-924b-ae4e10a68b79 I actually know of a few people who are just the same. They will threaten their friends about removing pictures that have been posted of them online and such that they find unflattering etc. I personally HATE photos of myself that others have taken unless I am in professional hair and perfect makeup. Part of the thing is that certain cameras add pounds, and I hate that. Yes, I'm very introverted and it's a privacy thing, I feel like it's intrusive to have people take pictures of me without asking permission. It's not like they would go around touching me without asking for permission. I've gone so far as to tell a guy that wouldn't stop (we were both photographers) that he was sexually harassing me. I was serious. He didn't know that it could be considered harassment and that I was serious, so he got really upset. And still thought I was joking. Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:18:07 GMT http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#386c583d-4925-48e2-924b-ae4e10a68b79 Nicole 2009-02-06T00:18:07Z http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#a011e464-08dd-4d6b-a1ca-b1efe73e8c1f I am curious if anyone else has any irrational phobias. I had a panic attack today that made me realize just how big this fear had become. I love to take photographs, but I absolutely hate having my picture taken. So much so that if I know someone has taken a photo of me I will try to erase it off of their camera when they are not looking, somehow sabotage the film, avoid the photo being taken and even cause a social scene. I have gone into friends homes and removed photos of myself from albums or collections and will request that no one photograph me because it makes me uncomfortable. If I am in a video or photo that a stranger just happens to be filming and I am in the background I will worry about it or think about it a lot. After any type of relationship has ended I have not requested so much "closure" as I have pictures they have of me to be given to me.It is really unhealthy and I know that it's not normal, but I can't stand the thought of someone looking at me. I don't like being seen. Whats worse than having the picture taken is actually viewing the picture out somewhere or at a friends house. That is a panic stricken moment where I mentally focus all my energy on acquiring the picture by all means necessary. I obviously have pictures of me and I have posted some of them, I think about them everyday and it gives me anxiety, I have been working towards gradually becoming more ok with it, and I seem to be ok as long as I have control over some aspect of it. I feel bad because I am not the type of friend, wife or mother that goes out, has a good time and feels comfortable with pictures being taken, I am always the one taking them. So I guess I am wondering if anyone else has any phobias and could this be an Introverted privacy thing or just my own individual neurosis? Guessing probably both. Mon, 02 Feb 2009 05:17:51 GMT http://infj.tribe.net/thread/8804963f-375f-4686-ac4f-a294e4ec83b7#a011e464-08dd-4d6b-a1ca-b1efe73e8c1f shifting4now 2009-02-02T05:17:51Z