Things That Freak Me Out (With Fear)

Most people have a phobia, usually ones that are common and shared with others. These always make a great conversation starter, especially if it has to do with spiders or snakes.

Today's post is about the things that freak me out, inspired by a recent blog challenge I received from a friend. While watching the National Geographic channel a few nights ago I was reminded about a couple of creatures that I really wouldn't want to cross in a muddy swamp. 

Here are some of my favourite phobia's.

• Crocodiles 

Just imagine it. Whether you're in a swampy part of the Amazon or the shores of Hartebeespoort Dam, crocodiles lurk and will kill you. You can't hear them, they are incredibly strong and for the most part are well camouflaged. They have teeth, can swim and run really fast leaving one with nothing but a hope and a prayer. To make matters worse they can swim in the sea!

• Locusts

My biggest phobia (one I don't share often because of the consequences of pranks and trickery) and the scariest of all things in nature to me. I'm not sure if I was traumatised by a locust as a child but these things freak me out to tears. This is the only time you will find me either vomiting from fear or sobbing like a baby, I don't exaggerate here - I have witnesses to my intense phobia of these things. Funnily enough I can handle a cricket, but the creepy, slow motion movement of the locust sends me into panic mode. Parktown Prawns & Cockroaches also have this affect on me. 

• Being Buried Alive

We've all seen that episode of Days of our Lives where Marlena Evans is buried alive with 2 camera's to capture her slow death and suffering. It is a gut wrenching reality that coined the phrase "Saved by the Bell" in the Middle Ages when people were accidentally buried alive and were saved by jiggling a string attached to their toe which lead up to a bell on the surface of their grave. Buried alive or confined spaces, either way its scary!

• Drowning

I'm not sure if my claustrophobia issues relate to drowning but there is something about entrapment and water that isn't a fun topic in my mind. Often I watch television shows of emergency rescues where cars have veered off the road, into a river or dam. Or perhaps the 8pm show is a gangster related theme whereby they toss their poor soul into the water tied with a block of cement to their ankle. I'm not sure how I would survive, but I can tell you I'm gasping for air just thinking about it.

• Being A Hostage

I'd like to think that hostages are usually left unhurt and are just 'bait' for purely ransom purposes. Typically the hostage is a woman or child that is powerless to the captor and is occasionally dragged around by the captor for added effect. The real life stories we've heard are quite contrary to my 'fluffy'and safe version. I put myself in the shoes of a hostage and battle between flight and fight mode, especially in Colin Farrell's new movie Dead Man Down. Yikes.

• Sharks

As much as I love the sea there is always that moment that I become a stealthy Ninja when 'something' touches my foot in the shore break. Perhaps I have too many references to movies, but if you haven't seen Deep Blue Sea, you won't appreciate the sadness I felt when watching a husband and wife couple get eaten by sharks in the middle of the ocean. I've never seen Jaws but maybe that's not a bad thing.

• Tornado's, Hurricane's & Typhoon's

The inner Capricorn in me is an earth bound sign that enjoys having all 4 hooves on the ground thank you very much. Having never been in a real life situation that involves any twister climate's, the listed, disaster causing events make me scared - especially because we have no underground bunkers like the American's do!

So there it is, my list of freakishly scary things. If you're with me on these feel free to comment. 

Now that you know what makes me spook, what are your phobia's?