Phobia or what?

[island_fever]

I am not sure where this question should go, but I seem to have some phobias (?) or something going on.  This first one is not disabling and even sounds silly, but it bothers me and can cause a great deal of discomfort.  In other words, it scares the crap out of me.   Much of it can be eliminated by avoidance and this isn't the worst thing in my life. But, if I can figure out why this is happening and how to get over it, maybe I will have a clue as to how to handle some other things going on.  Basically, and please don't laugh, I have a deep and abiding fear of Google Earth and satellite images.  The same holds true for images in space.  The oceans are the worst and deserts are a problem too.  The zooming is intolerable.  I also can't handle pictures (especially large ones) of blank spaces in relation to earth or planets.  If it's on a movie, tv, or computer, I have to close my eyes or leave.  I don't know if this is in the right section.  Thank you for your advice and tolerance.  I need to get a handle on this so I can conquer the ones that sometimes paralyze me.  I am not afraid of heights or the water in general. Thanks again.

[SWM]

what would be the least scary thing that you could think off that fits into this phobia?

for example a small picture. or a picture of the moon with only a small aspect of space?

[island_fever]

The least scary thing is a street level view or just above street level.  Fairly narrowly defined graphics, I'm ok with.  If I'm at street level or a couple of floors above, I'm ok.  I can just look down and say "cool'!

It's huge expanses, blank spaces, views of the universe, and even earth's horizon frighten me.  However, I have flown over both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans with no problems.  I knew I was over a "blank" space, but I was ok listening to music or watching a movie; didn't even think about it.

I was amazed at my inexplicable reaction to Google Earth.  I almost screamed aloud, but it took my breath away and I had to close my eyes, turn my head and leave.  I just shut down the computer when the screensaver came on.  I have also traveled across the desert both by plane and by car with no problem.  But seeing the vast expanses on the computer and zooming in are awful.  Thanks for being understanding.

[SWM]

when you look at those pictures that cause you anxiety what are you afraid of?

[island_fever]

I'm not quite sure.  At first I thought it might be something like falling; like on a roller coaster.  But, I've never been afraid of roller coasters.  Those are more exciting than scary and quite fun! Seeing the entire planet earth is frightening.  But so are continental shelves, the Himalays, and finding myself over nothing but an ocean, or in space. Detals from afar of "blank" spaces (varying shades of blue in oceans) and the horizon are scary as well.

I mean, I know that they are just pictures, but perhaps it is something like being lost and alone.  I don't know.  Or maybe it is being swallowed up by the universe (although I like to think of myself as being a part of it).  I find it all so disturbing because I like geography and I've done a lot of traveling with no problems.   I've been to Japan and Korea as well as most of Europe and the U.S.; much of it I traveled alone.   So, I'm not fearful of being away from home or anything like that.   It all seems so silly until I actually try to use earth and space programs and then it's just plain frightening. 

If I can identify what it is, then are you saying that I can make it go away?  Will this work for anything?  Thanks so much!

[SWM]

do you think it might be useful to find out what you are afraid of when you confront these kind of scenes?

[island_fever]

Yes, I do. I have tried to think about it and to analyze why I am fearful, but to no avail.  I can find no rhyme or reason to it.  It makes no sense to me.

These are just images; there is nothing inherently harmful in them and I know that they cannot hurt me.  If I see the earth's horizon, I know that if I were on the earth, I would just travel around in circles and not fall off.  I know that the images of the Himalayas or the continental shelves and oceans are just flat 2-D images of something that exists and that I am not actually involved with being there other than being an observer of the scene.  So, I understand it intellectually.  It just makes no sense to me.   But, I have the same problem with worms and a couple of other things that make no sense.

At least I can avoid this.  I just uninstalled the thing.  I had to do it.  I kept going back to try it again and I have found out that I just can't continue to go back.  I thought if I did, that I could desensitize myself to it.  That was a complete failure.  Now, I just have to be careful of satellite images or make sure I never get stuck in a room with an oversized map of anykind or go to a movie that would show these kinds of things.  Anything the size of a large mural or a wall would turn me into a basket case.

Do you think that there is a cure for this?

[SWM]

its what we would call a simple phobia treatment is really easy. perhaps not so easy on a forum.

when you see those images you get anxious. anxious doesn't feel very nice. what do you think about the anxiety state that you experience when you see those images?

do you think it might be the anxiety state itself that you are trying to avoid?

example: image > anxiety increase > look away > anxiety decrease