Feel the fear and do it anyway

Noname

I don’t fear the car hand wash, I look forward to it! ? I drive up, get in the queue, turn off the engine, jump out leaving the keys in and pop off to the on site cafe for coffee while the guys take care of the car! ?

I didn’t ask what you have no anxiety about but thanks , no thanks for making me feel small again.

I have a fear of heights. A few years after i lost my husband my sister persuaded me to go paragliding. I was petrified but once I was on my way I loved it. Mad or not?

A motorway is really just another road, only 3 lanes. And statistically it's the safest road to drive on. But I still don't like them! I hate it when the traffic grinds to a halt and then I start to get panicky. Am OK on A roads as you can turn off them somewhere if necessary.

Those paying £6/£8 for a hand car wash - do you not worry that these men are likely being exploited. How can anything so labour-intensive be so cheap?

There have been so many reports over the years that such car washes are usually dens of modern day slavery.

I don’t fear the car hand wash, I look forward to it! ? I drive up, get in the queue, turn off the engine, jump out leaving the keys in and pop off to the on site cafe for coffee while the guys take care of the car! ?

What an interesting thought.

I am full of anxiety, but hide it extremely well.

A lifetime of practise !! Generally I throw myself into stuff and hope for the best.

Oddly the one thing I can't do it stand up to my elder daughter. She is inclined to push me around verbally ( like peas and carrots on a plate, she says) and I get into such an anxious state that I can't even think straight. It doesn't happen all the time, but when it does it's painful.

Well done to all the folks out there who feel the fear but do it anyway.

I went to M& S a few weeks ago. I got so upset I came out in tears. Also I loved driving but having driven very little over the past 15 months I don't have the confidence in my driving anymore. I've had a driving licence and been driving since 1963 and hate having lost confidence now.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

As far as driving is concerned, I am ok but not great. It helps to be more detached and not measure our phobias or fear in terms of success or failure but somtimes these fears are simply coping mechanisms. If we were to see the folly of driving around in herds in these tin, polluting boxes, using up precious and scarce resources, at such great speed, it might help us understand our anxiety. It is a mad thing to do.
I do it because it is convenient and I dislike crowded motorways. I am fine in France where the density is much less.
I think it is sensible to feel the fear and do it anyway because otherwise we become isolated in shame but it is important to remember that fear is bred out of loneliness either past, present or a fear of future isolation.

Christmas!!.. So many ways to get it wrong. Absolutely dread it.

I think our anxiety has increased because of lockdown. Reading through our collective fears and anxieties, I'm okay with most of the things raised, don't love flying but it's a necessity if I want to travel, driving abroad I break out in a sweat as I have little idea of directions. I have recently joined u3a which has meant attending socially distanced meets with new people and it's turned out just fine. Guess I'm not doing too badly, I don't worry about getting work done, getting the car sorted per se-what I do worry about is how covid safe the places and people are when I have to do these things. I am definitely phobic about covid!

Sandycat

Rosie1959 - if you are struggling to see properly you do know that the seat can be raised to accommodate your height. I’m sure a Jag will have this facility for you.

Lol yes the seat adjusts but the front bonnet is massive it’s just because I don’t drive it so often
I definitely have to adjust it my DH is 6’ 4’ and has the seat fully back when I get in I have to use the electrics to bring me far enough forward to reach the steering

Rosie1959 - if you are struggling to see properly you do know that the seat can be raised to accommodate your height. I’m sure a Jag will have this facility for you.

Huge roundabouts do it for me. Never sure if I am in the right lane or cutting someone up. Normal 2 lane roundabouts I have no problem with

Frogs and toads - gardening at this over grown time of year sees me in wellies, long sleeves and gardening gloves. I can handle newts though, as they are lovely, totally irrational.

Mine is a needle phobia that I get so worked up I usually faint. Have had my 2 Covid jabs and so darned pleased with myself for being such a brave little soldier

Meeting new people. Hubby wants us to go for dinner with his friends and their wives. I try to explain that I can't enjoy dinner with strangers. I'm less likely to force myself now that I'm older. I also find driving through the city centre terrifying, and motorways are scary.

I absolutely hate taking my car for it's MOT. I did this yesterday and, apart from needing new brake pads, it passed.
Phew! The relief. Now I can relax until next year.
(they did replace the brake pads).

The page here isn`t long enough for me to list the things, I feel I have aged 20 years in this last year, lockups! I seem to experience some form of anxiety over everything lately.

always hated, lifts and spiders,, still do. wouldn`t go in a lift on my own, would walk up flights and flights of stairs or not go!

spiders, well dh used to deal with them, I am dreading one coming at me,, my cat might help, but I am not so sure, I would still feel scared even if she was dealing with one.

Dealing with the slugs on my plants.
Going into a room with lots of people, even if I know them, and making casual conversation.
Supermarket shopping, even worse because of the masks.
On-line ordering and finances.

All things I get anxious about, but have to get on with and have to deal with.

I'll ways been OK with spiders, but as a young woman I had an irrational fear of moths. Not wanting to pass this on to my child, eventually I made myself get over this fear by gently catching and removing any moths in the home. It was an effort, but I dealt with my fear and I've been fine with moths, ever since!

I have a solo classical recital coming up next month, the first performing since lockdown and my tummy turns over every time I think of it. However, even before this long gap, first nights and solo performances are pretty terrifying!
I’m choosing a nice dress which is easing the pain…
Just as well I love it so much.

Spiders. I cannot go near them. My heart starts racing and someone has to come and rescue me. I can’t think of much else, really. Oh, being out of my depth when swimming. That stems from a childhood incident in the sea. I want to be able to put my feet on solid ground.

Well done for facing your fears, Mawbe. I am baffled, though, as to why you’re sitting in your car when it’s washed. Don’t you go and do your shopping while it’s cleaned?

Mawbe good for you. It's such a sense of achievement when you do something you fear.

Jaxjacky If I had enough energy I would never use the lift. I have to close my eyes.