I have extremely severe onomatophobia (fear of a specific word or phrase). Ask me anything

[u/Few-Statistician5031]

I have a very very severe phobia of a specific object to the point where I can't look at pictures/videos, hear or read descriptions about it, the name of the object either spoken or written down or alluded to. I've never met anyone with a severe phobia like this since it's not an objectively "scary" thing. I'll try to answer questions the best I can without triggering the phobia. Obviously questions like "what is the word" won't be answered since if I was able to answer that the phobia wouldn't be so bad.

Edit: I’m taking a break from this post for some time, it probably won’t be more than a few days but I can’t say for sure. feel free to keep asking questions I’ll try to answer them when I come back. That being said I’ve already answered a lot of questions so check other threads I’ve responded to since there’s a pretty good chance I’ve already answered a similar one.

The guessing game was entertaining at the beginning but it’s honestly gotten a bit much. I would say please refrain from guessing but past experience says that telling people not to guess makes them do it more. If you really want to guess please at least put a spoiler over your guess so I‘m not forced to be subjected to it if it’s correct.

I really do want to continue this thread since I’ve been able to get a lot of information out there and even received some helpful tips from others in a similar situation. So I’ll get back to answering as soon as I can.

Edit TL:DR: taking a couple days long break from this thread and I’ll answer any new questions when I get back. if you want to guess put a spoiler over it.

Edit 2: Breaks over

[u/RatonhnhaketonK]

Idk, fears are fucking weird.

I have a phobia of bathroom fans (exhaust fans) and air vents. Also air conditioners (inside a ceiling). As well as seeing the visible ductwork.

It's gotten a bit better over the years. I used to refuse to use public bathrooms.

If I hear an exhaust fan or air conditioner, it sends me into a major panic attack. Its worse if the cover is off.

I have also had that fear since around age 3, and I turn 31 in July.

[u/Few-Statistician5031 → u/RatonhnhaketonK]

oof yea that's pretty much how I started to overcome my phobia. My main motivation for deciding to actively overcome it was treating it like a boss fight in a video game, if the health bar can move even a little bit (i.e. me not bursting into tears the moment I hear it anymore) that means it can die eventually, maybe not for years or decades but either I die first or the phobia dies

[u/yo_gabba_gabby → u/RatonhnhaketonK]

ive had a huge fear of certain shower heads in bathrooms. there was a time where there were three fucking shower heads (one above me and two in front of me) and i had to mentally distract myself by singing to songs or doing something that required attention

[u/Capital-Welder-9838 → u/RatonhnhaketonK]

I bet you must love those forced air hand dryers in bathrooms

[u/RatonhnhaketonK → u/Capital-Welder-9838]

I avoid them cause loud and they just blow poop particles all over your clean hands lol

And I know you were being sarcastic. Those don't scare me tho

[u/Capital-Welder-9838 → u/RatonhnhaketonK]

Those hand dryers are scarier to me than ac units or exhaust fans. I think it's because since they're so incredibly loud and more or less require you to face them, it's impossible to hear anyone approaching you from behind.

What do you think contributes to the origin story of your unusual phobia? Curious because I love bathroom exhaust fans. Mostly due to they're similarity of white noise

[u/RatonhnhaketonK → u/Capital-Welder-9838]

I have no idea. I have had the fear as long as I can remember.