Pareidolia
Monday, July 24, 2024
Have you ever heard of Pareidolia?
What is it? It’s the technical term for when you see faces in random objects and patterns. When I started tonight’s watercolor, I started seeing faces in the paint… so I decided to point them out.
That go me thinking about other weird things that I have, including phobias… as if I wasn’t messed up enough. For your entertainment, I’ve decided to share. Because sharing is caring.
ADHD (that’s a given)
Chronic Depression (duh)
Social Anxiety (no surprise there)
OCD (par for the course at this point)
Scopophobia - fear of being the center of attention (I’m okay in virtual situations, but in person, it makes me want to crawl into a hole and never come out)
Atelophobia - fear of being unprepared (explains my love of organization and lists)
Allegrophobia - time anxiety (I am at least 30 minutes early to everything and if it’s any later than that, I start to freak out. Also explains why I have five calendars and three clocks on my desk… and no, I’m not joking)
Misophonia - distain/disgust with the sound of chewing (I get angry… like violently angry)
Claustrophobia - fear of enclosed spaces/running out of air (I think this is pretty common)
Acrophobia - fear of heights (also, common)
Chiroptophobia - fear of bats (have you ever seen the second ‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’ movie? He gives an amazing speech on his view of bats… I couldn’t say it any better)
Ophidiophobia - fear of snakes (“Why does it always have to be snakes?” - the wise words of Indiana Jones)
Chilopodophobia & Xarantaphobia - fear of centipedes and millipedes (nothing should have that many legs)
Coccinellidaephobia - fear of ladybugs (no, I’m not joking. You don’t understand, though. When I was a kid, in the summer we would get SWARMS of them on the side of our house… okay… trailer. But they were RIGHT OUTSIDE OF MY BEDROOM WINDOW. I’m still traumatized)
Thalassophobia - fear of deep water (I think this is related to the claustrophobia and being terrified of not being able to breathe. I won’t swim. I can, but I chose not to)
Pyrophobia - fear of fire (I would imagine this is also quite common)
Trypophobia - fear hole patterns (okay, hear me out… when there’s a lot of holes and the contrast is stark, it causes a tenseness in the base of my neck. Like the sound of nails down a chalkboard, but that feeling just sits. I can’t handle it.)
Yes… I know… I have issues… that’s why we’re here.