MrsStobe13
03-04-13, 00:54
Not to be confused with anthrophobia, the phobia of people, I have anthophobia. A phobia of flowers, this seems to be quite unusual and maybe a little bizarre, but I learnt today that Queen Elizabeth suffered, so at least there's a famous face to share my awkwardness with!
But yes, I have a serious phobia of flowers. So much so I passed out in a DIY store because of a watermark lily. I was fine one minute them bam, on the deck and woke up in an ambulance 20 minutes later. Some flowers I can handle, like roses or coronations, if I hold the stems and don't go anywhere near the heads I'm fine, but if a petal touches me I throw the lot down and try and wipe my hands of contact with the plant like it's some sort of hazardous chemical. I know mentally they can't harm me, but I can't let go of the idea they might either!
I've tried all sort of things, hypnotherapy, CBT, ERP and self-guided or assistance with family and friends. As a kid I was fine but since I turned 8 it's been a no-no. I think it came from a programme I was watching about a lad who fired a gun at an exotic plant with a big thick stem, making a hole right the way through. The plant fell on him and the sap from the plant made contact with his skin and killed him. Not sure whether such a plant exists but it was tall with a pink tubular flower and white spots. Too scared to google it! It's to the point I'm even carrying foam flowers for my May wedding otherwise someone's going to get a face full of flowers prior to the bouquet toss!
Does anyone else suffer with this bizarre phobia? If so, is there a particular species that does it for you? I can't look at anything with visible stamens or the other middle bit (forgotten what they're called) because I go all cringy. Flowering trees and passion flowers are my worst nightmare! I can't normally look at the flowers on exotic fruits, either!
MrsStobe13
But yes, I have a serious phobia of flowers. So much so I passed out in a DIY store because of a watermark lily. I was fine one minute them bam, on the deck and woke up in an ambulance 20 minutes later. Some flowers I can handle, like roses or coronations, if I hold the stems and don't go anywhere near the heads I'm fine, but if a petal touches me I throw the lot down and try and wipe my hands of contact with the plant like it's some sort of hazardous chemical. I know mentally they can't harm me, but I can't let go of the idea they might either!
I've tried all sort of things, hypnotherapy, CBT, ERP and self-guided or assistance with family and friends. As a kid I was fine but since I turned 8 it's been a no-no. I think it came from a programme I was watching about a lad who fired a gun at an exotic plant with a big thick stem, making a hole right the way through. The plant fell on him and the sap from the plant made contact with his skin and killed him. Not sure whether such a plant exists but it was tall with a pink tubular flower and white spots. Too scared to google it! It's to the point I'm even carrying foam flowers for my May wedding otherwise someone's going to get a face full of flowers prior to the bouquet toss!
Does anyone else suffer with this bizarre phobia? If so, is there a particular species that does it for you? I can't look at anything with visible stamens or the other middle bit (forgotten what they're called) because I go all cringy. Flowering trees and passion flowers are my worst nightmare! I can't normally look at the flowers on exotic fruits, either!
MrsStobe13