Rationalizing irrational fears

Irrational Fears... we all have them, those things that for some inexplicable reason we are terrified of. Those things that are most likely harmless, or equally as dangerous as something else we are not afraid of at all.
I have a great example; I walked into my office building one morning to find the HR assistant, a usually pretty laid back for the most part normal gal, standing outside the office door shaking. I said " Paula are you okay?" and in a voice barely above a whisper with her eyes squeezed shut and a white knuckled grip on the door handle she says "He's in there!" My mind starts to race, I look at the terror on her face and start to think who is he? A burglar? A serial killer? In a split second I am reaching for my cell phone and my Juniper Breeze body splash, the first to call 911 with, the second to spray in the eyes of the would be attacker should "he" come out the door. In the next second I hear an insect type chirping noise followed instantly by a girlie squeal. I look down and notice something crawling out from under the door Paula screams, points to the creature and yells "There he is, there he is" I look down and see a cricket. "The cricket is the He?" I say, she nods her head yes and yells "HE's coming towards me?" As soon as I grasp the root of the fear I laugh and return my fragrant weapon of choice to my purse. I giggle at the fearful as well as the cause of the fear, which is fine because Paula can't see me laughing at her, she is still stuck in her cricket nightmare. As she opens her eyes I step on the harmless bug, gently unwrap her death grip on the door knob and proceed into the office.
Now, before you judge me for making fun of this poor girl I will air my dirty irrational fear laundry... if you will!

Side note: If you don't have an irrational fear you got lucky! And I probably got yours, as you will see by the itemized list in numerical order below.

Irrational Fear #1 Mice

Rationalization: This particular fear is hereditary. Both my sister and I suffer from it and we got it from our mother who got it from her father.
I can not handle mice! I am cringing and gagging just writing this! They carry diseases, they have no bones, they can squeeze themselves into any sized space no matter how small! That's not natural! I don't even like anything mouse looking... they are the reason I refuse to float the river, fun in the sun as it may be there are ROUS'S (Rodents Of Unusual Size for those of you less versed in movie lines) that live in the river! I want to be the only thing with hair in my tube! And I figure I don't want them in my house I will stay out of there's. I think that is a fair enough compromise. If you have the misfortune of seeing one this summer as you are floating down the Guadalupe let him no why I'm not there!

Irrational Fear #2 Driving in the rain

Rationalization:I feel this fear is actually quite rational, however my extreme fear of it makes it (and me) irrational. I can't do it. I can not drive in the rain. I actually prefer not to drive in any sort of inclement weather, high winds, snow, earthquakes... whatever. But, rain that is the one that really gets me! I am the "people" that you all talk about when you say " People in Austin can't drive in the rain" I panic,I start to sweat, I get shaky, I have even been known to resort to positive talk ( "Jan, you can do this" " You're fine, Jan" " Buck up little soldier") I have convinced myself that if I switch lanes I am going to slide off the road. If I am going down a hill I think I wont be able to stop, I picture myself pumping my breaks with no response like in a mob movie someone cut the breaks hit sort of way. I should get a therapist! Or a driver!

Irrational Fear #3 Heights

Rationalization:This is actually one of my more manageable irrationals. I am okay if I am looking out the window of a tall building, I am not okay if I am looking over Lake Travis from a cliff ( if you were there, still sorry about that one, friends) This irrational actually only manifests itself on roller coasters and the like. I am fine on the roller coasters and water rides that are enclosed. If I can't see the ground rushing at me, and I am not eye level with the cars on the highway overpass bring on the slow crawl upward followed by the stomach dropping fall!

Irrational Fear #4 Crowds

Rationalization: Okay, if you want to shut me up, put me in the middle of a large crowd. Some of you have experienced this with me, it isn't that I am not enjoying the show or whatever crowd drawing even it might be, I am just anxious!! Concerts, really crowded bar, an over packed public transportation vehicle... ohhhh, forget it! My most recent example Chinatown in San Francisco on Chinese New Year. You all know no one loves the Asian's more than this gal, I was pumped about Chinese New Year in Chinatown. It was, after all the year of the golden pig, but the streets were packed for miles, there was no relief in sight! I am getting all worked up again, just typing about it!

Irrational Fear #5 I will never match the success of the Music is the universal language blog

Passive Aggressiveness:That is actually less of a personal fear and more of way of guilting you to share your own irrational fears!!
Come on, no fear is to irrational, no rationalization will make the fear rational, so tell me what your's is!


p.s No Paula's were hurt in the posting of this blog.