A Highly Irrational Phobia

OK, this is going to seem a strange post in the middle of a skincare blog. When I had my old blog here, I wrote an entry on the fear of windmills and pylons. Basically, I’m still getting a lot of google hits to the (now deleted) article, so I’ve decided to repost it here so that people will still find the information they are after.

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!

Personal Diary | Becky | February 5, 2008

By Laura, March 24, 2008 @ 8:11 pm

I TOTALLY know what you mean! I am terrified of windmills, water towers and am not too keen on pylons either. It’s so weird. I used to just think they were eerie but the other day I drove past the Shirley windmill in Croydon in the dark and it made me feel physically sick. I also know what you mean about still having to look at them too. I found out that they have windmill open days and I am even considering going to one. It’s horrible!
By Becky, March 30, 2008 @ 3:04 pm

Hi Laura,

Sounds like you’ve got quite a strong phobia there. I also don’t like tall objects in open spaces but pylons are my main fear. I can cope with seeing them as long as they don’t surprise me lol. :D
By Sarah, April 4, 2008 @ 9:08 pm

I know exactly what you mean. I have an INTENSE fear of windmills and ceiling fans. I can’t function around them. I have to walk around them if stores have them, it can get pretty frustrating if I want something located directly under one… Windmills kill me too. I can’t drive by them or even see them on TV or in pictures without getting upset by them. No idea why but its pretty hardcore. I had to be lead around with a coat on my head when I went to the rock and roll hall of fame because theres a huge one right next door… I can’t help but glance if I see/know they’re there… It drives me nuts. But I will in no way go out of my way to visit one… I have nightmares all the time, but those are usually about huge ceiling fans and not windmills….so glad to know I’m not alone! I get teased all the time ~_~
By janet, April 22, 2008 @ 3:53 pm

I also have a dreadful fear of pylons. My worst nightmare came true last weekend as i walked around grafham water with friends when we turned a corner and a huge one loomed down in front of me. my friends managed to help me get past it but then told me there was about a half a mile stretch of them in front of me that i had to go pass to get back to the car. I felt i couldn’t turn back because of the one i’d just miraculously passed but i also felt i couldn’t go forward. I had visions of a helicopter having to come down and rescue me! in the end with alot patience and persuasion they managed to get me pass them. Its even making me shudder by just writing about it now. So, if you dont like pylons i’d give that place a wide berth.
By Laura, April 22, 2008 @ 4:42 pm

I was in a business park in Dartford the other day and it was riddled with pylons and the wires streched really low above the pavement, all you could hear was this deafening buzzing and crackling from the electricity. If I was as scared of them as I am of windmills I think I would have had a heart attack! ;-0
By Lola, April 24, 2008 @ 10:17 pm

I hate hate hate pylons, and have nightmares about them too. I had the terrors while in Venice, where there was a huge building that looked like a KKK mask. I couldn’t look at it, and had to know we were well past it before getting my head out of a dark spot. Horrible. I’m not afraid of heights though, just large things *shrugs*
By Laura, May 29, 2008 @ 9:54 pm

Did anyone see The One Show the other night? It had a report on pylons and everyone was going on about the pylon appreciation society website, I went on it and there are some really horrible ones. It’s becoming all the rage to be a pylon spotter!
By Claire, June 13, 2008 @ 7:17 pm

I have total total pylon phobia and its not just the pylons its the wires between, last time I walked under some I was physically sick all over the roadside so I know where your coming from. I even get freaked out driving past them, I have lots of nightmares too usually about being trapped by them and having to climb over the wires to get out. Its ruined so many walks for me having to turn back so now I get someone to lead me under them from about half a mile away, I keep my eyes shut, plug my ears and make sure they dont tell me when we are getting close. It has to be someone I trust but it works for me.
Some one suggested to me that it may be because of the arm bits as they might remind me of the daleks but Im sure the evil humming has more to do with it.
By Lyndsey, June 20, 2008 @ 8:28 am

I thought I was the only one! I have been known to have panic attacks if I come across one while walking in the countryside. I feel so stupid but I’m honestly terrified of them! And I’m even more terrified of elecrticity sub-stations. Just thinking about seeing one makes me feel agitated. I need to get over it because I want to move to the countryside but I’m so scared I just don’t know where to start!
By Claire, June 22, 2008 @ 10:01 pm

I just found out the other day that pylons are marked on maps usually a line with little crosses on it, now Im always going to check before I go somewhere new.
By tara, June 30, 2008 @ 7:45 pm

Whats a fear of pylons even called?
By Jules, July 2, 2008 @ 11:29 pm

I’m very glad to see other people with a fear of pylons. the last place i worked i had to go to rotherham, uk. and theres a plant and im not kidding you cannot avoid them.and all my colleagues were laughing at me and taking the mickey. I dont know why i hate em so much they are just nasty. i cant help but look at them when i see em but they make me feel so sick.
By janet, July 3, 2008 @ 10:15 pm

i have mentioned before that i really hate pylons but i didn’t mention that i am just as scared of things like those huge water cooling towers and those big gas tanks (like the ones near the oval cricket ground)- i think with me its always to do with large industrial structures – does anyone else out there feel the same way as me?
By Laura, July 4, 2008 @ 11:49 am

Definately, I have never seen the gas tanks at oval but I will have to look out for them now! I think I am the same, any ugly industrial eye sore. I especially hate windmills and the ones out at sea are even scarier!!!
By Dawn, July 21, 2008 @ 12:32 am

And I thought I was the only one…..

I have an intense fear of windmills. I have had this for as long as I can remember. Somebody mentioned the fear of large buildings/objects in a wide open space….yup, can totally relate to that.

Not too keen on lighthouses and wind turbines either. The Angel of the North completely freaks me out too. But it’s your old fashioned windmills that do me in the most. If I have to travel anywhere I check to see if there are any on route. I avoid Norfolk like the plague.

I’ve done EVERYTHING to try and combat it. Visited them, sat by them and had a picnic….but I still hate them. My worst nightmare is that Kinderdijk place in Holland…..makes me shudder just thinking about it. 30 odd windmills in one area.

Tower mills freak me out more than post mills. Windmills just seem to jump out at you from nowhere in this country….big black buggers with white sails……I’m going to stop know because i’m freaking myself out by writing about it.

So glad other people have this fear. I totally get the pylons thing too. We should form a group or something.
By Kate, August 10, 2008 @ 11:33 pm

I only just found this website and i really thought i was the only one scared of pylons, i really am scared of them and had quite a few incidents where ive been too scared and walked back on my walks through the countryside. nice to know im not the only one,I’m scared of all big indutrail type structures.
By Dawn, August 11, 2008 @ 5:10 pm

I just came back from my hols in sunny West Sussex and visited 4 windmills…..yes 4!!! Still put the willies up me like nothing else but I have this morbid obsession with seeking them out. I walked right beneath the sails of one which were literally inches above my head (Selsey Mill) and it completely freaked me out.

I even took a detour on the way home and visited the windmill at Rottingdean (nr Brighton) which is, I suspect, the windmill that started my phobia off 36 years ago!!! Nasty nasty nasty bugger that it is!!!

But I think I was extremely brave! Still hate them tho :o)
By Laura, August 11, 2008 @ 5:53 pm

I don’t know how you physically managed to stand that close, I don’t think my legs would have let me! I feel the same as you though, they freak me out so much but I would still actively seek them out… I have no idea why. It’s a very unusaul reaction to a phobia…
By Laura, August 11, 2008 @ 6:00 pm

I just googled that windmill at Rottingdean and it is officially the ugliest one I have ever seen and it’s completely black. It’s horrible, cringe!!!
By Dawn, August 12, 2008 @ 9:17 am

Exactly (regarding Rottingdean)!! The worst thing is it’s on the coastal road coming out of Brighton towards Peacehaven/Newhaven and it is on a golf course – no trees, no bushes, nothing, just an expanse of space and that big black horror in the middle of it against the sky……and on the other side is the edge of the cliffs and then the sea….so it’s literally the biggest thing around…….horrible!! I wouldn’t get out of the car – my other half had to take the photo!

I’m making up an album of photo’s on my facebook page devoted to all the windmills I’ve visited in the UK. I’m determined to visit all of them even tho I hate them! One of the worst I’ve seen (apart from Rottingdean) is the one at Diss in Norfolk, it’s huge!!!! I’m gonna try to get to see Sibley Arms mill in Lincolnshire too…..it is huge, black and has 8 sails!!!*shudders*
By Dawn, August 12, 2008 @ 9:20 am

I have to see quickly tho that after seeing Rottingdean Windmill (how strange, I don’t even like looking at or typing the word ‘windmill’) whilst travelling away from it a bit further down the road I had a delayed panic attack……you would think I would learn by now!
By Emma, September 1, 2008 @ 3:37 pm

Oh my goodness thank god I am not alone. I too have the most terribe fear of windmills and thought I was going crazy! I have spent the whole weekend trying to google this and find out if anybody else had the same probelm as me. I too live in Brighton. I think this is only a recent fear for me but thankfully I do not pass too many. It was only the other week when I had to drive down Mill Road and I saw the windmill on the lefthand side in my vision. I panicked and felt sick and had to get past it as quickly as I could even though I had a distinct urge to keep looking at it whilst driving! Then the other day I had to drive past the Rottingdean Windmill, well it was the worst windmill I have ever seen, big ugly scary black, sinister and massive sails. There must be a psychological reason for this!! maybe we should all meet up and conquer this together, the thought of standing near one though makes me feel sick and feint!
I am so glad I am not alone…..Emma
By Crys, September 6, 2008 @ 1:42 pm

Oh my god.. I was cwondering what the fear of Pylons was called but i came across this site! I NEVER ever thought I would meet other people scared of pylons!

I am so scared of them it’s unreal.. especialy the ones that turn a corner.. i have to walk past 1 to work every cday and what makes it worse is that I have to look the other way and it open out into a massive field uhhit’s just horrible I cant even explain!

I know what every1 means about the winmills and things like that. I sanyone also scared of those massive metal things that plunge in2 the sea.. Omg they scare me too! :(

But I say get differnt pylons.. ones that aren’t every where lol!!

Glad im not the onlt one wit this weird fear!!!!
Dont feel so odd! :)
By Jules ...again, September 8, 2008 @ 4:12 pm

i just wanted to ask, is anyone afarid of the eiffel tower in france? cos i think it looks like a huge pylon with no wires????? intrested to hear your thoughts
By Laura Williams, September 8, 2008 @ 5:05 pm

Well if they weren’t then they are now! He he! You have a point… ;-)
By Katy Lee, September 8, 2008 @ 6:18 pm

Yes, i would be very scring seeing the eiffel tower, and blackpool! aahh never going there
By janet willcock, September 9, 2008 @ 12:57 pm

The eiffel tower is the mother of all pylons to me. I am sure i would literally die of fright if had to go any where near. Its my main reason for not going to Paris incase i somehow ended up near it.
By Alex, September 11, 2008 @ 9:35 am

Good grief. I was just looking for a fear of pylons on the web too and came across this site. I’m stunned that there are so many of us frightened by the things. Wonder what it is? I have virtually imagined them walking across fields as well. But the worst is going round a corner and seeing one. This scared the dickens out of me! Weird or what. Glad that I’m not alone.
By Jules ...again, September 11, 2008 @ 5:21 pm

haha well im not afraid of blackpool tower cos it doesnt really look like a pylon cos u cant see the base . LOL
By Claire, September 12, 2008 @ 1:47 pm

re the eifel tower thing, I thought Id feel scared of it and was dreading taking my kids to Paris but we actually walked right underneath it and I was only a little freaked out. its so huge that once you get close its not like a pylon at all.
By janet, September 12, 2008 @ 7:05 pm

re the eiffel tower. Thats interesting and very encouraging to hear. Maybe one day I will go there!!
By danielle, September 19, 2008 @ 3:17 am

I have been scared of pylons soince i was a little girl and i think I have just got a job where i have to walk past 1 on a bridge over a motorway im going to throw up or just run across it each time.the thing about the eiffel tower yeah it was scarey to look at from the bottom but i went up it and didnt feel like i was in a giant pylon though walking down to the bottom again i couldnt look around me and nearly cried glad to see people understand lol. high chimneys and industrial things, such as harland and wolff in belfast scare me too.
By Dawn, September 19, 2008 @ 7:44 am

just googled the harland and woolf thing…… *shudder*
By danielle, September 20, 2008 @ 3:07 pm

lol i walked past them from about 50 metres away yesterday was ok as there was a wall between us though you could still see them ovbiously hahahah the pylons are the worst i was watching them on youtube
By Linda, October 6, 2008 @ 6:10 pm

I was sent a picture of an oil rig during a storm and a man took a picture of lightning and at that very moment between the lighting and the oil rig was a perfect tornado. Totally took my breath away and brought out my phobia of tall objects. I don’t have problems looking at things from miles away but If I get close enough to them that I have to look up I get sick to my stomach and can’t breath. I belive my phobia started when I was young. My friends and I would hang upside down from the monkey bars which were located underneath a water tower. Sometimes the clouds would move across the sky making the tower look like it is falling. Visiting down town Chicago about pushes me over. Is there a name for this phobia?
By Laura Williams, October 6, 2008 @ 7:10 pm

That picture is horrile but apparently it’s a fake (thank goodness). Water towers are really eerie and I can see how that started things with you. I’m not scared of tall objects generally but I must admit that when in down town Chicago there is something unnerving about looking up and not being able to see the sky! No idea about the proper name for these phobias…
By Jo, October 17, 2008 @ 10:56 am

omg im not alone! yes pilons are def freaky but im also scared of huge satellites, big gas tanks, large clock faces (like big ben). With all these things I would have to fairly close to be scared but still I seem to torture myself with my imagination such as falling into the middle of a huge satellite dish etc.URGH!! Just the thought of it! Im not sure about windmills but maybe ive not seen one big enough to scare me or been close to one whilst it was moving. I also dont like the huge letters of the Hollywood sign (or all the structure required behind each letter). Watched a film once where people were sat on the letters (Urgh!) Am I alone in all this or does anybody else understand where Im coming from? There must be a name for this phobia besides me just being a freak lol.
By Debbie, October 29, 2008 @ 3:56 am

I’m so happy I’m not alone on this one. Powerlines absolutely freak me out. I can’t even look at them if I’m driving in the car. I shield my eyes from it. I also hate windmills and anything industrial. I’m glad I don’t live near any oil refineries because all those pipes and tanks would cause me to have a panic attack.
By Dawn, October 30, 2008 @ 8:23 pm

I just came back from a trip up north for half term and I visited two windmills whilst I was there. I actually got to see the Sibsey Trader Mill (I wrongly called it Sibley before) and it has 6 sails (I wrongly said 8 before too). It was big. It was OK from a distance but as I got closer it began to freak me out.

I also visited Mount Pleasant Windmill in Kirton Lindsey. Only 4 sails this time thankfully but I sat in the tea shop right underneath it. It’s a commercial windmill and the guy who looks after it was there and was really brilliant – we chatted to him for ages – took a lot of the scary edge off it.

Just thought I’d let you guys know how I got on….
By Jo, November 8, 2008 @ 8:01 pm

http://www.gorge.org/pylons/japan/street-supply.jpg

check out this ugly horrific picture, my boyf had to take it off the screen for me. Dont ask me y I had to look in the first place!
By Michelle, December 23, 2008 @ 3:00 am

Another one here with fear of windmills, I think it was originally triggered by the particularly sinister one in Rye (horrible spiky sails, just horrible) and I have since moved on to fear of all windmills in general. The one in Whitstable is also rather horrific, I can’t look at it, and I’ve never even been close up!
Also… tall buildings in open spaces… can relate to that one too although they’re not as bad as windmills. Shame really, because I’ve always been fascinated by the Burj al Arab in pictures yet I bet if I was ever lucky enough to go there for real it’d trigger the random phobia.

I really thought I was the only one! Hello all :)
By Dawn, December 23, 2008 @ 8:53 am

Turned over the telly the other day and at that precise moment ’Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ was on with a shot of the windmill…..my heart nearly jumped out of my throat!
By Z, January 2, 2009 @ 4:00 pm

I thought I was alone with my pylon phobia… and then found this place! I don’t like the wires either and the buzzing noise freaks me out.

If I visit a store with a pylon nearby I have to park away from it, I can’t park under (th ewires) or near it and I certainly can’t walk under the wires!

I too wonder whether it’s to do with the Frisbee-in-the-substation adverts that were on TV when I was a kid.

Some friends often do country walks and I have to check beforehand if there are pylons or over head wires nearby.

Oddly, the wooden 3-phase pylons don’t bother me.

I have also had bad dreams about them, normally that I live in a house and then they (national grid?) put a pylon next to the house, in one dream I had them on 3 sides!
By Ravyn, January 5, 2009 @ 2:41 pm

Its so good to know that other people have phobias of similar things!

Pylons used to scare me a lot as a child (who else remembers the adverts where the pylons uproot themselves and go tromping across the countryside…. brrr they gave me nightmares for weeks) here’s the link to it on youtube if you feel like torturing yourself http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jXPu6I9IHR4 . I’m not keen on pylons but these days its wind turbines that make me break out in a cold sweat and want to curl up into a ball.

They’re just a horrible combination of freakishly tall, looming industrial constructs which also have sharp, heavy looking spinning blades on them and they almost always come in groups all moving slightly out of synch and make that horrible swishing noise…. aargh >.< It doesn’t help that I don’t like other rotating blades either (ceiling and desk fans, chainsaws, helicopter blades).
Having to drive through Cornwall for my job is just horrible when they suddenly appear over the crest of a hill or loom out of the fog *shudders*

I don’t know if my phobia includes windmills as I have never seen one for real, and I didn’t realise my fear of wind turbines until I did (TV and pictures just don’t do them justice), hopefully I’ll not find out.
By Dawn, January 5, 2009 @ 6:26 pm

Did anyone see that TV programme last week on Weirdest Phobias??

There was a woman on there who had a phobia of man made structures in open spaces…….oh, how I related to her!! There was a HUGE television mast on the Yorkshire Moors that she had to approach and touch - it was nasty! Even got me breaking out in a sweat and I was only watching it on the telly!!!!

She finally did it altho she was in tears and I my heart really went out to her. I was thinking that I should get in contact with the TV company and let them know about our little forum here….let that poor woman know she’s not alone in her phobia.
By janet, January 6, 2009 @ 11:35 am

Yes, I made a point of watching the programme because I knew they were going to talk about “our” phobia. Although pylons are my main fear I can relate to any tall structure kind of sitting on its own in an open space like that huge television mast. I agreed with all the people on the programme when they said they felt that what they were frightened of was looking at them. Thats how I feel about pylons, almost like I am being singled out. I thought she did really well to go up to the mast. I am not sure that I could have done that. I was almost crying along with her.. How sad is that??
By Dawn, January 6, 2009 @ 12:58 pm

Just found this page – it lists every kind of phobia you can think of – I had at least 10 of them LOL!!!

http://www.ojohaven.com/fun/phobias.html
By John, January 7, 2009 @ 9:00 pm

I was very interested to find this site and see how many other people suffer with these phobias of windmills and pylons as I’m the owner of the Fear & Phobia Forum called Ofear. We have a discussion going on at the moment about fear of windmills and water towers which can be found here;
http://www.ofear.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1628

I would like to invite anyone who is interested to join the site as it’s free and we have hypnotherapists, mental health nurses and psychotherapist helping out by giving expert advice in overcoming these phobias. There is a very relaxed friendly atmosphere and you will find people that do actually understand what you’re going through.

Hope this helps

John
By Laura, January 7, 2009 @ 9:17 pm

Just looked at National Grid advert – nice! Look at this link for a bit of windmill torture http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=c3FZtmlHwcA what is the matter with us? Glad there was a tv show on weird phobias as I think some people think we’re just being silly.
By Laura, January 7, 2009 @ 9:24 pm

Just looked at the national grid advert – ugly pylons ! Have a look at this link for some windmill torture http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=c3FZtmlHwcA what is the matter with us? I’m glad there was a show on weird phobias as people think we are just being silly! I also hate oil rigs, power stations, buoys at sea etc etc but windmills and water towers are the worst for me.
By John, January 8, 2009 @ 12:08 am

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.
By Laura, January 9, 2009 @ 11:14 am

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.
By John, January 9, 2009 @ 11:25 am

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
By Dawn, January 9, 2009 @ 7:31 pm

I know someone with a fear of buttons too!!
By Amy, January 12, 2009 @ 10:55 pm

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!!
By John, January 13, 2009 @ 6:25 pm

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?
By GSP girl, January 16, 2009 @ 12:19 am

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!
By jo, January 22, 2009 @ 9:39 pm

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?
By Kate, January 22, 2009 @ 9:45 pm

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?
By janet, January 22, 2009 @ 11:56 pm

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.
By Amy, January 23, 2009 @ 12:20 am

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!
By Amy, January 23, 2009 @ 12:36 am

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)
By John, January 23, 2009 @ 6:15 pm

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.
By karlii, February 11, 2009 @ 12:43 am

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!
By georgie, February 18, 2009 @ 11:40 am

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??