The last time I confessed to something that really bothers and annoys me - beeping sounds - my co-workers rigged up my laptop to beep incessantly. I had my headphones plugged in, the noise-reducing kind to block out the sounds of the co-workers and random beeps, but I didn't feel like listening to music that day, so I wouldn't put them on. The co-workers kept telling me to put them on, but I kept saying, 'No.' I don't like to be told what to do more than I hate beeping sounds. They got impatient and made everything in the room beep until I put on my headphones.
This morning, nothing's beeping, but I'm really anxious. I have an appointment to get my eyes checked. I took my daughter a week ago and realized after I started laughing nervously that I should have taken her appointment and had her go today.
This guy is going to touch the skin just below my eye and try to hold my eye open.
Two years ago at my last appointment, I stopped the exam and said no thank you. This time, I have to let him do it because I'm having blood pressure problems that are affecting my eyes. My regular doctor told me I have to have this test done. And now. Crap.
At my daughter's appointment, I laughed until I cried and confessed that we both are terrified of this super nice guy just looking at our eyes and being careful to tell every detail of what he's doing and how it looks in an attempt to inform and keep us calm. This incessant chatter about what he's about to do, what he's just done, exacerbates our anxiety.
When we told him that, he agreed I should self-medicate for my appointment if that's what I need. I'm thinking a giant margarita will work.
My husband didn't seem to understand what my problem was this morning. I asked him to imagine having to face the one thing that scares him the most. Then he got it. I was surprised by what he said - completely surprised - I thought he was going to say, "Bees." He dances around like he's on fire when he sees a bee, which seems to attract even more bees.
What are you afraid of?
I hope the giant margaritas work.
ReplyDeleteWhat am I most afraid of? Being alone.
I did survive it. And I convinced him to talk about anything except my eyes. I think you aren't alone in your fear.
DeleteI hate anyone touching near my eyes--even me! That's why I could never get contacts; I'd never be able to get them in. I was glad the last time I had an eye doctor appointment that I could take this digital test where they shine a flashing light into your eyes instead of those annoying drops where they dilate your eyes.
ReplyDeleteNo contacts for me either - I would worry I'd never have the nerve to get them out if I got them in once. I got the drops, a photo of my eyes (quite blinding), but got saved from the puffs. I hate the puffs. Fear the puffs.
DeleteThe sight of blood. Snakes. Sometimes the dark.
ReplyDeleteSnakes really freak me out too. I'm OK with the dark. Blood suctioned in a tube makes me sick.
DeleteAsthmatic kid. Almost died when I was 5 before they diagnosed it. So, I would have to say not being able to breathe - suffocation, drowning, choking.
ReplyDeleteBTW - 'ritas cure everything. So good luck T
Me too. I didn't have any near-death issues with asthma, but it's all bad when I start breathing like Darth Vader.
DeleteI slept the rest of the day.
I have an irrational fear of the ocean. Terrified of it. Luckily I live in landlocked Colorado. :))
ReplyDeleteGood luck with that appointment. Might be a two margarita morning.
Good choice of where to live then. I definitely needed medication.
DeleteWhat am I most afraid of? I have no idea. I do have all sorts of little things that I suppose are a bit weird. I refuse to wear contacts, gross. I don't like touching things... I tend to wash my hands a lot.
ReplyDeleteBut fear? Man, I'm not too excited about dying. I'm a bit afraid of that. I'm afraid every time my kid walks out the door that I'll something will happen and I'll never see him again.
I worry a lot about my kids too. My daughter went with a friend without telling me precisely where she went. I called and asked her what would happen if a bomb exploded and I didn't know where she was. Now she probably thinks I'm nuts. Bombs explode in Ohio, right? It's possible. In retrospect, I wish I had told her I was worried about UFOs abducting her. :)
DeleteI guess we all have fears. I worry most about something happening to my children but I'm afraid of spiders though not as far as panic mode.
ReplyDeleteHope your eyes are all right. They're too important to not take care of them.
I've learned to accept spiders. I've been convinced they are good for the garden.
DeleteHi Tonja - I hopped over here from Muree's blog. I'm terrified of flying cockroaches and because of our hot & humid summers, we have the BIG ones... yuck!
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you! I'm your newest follower, by the way!
FLYING cockroaches? That's what nightmares are made of. Thanks for the follow. :)
DeleteMy son is an eye doctor. He'd get a big kick out of this post. I have so many fears I don't know where to start!
ReplyDeleteMy eye doctor let me lift my eyelid myself, which is much better.
DeleteI have always been afraid of the unknown - not knowing what the future holds. Which is nuts of course, because we never know this! I think the secret fear is really that the future will not be as nice as the present or past. I've gotten much better with this I'm happy to say, but I think it's always a bit there and I have to suck it up and go forward bravely!
ReplyDeleteJust talking about eyes makes mine water ;)
ReplyDeleteRe the beeps, at least your co-workers didn't mix your bottle of M&Ms with skittles. LOL!