Phobia

Six years ago, the learned Doctors at my local VA Hospital forced me to take a psychological examination. Their assumption is that all Viet Nam era Vets are somewhat mentally disturbed. I had three sessions with the resident VA shrink. None of my problems were resolved, but I did learn that I had a lot of Phobias. Supposedly more than “normal” people have. Who are normal people? Everyone has some sort of Phobia.

First and foremost was my “fear of flying” AKA Pteromerhanophobia. I don’t actually fear flying in airplanes, I fear crashing and dying in airplanes, especially during takeoff and landing. But airplanes are a far better mode of long distance transportation than the alternative; driving or riding in a car, which happens to be my second greatest Phobia; Amaxophobia.

I am also afflicted with Vertigo (Illyngophobia) and Acrophobia. I've also been diagnosed with having Pharmacophobia (the fear of taking medications), and Opiophobia (the fear of Doctors prescribing the aforementioned medications). I don’t trust Doctors because most of them have sold out to the pharmaceutical companies. Many of the drugs that are prescribing hurt us more than they help us. Read the labels and the warnings.

The one exception is the VA Doctor, who does not benefit by prescribing drugs. If you are eligible for VA care, this should be your choice of Medical Services.

If I checked on a list of Phobias, I could probably find at least a dozen more that I have. It doesn’t bother me that I have all these Phobias; however it does bother my family.

The Beach Bum