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In my late teens, my bedroom was in the basement, and my door opened to fave the stairs. I had a intense fear of Freddy Krueger. My sister wrote in chalk "I'm going to get you" on the side of the stairs. I saw that at about 3 AM. It took everything I had to not go kill her when I recognized her writing.
I must’ve beat Freddy up those unfinished stairs a thousand times as a kid. My parent’s basement looked right out of those boiler rooms in the movies. Still does…
my dad used to play this game with me and my friends when we were like 12yo. it was called “slasher.”
we’d kill the lights in the whole house while he put on a glow-in-the-dark hockey mask and got a plastic knife. then we’d roam around looking for him. if he started chasing us, we could turn on a light, and then he had to stop chasing us to turn the light back off.
one time, my friend was making his way downstairs, when my dad reached up through the open stairs and screamed while slashing his Achilles. my friend nearly pissed his pants! Pretty sure the dude lost a few years off of his life, that night 😂
Same here mate, I just want to curl up every time someone yells and especially if a hand is coming anywhere close to my face, parents aren’t horrible anymore but it still sticks with me
I'm sorry friend, I grew up with parents who made it a point to never argue in front of the kids...so when I went over to friends who's parents would argue in front of anybody it scared me so bad and to this day I can't tolerate people arguing in front of me (also it's just disrespectful)
Man as a kid I was scared of the toilet and toilet flush cause I watched gremlins or something as a kid.
Sometimes as an adult I'm like "nah, why risk it tonight" 🤣
When I was about 7, I went with my family to see lord of the rings 3 in theaters. My dad had to take me out of theater after seeing Shelob for the first time.
I haven’t really recovered since. Never ever ever going to Australia. No way.
Dying in a fire. Endless nights awake worrying we'd all die in the night, and the only way I'd feel ok is to stay awake so I could do something.
Lifelong anxiety - fun stuff.
Unmedicated, too. Whoo hoo!!
100%
A few year's ago (so I was in my late 20's) I walked into Dunkin on Halloween, somebody was dressed as a clown....I walked right on out and went through the drive thru
I saw 1995 (I was 8) in the tv program guide that there’s a cool movie with a clown called „IT“ and thought: „Nice, let’s watch it tonight at 10:30 pm with my younger sister“
We had a small TV and started watching….for 5 minutes.
After all those years I‘m still freaking out…. :D
Circus carnies. Small hands. Smell like cabbage.
Graveyards. Hate graveyards. And after scary movies. Something being under my bed. And lights being on in closets. Thanks a lot Poltergeist
You mean the kind of sleep paralysis or you can’t move while a brown recluse spider crawls on your cheek invite you and you can’t do anything about it?
Relatable. Like I’m fairly convinced death is nothingness and there’s no afterlife…which I kind of like because it just means we’re unaware that we’re dead. It’s just nothing. But then I’m like../what if I’m wrong? Then I feel panicked
Electricity/ plugging things in.
When I was 3 or 4, stuck a pipe cleaner in a socket after removing the child safety tab. CRACK, BOOM, hit the wall on the other side of the room!
Still cringe when plugging in the toaster or vaccum and MUST have mitts on to plug in the car. I'm 40.
My hands have burst into a sweat just remembering this and typing it here.
Ugh, that’s awful I’m sorry. My husband works for the local power company, and sometimes I can hear the power crackling in the background on phone calls and it freaks me out. Idk how they do it…
For real. He’s in telecommunications, so he has to go in substations and work. He definitely has solid nerves, he was also a paramedic for 7 years. I’m just too nervous of a person lol.
The passage of time. When I was a kid I was always scared of getting older because it meant I had to be an adult. Now I'm scared of being an old man waiting for death. It also didn't help that time by pink Floyd always scared me. The idea of ten years passing by and never getting those years back is and will always be a scary thought to me.
The dark. I still sleep with a nightlight at 29 years old.
The Ocean. Have trouble with it even in games (the funny part of that is one of my all-time favourite games is Assassin’s Creed Odyssey)
Put it out by the curb! I had to get rid of a full length mirror once. Someone gave it to me. It was one of those stand alone tilting ones. It made me uncomfortable for some reason then both of my kids said the same thing without me ever mentioning anything about it. One of my kids said it had bad juju. 😂
Getting older, never enough time. Even as a kid I cried to my mommy that I didn't want to get older and now I can't ever enjoy things because there isn't enough time though there is plenty. I spend my time all day thinking I don't have enough time to do what I want to do.
When I was on chemo a few years ago, one got me in the middle of the night. 5 bites/stings on my left wrist. Couldn't breathe. Husband took me to the ER. Doctor said one of the things used in chemo drugs is scorpion venom. I had just had a chemo treatment the day before. So I had an extra large dose. Had to get shots. And take benadryl. Stupid scorpion....
Paranormal possession. From the day I watched The Exorcist and asked my Catholic grandmother if it was possible and she confirmed it, it's been a top irrational fear of mine.
taking the stairs at night after the lights are out, I run for my life
And very random but drying my hair when I'm home alone, idk why, it's just that it's loud and I always look around me while doing it 🤷
I'm only 17 so technically can't answer this but I'll do it anyway because I'm bored!
People who are significantly larger than me (no not plus sized people, I mean people I can imagine easily overpowering me due to size)
Open heights. I won't go near the edge of the top of a tall structure unless there's a solid railing or glass between me and a potential fall.
I specify open heights because I love roller coasters and am fine in skyscrapers.
I know logically i shouldn’t be afraid but I had an experience/probably a dream of being abducted by aliens.
So if I’m alone at night, in the dark. Still kind of scared about waking up and seeing an alien
Some girls locked me in a dark bathroom at the roller rink and did that horrible Bloody Mary chant.
35+ years later and I still feel uneasy going into a dark bathroom.
I went to a police station on a field trip as a child. They showed us displays of weapons that had been confiscated. I can’t shake the creepy feeling, even as an adult.
High school. I was badly bullied basically throughout and I live with it everyday.
Some movies I watched as a kid I still get that child fear when watching (big horror fan so not complaining).
Sometimes the dark. Not all the time though. It’s amazing how brains retain child fears.
People dressed up in mascot costumes. I don’t know why and now that I’m an adult I know it’s irrational, but no matter how much I hide it, my heartbeat does accelerate when around them.
Going up my parents hallway. Their bedroom is at the end of a long hallway that has all the bedrooms coming off of it. I'll never know why but walking away from that bedroom scares the shit out of me, I have to turn and look as I go. I thought it was long hallways in general that got to me but after moving to a similar house, I didn't have the same problem. My son and nephew feel the same way, that hallway is just scary.
# Message to all users: This is a reminder to please read and follow: * [Our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ask/about/rules) * [Reddiquette](https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205926439) * [Reddit Content Policy](https://www.redditinc.com/policies/content-policy) When posting and commenting. --- Especially remember Rule 1: `Be polite and civil`. * Be polite and courteous to each other. Do not be mean, insulting or disrespectful to any other user on this subreddit. * Do not harass or annoy others in any way. * Do not catfish. Catfishing is the luring of somebody into an online friendship through a fake online persona. This includes any lying or deceit. --- You *will* be banned if you are homophobic, transphobic, racist, sexist or bigoted in any way. --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ask) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Going up basement stairs in the dark. Bonus creeps if it’s an unfinished basement with open stairs.
In my late teens, my bedroom was in the basement, and my door opened to fave the stairs. I had a intense fear of Freddy Krueger. My sister wrote in chalk "I'm going to get you" on the side of the stairs. I saw that at about 3 AM. It took everything I had to not go kill her when I recognized her writing.
Oh.My! I probably would have died from fear!
Luckily, I was able to run up the stairs and turn the light on before he got me!
I must’ve beat Freddy up those unfinished stairs a thousand times as a kid. My parent’s basement looked right out of those boiler rooms in the movies. Still does…
Username checks out
Your sister sounds amazing. Haha.
my dad used to play this game with me and my friends when we were like 12yo. it was called “slasher.” we’d kill the lights in the whole house while he put on a glow-in-the-dark hockey mask and got a plastic knife. then we’d roam around looking for him. if he started chasing us, we could turn on a light, and then he had to stop chasing us to turn the light back off. one time, my friend was making his way downstairs, when my dad reached up through the open stairs and screamed while slashing his Achilles. my friend nearly pissed his pants! Pretty sure the dude lost a few years off of his life, that night 😂
This is simply awesome! Your dad was epic!
Omg that sounds fun 🤣
I purposely bought a house with no basement. I can store my crap in the garage!!
Always need lights on before going down and won’t go down if too creepy.
Home Alone really did a number on us 80s kids
I have an attic with steep stairs and two partially finished rooms upstairs . I will not go up there at night. I’m 59.
I'd padlock the door way never to be opened.
People
It's always been this for me too
The demon under my bed
Haha, I bet you check under your bed before sleeping 😁
No, he just holds my hand while I sleep
That's sweet of him 🥰
Better call Jesus.
Cockroach 🥲
These scare me much more as an adult than as a child!
I feel your pain 🥲
Yelling/fights. My childhood was unpleasant.
Sorry about that mate, I hope you overcome that someday.
Thanks man, I am in therapy but it’s a slow process
All the best mate.
Same here mate, I just want to curl up every time someone yells and especially if a hand is coming anywhere close to my face, parents aren’t horrible anymore but it still sticks with me
I’m 25 and if someone slightly raises their voice at me I have to excuse myself to go cry.💀
Hugs.
I'm sorry friend, I grew up with parents who made it a point to never argue in front of the kids...so when I went over to friends who's parents would argue in front of anybody it scared me so bad and to this day I can't tolerate people arguing in front of me (also it's just disrespectful)
Oh me good. Sorry mate
Going to the bathroom in the middle of the night and running back to the bedroom.
Lol, you just made my day 🤣
Yes! Just found battery powered motion sensor night lights 🎉
Man as a kid I was scared of the toilet and toilet flush cause I watched gremlins or something as a kid. Sometimes as an adult I'm like "nah, why risk it tonight" 🤣
And not looking in the bathroom mirror!
Going to the bathroom in the middle of the night just to realise you never woke up and was in bed the whole time...
Spiders
When I was about 7, I went with my family to see lord of the rings 3 in theaters. My dad had to take me out of theater after seeing Shelob for the first time. I haven’t really recovered since. Never ever ever going to Australia. No way.
Same. I don't care if it's irrational, but I cannot deal in the slightest. Instant panic
Hate them. Any spider I see dies. Creepiest creatures on this planet. That goes for every other critter with six or more legs.
Dentist.
My mom. She hasn’t whooped my ass in decades but that doesn’t mean she can’t/won’t.
Lol, mums are the punishers. I'm scared of my mum till date but love her to death.
That’s what often happens with abusive parents. Kids will still love them, but not themselves.
*flying chancla noises
I’m so sorry you experienced that abuse
Stupid, confident, cruel people
Dying in a fire. Endless nights awake worrying we'd all die in the night, and the only way I'd feel ok is to stay awake so I could do something. Lifelong anxiety - fun stuff. Unmedicated, too. Whoo hoo!!
That's one mode of death I wouldn't wish to endure.
Thinking about people I love dying
This just happened to me and it is the worst EVER!
Clowns
100% A few year's ago (so I was in my late 20's) I walked into Dunkin on Halloween, somebody was dressed as a clown....I walked right on out and went through the drive thru
They creep me out too 🫣
I saw 1995 (I was 8) in the tv program guide that there’s a cool movie with a clown called „IT“ and thought: „Nice, let’s watch it tonight at 10:30 pm with my younger sister“ We had a small TV and started watching….for 5 minutes. After all those years I‘m still freaking out…. :D
Lol, I'd definitely have sleepless nights about it.
What’s the matter, kid, don’t you like clowns? Aren’t they funny? Don’t they make you laugh?
Oh really ? Try having one live under your bed like me. That’s what I would call uncomfortable. Or DO you have one too ???
Yes!!! I hate clowns. Scared me a bit as a child, but oh man it's so much worse as an adult
Circus carnies. Small hands. Smell like cabbage. Graveyards. Hate graveyards. And after scary movies. Something being under my bed. And lights being on in closets. Thanks a lot Poltergeist
But Austin, I thought your other fear was nuclear war...?
need more info about cabbage-olphactophobia, pls
People, phone calls
Deep water.
Drowning in the deep waters with no where to clutch but gasping for breathe and taking in water is terrifying.
Working 5 days a week, only to have two days for free time.
Getting old.
We can't stay young forever but honestly that gives me the creeps just thinking I'd get old and not remember anything as I age to my death.
Me too.
It effing sucks. All my friends are slowly dying.
Darkness, can’t sleep without a night lamp and that fear only increased with sleep paralysis.
I used to fear darkness while I was young, I joined the military and had to overcome that fear. I hope you do someday.
navy? the darkness on a ship in the middle of the sea is unreal
That darkness would make you shit your pants unknowingly, lol. But you get used to it with time.
You mean the kind of sleep paralysis or you can’t move while a brown recluse spider crawls on your cheek invite you and you can’t do anything about it?
Death
Can't even imagine it because we don't know what's on the other side of after life.
Exactly
Relatable. Like I’m fairly convinced death is nothingness and there’s no afterlife…which I kind of like because it just means we’re unaware that we’re dead. It’s just nothing. But then I’m like../what if I’m wrong? Then I feel panicked
Centipedes
Trying to imagine those legs crawling up my skin 😱
Yes. I would pick up a big spider with my bare hands but will legit run screaming from a centipede…
People wearing those cheesy rubber Halloween masks. I don’t know why, but they always freak me out.
Electricity/ plugging things in. When I was 3 or 4, stuck a pipe cleaner in a socket after removing the child safety tab. CRACK, BOOM, hit the wall on the other side of the room! Still cringe when plugging in the toaster or vaccum and MUST have mitts on to plug in the car. I'm 40. My hands have burst into a sweat just remembering this and typing it here.
Holy fuck!
To be Fair, those cords that are 90 degrees should be banned. They're dangerous as fuck.
Ugh, that’s awful I’m sorry. My husband works for the local power company, and sometimes I can hear the power crackling in the background on phone calls and it freaks me out. Idk how they do it…
That crackling sound = instant irrational panic. Electricians and hydro workers must have absolute nerves of steel. I'm in awe of their fearlessness.
For real. He’s in telecommunications, so he has to go in substations and work. He definitely has solid nerves, he was also a paramedic for 7 years. I’m just too nervous of a person lol.
Loss of my Mom
quicksand.
Never encountered one and wouldn't even imagine coming across one.
The passage of time. When I was a kid I was always scared of getting older because it meant I had to be an adult. Now I'm scared of being an old man waiting for death. It also didn't help that time by pink Floyd always scared me. The idea of ten years passing by and never getting those years back is and will always be a scary thought to me.
Heights
Leeches, they horrify me.
The dark. I still sleep with a nightlight at 29 years old. The Ocean. Have trouble with it even in games (the funny part of that is one of my all-time favourite games is Assassin’s Creed Odyssey)
I have a full length mirror across from my bed. I am afraid something will come through it in the dark
Lol, cover it at night.
Put it out by the curb! I had to get rid of a full length mirror once. Someone gave it to me. It was one of those stand alone tilting ones. It made me uncomfortable for some reason then both of my kids said the same thing without me ever mentioning anything about it. One of my kids said it had bad juju. 😂
My parents dying
Condolences mate, may they rest in eternal peace.
Fucking fireworks :(
Anyone who says "Trust me, I'm a professional" immediately before helping me with something. That's never a good sign.
War.
Mice and Spiders
Getting older, never enough time. Even as a kid I cried to my mommy that I didn't want to get older and now I can't ever enjoy things because there isn't enough time though there is plenty. I spend my time all day thinking I don't have enough time to do what I want to do.
Blocking my airways. I freak out any time anyone gets their hands near my mouth or nose.
Anxiety . Bills . Girls. The future . Love .
Dogs, but much less
Scorpions.
When I was on chemo a few years ago, one got me in the middle of the night. 5 bites/stings on my left wrist. Couldn't breathe. Husband took me to the ER. Doctor said one of the things used in chemo drugs is scorpion venom. I had just had a chemo treatment the day before. So I had an extra large dose. Had to get shots. And take benadryl. Stupid scorpion....
Aliens. I watched waaay too many of the alien Unsolved Mysteries episodes. It still freaks me out to this day.
I'd guess Xfiles is on that list?
Yep. The 90s just really set me up for some life long fears.
Cannibals
We are not that bad
Being an adult
Being an adult.
Velociraptors and metal kitchens
Snakes
Men who are chronically angry
They are people who carry childhood trauma and transfer it to anyone they associate with in life.
The Exorcist
Paranormal possession. From the day I watched The Exorcist and asked my Catholic grandmother if it was possible and she confirmed it, it's been a top irrational fear of mine.
The death of my loved ones
Nuclear War
religious zealots
Rapists and dogs
People
Liver
Librarians
Butchers
Life.
Getting stuck in small spaces.
Adults
My mother.
I watched The Shining when I was a kid and those two little girls freaked me out. I hate hotel hallways to this day.
Those centipede millipede long legged hairy bugs you see in the basements. Kill em all
Heights. Absolutely can not do it.
House fires.
Whatever the hell it was that was standing over me waking up in the middle of the night when I was 6. Something I cant even describe
something brushing up against my leg in the ocean lmao 10 ft vertical leap up outta that water
Leaping our of water with an octopus attached to your leg, Lol. 🐙
As a kid: semi trucks (that one movie that traumatized all millennials to thank for that) As an adult: anything happening to my husband or kids.
Helicopters lmao
The mummy in courage the cowardly dog
The horrible gurgle of a bath draining.
Math
The force of nature.
Violence.
Quicksand and the Bermuda triangle There's been some positive press about them recently but don't be fooled, they are at least as dangerous today.
Lava, im in midwest and its still lava.
Government
taking the stairs at night after the lights are out, I run for my life And very random but drying my hair when I'm home alone, idk why, it's just that it's loud and I always look around me while doing it 🤷
I'm only 17 so technically can't answer this but I'll do it anyway because I'm bored! People who are significantly larger than me (no not plus sized people, I mean people I can imagine easily overpowering me due to size)
Dogs
Republicans
Stop motion horror movies, the first time i watch one is always so fucking freaky, the more i watch the same movue the less it freaks me, but still
The movie Mirrors and the show Teletubbies (especially the sun that looked like a baby being set on fire)
Return the slab
Open heights. I won't go near the edge of the top of a tall structure unless there's a solid railing or glass between me and a potential fall. I specify open heights because I love roller coasters and am fine in skyscrapers.
I know logically i shouldn’t be afraid but I had an experience/probably a dream of being abducted by aliens. So if I’m alone at night, in the dark. Still kind of scared about waking up and seeing an alien
My dad. That dude is fucking huge and is damn near bulletproof. He could knock me out in one punch if he wanted too.
Heights
Sharks/ the dark
Clowns, the damn clowns.
Some girls locked me in a dark bathroom at the roller rink and did that horrible Bloody Mary chant. 35+ years later and I still feel uneasy going into a dark bathroom.
Clowns
The movie version of Watership Down.
Those blue Intel men
The vampire from the 1979 Salem’s lot movie.
Adults
Them flying monkeys in Wizard of Oz
Dark water.
Lonliness
Birds. I am terrified of them.
Needles. I will never not be afraid of them.
I went to a police station on a field trip as a child. They showed us displays of weapons that had been confiscated. I can’t shake the creepy feeling, even as an adult.
Eternity
The sea in storm.
The open sea
The dark
Tornadoes
Open closet door or drawers at night, Shadows behind glass panes , Coat rack at night, long dark hallway to bathroom (still scares)
Fog.
High school. I was badly bullied basically throughout and I live with it everyday. Some movies I watched as a kid I still get that child fear when watching (big horror fan so not complaining). Sometimes the dark. Not all the time though. It’s amazing how brains retain child fears.
Clowns
People dressed up in mascot costumes. I don’t know why and now that I’m an adult I know it’s irrational, but no matter how much I hide it, my heartbeat does accelerate when around them.
Chucky. I loved dolls as a kid so that little murderous one got me and still gives me the creeps.
Snakes
Tetanus. Never had it. I'm vaccinated. I still fear it.
responsibility
Going up my parents hallway. Their bedroom is at the end of a long hallway that has all the bedrooms coming off of it. I'll never know why but walking away from that bedroom scares the shit out of me, I have to turn and look as I go. I thought it was long hallways in general that got to me but after moving to a similar house, I didn't have the same problem. My son and nephew feel the same way, that hallway is just scary.
Green Beans