So, I was just browsing through the blogs of local people over at BritBlog and came upon an entry that touched me greatly. This poor blogger has an irrational fear of windmills – and not just any windmills, but specifically ones with sails. Now most people will probably snicker at such a revelation, but not me. You see, I have an irrational fear of something that one is likely to stumble upon while driving through the countryside as well. The name of this horror? Electricity pylons.
Now these things absolutely terrify me. I figure it’s something to do with my intense fear of heights and slight agoraphobia, cause where do you see these awful metal monstrosities? Yup, in the open and stretching miles into the sky. OK, miles is an exaggeration, but it may as well be true. It could also have something to do with those make-you-crap-yourself adverts I saw as a child, warning you not to touch electricity or you’ll die. Anyway, I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve turned a corner to find one looming down at me. Twilight is the worst time, because they take on this menacing silhouette against the darkening sky. I even shiver as I pass under the lines, if it’s quiet I can hear the faint buzzing of the power going through. *shudder*
To top it all off, I even have the occasional nightmare about them. Sometimes they come marching across the countryside at me, other times they fall down into my path and crush me. I think they’re possessed. You’re all looking in entirely the wrong place for the Anti-Christ – it’s name is National Grid.
Now this will surprise you though – for all my fear and loathing of pylons, I used to enjoy visiting a very unusual website dedicated to them called Pylon of the Month which is sadly now offline. Perhaps it’s because of the sheer silliness, or because I like to punish myself in some way, who knows? But strangely, I do have a weird kind of fascination and even admiration for them. Now I’d love to know what a psychiatrist makes of that!
The trouble with that tv show though Laura was that it only showed very rare phobias which kind of belittles people with phobias and I think it should also of focused on some of the more common phobias such as agoraphobia or social phobia to name but a few. Of course this doesn’t make the other phobias less serious but I’m sure you understand what I mean.
I won’t be posting that youtube link on my phobia forum lol.
You’re right John. I honestly think that people think we are just being dramatic – I remember thinking how unusual it was to have a phobia of buttons but I understand now. Did anyone see on the news about the UFO crashing into the wind turbine? It was such a coincidence after seeing that video on youtube. I will definately join your site – I think the fear comes from the size and the big sails swishing around, it really freaks me out and can make me quite upset.
Hi again Laura,
You say it’s unusual to have a phobia of buttons and yet since creating the site I have met quite a few people with this phobia and even decided to write an Ezine article about it which can be googled if you care to read:)
I look forward to welcoming you on the site and you will see a few from this thread have already joined. I will make sure you get all the help and support you deserve.
John
I know someone with a fear of buttons too!!
I am so glad i have found this website. I too have a phobia of pylons which i have had as long as i can remember. My biggest phobias are of cranes, gas tanks, lighthouses and windturbines. I am also terrified of the Eiffle Tower which i have only ever seen in pictures. I actually accidently had to drive under a crane the other day and i had the most horrible panick attack and i froze to the spot and felt physically sick, the worst thing was i got stuck at a red traffic light under the thing. This experience has only worsened my already bad phobia. I am also not too good in wide open spaces which i am sure is related to the other phobias. Oh and i also am terrified of the sea but i think thats just because its a wide open space!!
Hiya Amy and I’m sorry to hear about all your fears but at least now you know by finding this site you’re not alone.
I will say if you would like any help or advice for your phobias then you’re welcome to chat to any of our specialists on Ofear The <a href=”http://www.ofear.com”>Fear</a> & <a href=”http://www.ofear.com”>Phobia</a> Forum
Do you think you could be agoraphobic? Have you been to see anyone about any of your phobias?
Wow, was searching for anyone else out there with a fear of pylons and can’t believe there are quite a few of us. I live in a wonderful cottage but I get the creeps because I can see a massive tv arial a few miles away on one side and another arial in the other direction too. I often have nightmares about them. The two i live near have red lights on them and I sometimes feel compelled to go to them in the dark and look up at the lights, even though it scares me s***less. Electricity pylons aren’t so bad but the thought of standing under one with a flourescent tube to see if it lights up sends shivers up my spine!
Thank God, I’m not alone!
I also have a phobia of all thing tall and looming overhead. I’m so glad to find other people who understand. I can’t bear pylons, windmills, gas tanks or any other large structure – particularly if it emits a noise(that makes it harder to ignore). The most debilitating part of my phobia, and no one on here seems to have mentioned it as part of theirs,is standalone tall trees (apologies if my mentioning this triggers a latent phobia in any of you). Am I alone in this one?
Hi there Jo,
I know exaclty what you mean, especially the really big ones. I run past them quite alot, im proper scared. I know this is also werid but im scared of areoplanes going above me when im out and the noise of them scares me aswell, even when they are really high up. Does anyone feel the same?
Yes I agree with you kate about aeroplanes. We live in the flight path of fighter jets, and I worry about when taking my dog out for a walk in case one flies over. Where i walk is open fields and they sometimes fly extremely low and its the noise the frightens the life out of me, its awful, I think there is a connection between the noise and my phobia of pylons. I also agree with jo that lone trees, especially tall or dead ones, because they remind me of pylons suppose.
I too have a phobia of planes flying above me as well as my phobias of tall structures. Back in the summer we went for a picnic at a fort which was really high up, and without knowing that day there was a red arrow display, im not joking they were so close you could see the pilot. I was shaking and terrified. Even my friend who doesn’t have the same phobia was frightened… i have to say for me that day facing my fears did not help me overcome them, posibly due to the fact it was so unexpected.
At the moment my fear of cranes seems to be the worst, we have 2 cranes at the moment in our local area and the ammount of petrol i am using trying to avoid them is ridiculous!
sorry me again!!…. meant to ask is anybody else frightened of looking at large rollacoasters? and hot air balloons? I think a grounded hot air balloons would be just as bad as one flying above me, they are so big! ( i too appologise if mentioning these has triggered a phobia in anybody)
Hi everybody,
You’re not alone with your fear of aeroplanes overhead as can be seen <a href=”http://www.ofear.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1452″>here</a> If you was to respond to this thread maybe one of the specialists would be able to give their thoughts on the situation.
OMG!!! LOL
I am totally afraid of large things. Windmills I think started when I was a kid, but I don’t remember for sure. Only that I didn’t like them.
Now it extends to a few other things. Wind turbines (what eeevil human invented those things?) Extremely large fans like in car tunnels… Clock towers.. specifically the clockworks inside.. *shudder* I HATE the things that move… *is creeped out discussing it*. Ocean-going bouys aren’t too cool when they are out of the water.. and the last thing that is totally horrible for me is large bells. larger than two feet big. But only when they are able to move.
I’ve thought a lot about what creeps me out.. and other than the objects being too large to be allowed, (large clock gears are just wrong!) what I notice is that the objects move, or are able to move.
I wonder if it might not have something to do with frequency and resonance. ??? Like, what if we (as a group) resonate on a certain frequency… and all these large items (wind turbines for example) resonate on a frequency that is disharmonious to our souls?
I’m not afraid of tall towers or power lines… (I did see a three ft tall insulator once.. eww).. but the how frequency thing might make sense here too.
Even people who don’t like spiders could just be out of harmony with the little critters… hmmm…
Hey.. it’s as good a reason as the next one! LOL
Thanks for a great site! Just a place where we can all be together!
Hi there!!
I have a similar fear but one of man made water devices such as dams and water mills, I am terrified of them and cannot pass them or even look at pictures of them.I use to live near a village with a water mill as a young child and had to pass this water mill in car and some times by foot much to my horror at times!!!I am a good strong swimmer and apart from sometimes having to pass a water mill at times as a child I cannot expalin why i have this irrational fear!!I use to have to close my eyes and cover my ears as to be able to block the awful wooshing noise of water coming fromt he contraption!!!
I do not know of any one with this fear and my mum thinks it’s strange too!!!
Once as a teenager I on a day trip with the family we came across to my horror as we were taking a beautiful walka along side a river a loche which was explained to me was for changing the level of the water, as i saw the device was filling up with water for the boat i was terrified and wanted to be hugged by my mum!!!I’m sure others thought i was being OTT, but all the symptoms of fear i had as a young child came back!!!
Does anyone else share this same phobia??