Phobias and other irrational anxieties

[Earniel]

Why is stepping on cracks on the floor bad?

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Don't step on a crack, or you'll fall and break your back.

[Rían]

The one I heard is "step on a crack, break your mother's back"

I have a very minor thing with cracks. It's not big enough where I have to look down, but if I AM looking down, I will sometimes avoid them. Also sometimes if I DO step on a crack, I'll step on another one to "even" it out

Isn't this weird?

[Rían]

Originally Posted by Midge

I bring this up because my husband got sick last week. Though I freaked out a little bit, I was proud of myself for giving him a hug, bringing him a glass of water and cleaning up the bathroom after he felt better.

Good for you!

I don't have a phobia, but it does make me gag a lot to be around throwup - I have to hold my breath and sometimes leave the room for some air if I'm the lucky one to be cleaning it up.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Originally Posted by RÃ*an

The one I heard is "step on a crack, break your mother's back"

Good thing I don't have mother issues.

[Rían]

[Earniel]

Ah, so it's like superstition? A bit like the ladders and Friday the 13th? Does it have an origin? You can link the don't step under ladders or you'll get something on your head, and black cats to witchcrafts, so what's the story behind the don't step on cracks thing?

If it was true, though, my spine (or my mother's for that matter) would have been ground to dust by now.

[Rían]

Yes, that particular phobia (cracks) is linked to a superstition (or kind of one? not like black cats, but still enough to have a little saying) - but like many superstitions, it makes a bit of sense - back years ago, building codes were not as strong or were non-existent, so a cracked area could be very dangerous. Maybe the moms made up that little rhyme to remind their kids to avoid those potential dangerous spots. Anyway, it's interesting that the penalty falls on the mother - maybe that was a way to weed out bad little kids (those that cared for their mothers would obey and be safe, and those that didn't like their mothers would not! )

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Now, there's an entirely new perspective on family planning.

[Earniel]

I see, so in some cases it's not just a common superstition but can be an actual phobia as well? I don't think I've come across something similar in Northern Europe yet, hence the questions.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

I think it's often more a matter of obsessive-compulsiveness than of a genuine phobia. Though, the line between the two may blur a bit, I suppose. Jack Nicholson's character in As Good As It Gets does it big time. The funny thing is, it's culturally closer to Humpty Dumpty than to black cats, or so it seems to me.

[Earniel]

Humpty Dumpty? How does he fit in this?

[Gwaimir Windgem]

I just mean that it's closer to a nursery rhyme, like Humpty Dumpty, than it is to standard superstitions, like black cats and salt over the shoulder.

[Rían]

Maybe it's a kind of folk wisdom rhyme thing, like "red sky in the morning, sailor take warning" etc.

Yeah, the Nicholson movie was great, and that bit with the cracks at the end very moving. I think it does blur a bit with phobias, OCD and superstitions, too.

[BeardofPants]

I knew it as, "Step on a crack, marry a rat." It subsumed many a childhood walk. *face-palm*

[Rían]

LOL! I've never heard that one! That's more fun

[katya]

I just remembered, when I was little I used to take the ferry boat to and from Mackinac Island. My dad told me there was a hole in the dock. I remember being really afraid of it, and not knowing where it was, and looking down at the ground for it. And someone asked me if I was trying not to step on the cracks, and I was like "Why not?" and that's where I first heard the bit about breaking backs.

[Voronwen]

Ok, this feels weird even posting about this... LOL...

When i was around 4 years old, i was petrified of the vacuum cleaner. It all started when one day my father accidentally sucked up one of my little Fisher Price people (remember those? i'm dating myself, here!) with the hose. After that, i was afraid i was going to get sucked up. I even remember which Fisher Price person it was - the blue one with the little blonde braids. How's that for post-traumatic stress?

I still remember one day while my parents were vacuuming, and i jumped up onto the dining room table. I sat there screaming and crying until they were done.

Thankfully i outgrew it soon after!


The one i didn't outgrow, though, is my fear of strange dogs. I was chased by a Doberman at my grandmother's farm when i was 5. To this day, i fear strange dogs - especially big ones. I mean... i've been known to climb trees to get away from them (Varokhar has seen me do this... hahaha! ) ... *ahem* , yeah.... part feline....

[Rían]

That isn't weird at all, Voronwen - those totally make sense (as long as you weren't, like, 15 and still afraid of the vacuum!)

It always makes sense to at least be cautious around strange dogs, too.

[Voronwen]

Right, LOL! At least now i know for when i become a parent, not to suck up my kids' toys. It just might be traumatic.

I agree about the dog thing, though. Just wish i were a little less spooky around them.

Oh and.. not sure if this is the right thread (fun thread, btw)... but, i'm kinda OCD ..especially about a neat, spotless house. My mom once accused me of having a house that was rather like a museum ("i guess you don't breathe in here!" ). LOL. So yeah.. it's a good thing i made friends with the good ol' vacuum!

I'm sure having kids will break me of the OCD-house thing, though.....