Echolalia

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I have always had a phobia of cockroaches (I even hate seeing or hearing the word). I am always fearful of encountering one, it is on my mind all the goddamn time. I sleep with cotton in my ears out of fear of them crawling in.

Well today (tonight..just now) I actually saw one on my BED. I'm still in a minor state of panic...what the hell do I do?
I live in Southern California, it is summer, and the all the neighbors around my house are pigs, they are always infested with all kinds of horrible things.
I'm screwed, and I don't know what to do tonight.
Any help/advice on what to do? Would hypnosis help? And what about my room? I don't think a psychologist would want to deal with this. Is there some sort of help line for this sort of thing?

I guess this is partly a rant...

yellowfish

well we get a type of chalk that you draw lines between you and the outside
basicly the chalk is infused with borax (pest killer)
you draw lines around the outside of your windows and doors
this creates a barrier of poison that they dont cross
that is one way

but the fact you sleep with cotton wool in your ears tells me that you need therapy of some sort as this is debilitating and is causing you to fear too much

maby try work through it your self if you have the courage

BlackPearlSpace

I would seek help.

One of the criterion for a quirk becoming a problem, is when it begins to interfere with your life, or cause you duress, anxiety, or stress.

It's most likely a phobia, an irrational fear. I don't know how your medical system works in the states, but I'd suggest you start making phone calls. Someone will be able to point you to a help group, or a...well I dunno, do you even have social programs there? or do you have to pay? ask the governator for help.

anyway, as to what you can do. there are breathing excerises they teach people to cope with anxiety. basicly, you need to practice this as often as possible, so that when you have a freak-out, you are good at it. you just breathe. that's it. you focus your mind on your breath, in an out. slow, long, deep breaths. as a thought comes up, you just acknowledge it, whatever it may be. try to focus on simply acknowledging and observing, without reacting or getting emotional in any way. then you "turn the page" and refocus on the breath. it's important not to get mad at being distracted, or anything. just turn the page and go back to the breath.

when you get good at this, you'll be able to sit there, in a relaxed position of some sort, and think about your phobia. you look at it, accept that you have it, don't freak out, don't reject it, don't be mad you have it. just accept it, observe it.

it may help to have something nice to focus on. try kitties. when you have an attack, you breath, getting control of the physical breathing, and focus you mind on only that. then, and your breathing normalizes, focus on the kitty. this isn't the time to focus on the bugs, but in the background there should be acceptance of it, but on the surface, the focus is kitties, or breath.

the breath and state of mind are constantly linked. the trick lies in the fact that breathing is partially voluntary, and you can use this to leverage your state of mind.

if you want more details just ask. and let me know if this helps at all.

Devone16

Phobia's are difficult to deal with. There are different ways to try and cure them, but you will need the help of a professional. If you are losing sleep, have trouble completing simple tasks, and live in a constant state of fear over a small bug that can do you no harm, them you really could get some help even if it is just for some sleep medication. My mother is the same way about caterpillars, and I used to be deathly afraid of heights (untill airborne school). Good luck and listen the advise from BlackPearl.

Echolalia

Thanks for the help guys. It is just really stressful because no matter what I do, I can't really escape this fear, or even avoid it.

Blackpearlspace, I will try to follow your advice, I just don't want to face one in order to try it out, lol. Thanks for the advice.

I killed one the other day, so maybe that is a step forward?