Freaky Phobias

Just because it doesn’t make sense doesn’t make it any less scary

Sky Is The Limit

Every time I step out, I can’t shake off the feeling that the sky might come crashing down on me. All that open space feels overwhelmingly vast, and I feel incredibly vulnerable. I know the ground beneath my feet is solid and that the sky has always remained where it belongs, stable and unyielding but the logic doesn’t seem to work. So instead, I focus on things that bring me comfort: the warmth of the sun, the gentle rustling of leaves, the sound of passers by laughing and talking. One day, I hope to replace this anxiety with a sense of peace and appreciation for the beauty that surrounds me. —Kizhumundayur Narayanan, Thrissur

Frozen Green

I have ‘prasinophobia’—the fear of the colour green—since childhood. Whenever I spot the colour it brings shivers down my spine. I feel this more acutely at traffic points. As I wait for the signal to turn green, my heart races to the point of rendering me immobile. But the honking of vehicles trailing behind me comes to my rescue forcing me out of the freeze. —Preetha Rengaswamy, Chennai

Not a Fan