Handsomedan:

 

Also - having my stitches removed from my face today and my needlephobia is causing massive anxiety - I know they're not sticking needles in me, but the idea of string being pulled out of my face has me on the verge of a nervous breakdown. It's the same thing in my head.

I shall be taking anxiety medication/sedatives and hoping for the best...

 

The human brain is an ironically illogical device. My phobia is heights and it's something I've acquired at some point in life. Being near edges is almost paralysing. Even watching a POV youtube of someone doing something on a ridiculously high ledge makes me feel physically ill. Standing on the Skippers Canyon bridge behind a high, very substantial guard rail I have an irrational fear that I might magically tip over it. Totally ludicrous. I've been on ski lifts overseas with no safety bar and was fearful of falling off. To my knowledge I have never in 60 years spontaneously fallen off an armchair so why would I fall off a ski lift?

I'm pretty sure one can train one's self out of these things. I managed to get onto our low-pitched, single story roof to clean the skylights on the weekend. Was not at all happy about it but managed to mostly block it out. Baby steps...