Fear of the Marketplace? Let’s Talk Phobias!

/ Marcia Meara

 

Neil Diamond
Possibly the Only Man in the World
Who Could Have a Hit Song All About
Agoraphobia!

In case you don’t know, agoraphobia literally means “fear” (phobia) of the “agora” (the marketplace.) This is a very real phobia which generally means if you have it, you do not like to leave the safety of your own home, to go to the market or anywhere else.

I’ve been thinking about phobias a lot lately, and how they could be used in our books in very interesting ways, from frightening to funny, depending on characters and situations. Agoraphobia is a case in point. I’ve always been agoraphobic to one degree or another, depending on my age and the situation at hand. I’ve usually been able to work around it to some extent in order to live a halfway normal life, which included raising two children. But it hasn’t always been easy for me, and there have been times when I simply couldn’t make myself go out into the world at large, no matter how hard I tried.

I’m thinking about this today, because I’ve noticed that since I quit giving my nature talks locally, I’ve become more and more housebound. This is worrisome because the longer I stay at home, the less I want to leave. Let’s call it Creeping Agoraphobia.  😀 Mark started doing our grocery shopping and errand running when I was sick, and I’m happy to let him continue with both, even though I’m certainly well enough to go myself. Yep. This is Fear of the Marketplace in action.

I don’t know what I’ll do about this going forward, but it will probably be a case of getting out to various appointments that I can’t ignore (doctors and the like) and then gradually getting back to something more akin to normal (for me) behavior. This doesn’t mean I’ll be gadding about town or anything, but just that I’ll resume enough  activities to avoid becoming a true hermit.

The reason I’m writing about this today is because it occurred to me that one could create some very interesting or entertaining characters by giving them an extreme phobia or two. Not just typical  personality traits that we would usually endow our characters with, but actual, full-blown phobias.  Have any of you done this in your books? I’d be interested in knowing if you have, and if so, have your readers enjoyed meeting these characters?

If you’ve never used phobias in your writing, here are a few fairly common ones you might give some thought to:

  • Arachnophobia (Fear of spiders)
  • Ophidiophobia (Fear of snakes)
  • Acrophobia (Fear of heights)
  • Aerophobia (Fear of flying)
  • Cynophobia (Fear of dogs)
  • Astraphobia (Fear of thunder and lightning)
  • Trypanophobia (Fear of injections)

What do you think? Any of your characters ever suffered from one of these? If not, are you considering using any of them now?  Feel free to share your ideas below. (Inquiring minds–like mine–wanna know.) 😀

 

50 thoughts on “Fear of the Marketplace? Let’s Talk Phobias!”

    • I’m glad you’ve already found ways to make use of phobias, Priscilla. Fear of heights is one I share, though I can hike in the mountains if the path isn’t too near the edge of a steep drop. But I don’t like to stand next to a big window on the 15th floor of a tall building. Urk. And it’s nice to know you’ve given your character the desire to push herself beyond her comfort zone. (I might hike in the mountains, but there’s NOTHING about skiing that would work for me, especially flying downhill at a high speed. Eeeek. No way!)

      Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to share your thoughts. And glad you like the “gadding about” phrase. I’ve done plenty of that in my many years, for sure. 😀 ❤

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  2. Excellent post, Marcia. I haven’t used a phobia in a story, however, I’ve had characters with PTSD. Though not a phobia, it is a much-misunderstood ailment that could present as one. Many people have phobias and to include this in a story could only enrich the complexity and depth. Bravo for the idea and bless you on your journey with agoraphobia. ❤️

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    • I haven’t actually used a phobia in one of my stories, either, but I just might use one in my WIP, assuming I ever manage to get back to it. Riverbend Burning does delve into pyromania (not to be confused with arson), and I am hoping I’ll be able to finish it one of these days.

      I’m glad you like the idea of using a phobia, and I look forward to seeing what you come up with, if you do.

      Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to weigh in on this idea. Hope you have a great day! 😀 ❤

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  3. I had a character in one of my Amanda books, Amanda in Malta, who had a fear of fish. It’s a real thing called ichthyophobia. I think phobias are great to include in stories as it gives the reader more insight into the character.

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    • I’ve read about that one, Darlene, though for the life of me, I can’t imagine having that one. It would have to be a REEEAAALLLY big fish, I think! Or one with big fins and very sharp teeth. 😀 But to be fair, that’s the thing about phobias. They very often don’t make sense at all, and are something we seem to have little control over.

      I’m glad you’ve taken advantage of using a phobia to build an interesting character. Good for you! And thanks so much for stopping by to share that with us. Here’s to a great day ahead! 😀 ❤

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      • People who do not have a phobia often find it hard to understand those who do. I met a woman who had an immense fear of birds, all birds. (called Ornithophobia) That would be so difficult as there are birds everywhere. I felt so bad for her when a bird flew into the restaurant where we were holding a meeting. She just shook.

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        • That would be an awful one to deal with, I imagine. Happily, I love birds dearly and do all I can to attract them to our yard. Along with being beautiful (most of them), they are very entertaining, and I’ve been a “birder” pretty much all my life.

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  4. I met a Mum at the school gates when our boys were starting school, she also had a younger daughter. Having never seen her before I was surprised she lived in the same road. When she said she hadn’t been out of the house for years she meant it literally! Even more astonishing that she had four older sons, but as the fourth was severely disabled her situation began to make more sense. Only fifth son starting school forced her out.

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    • Sometimes it takes something (in her case, a 5th son starting school) to force us to go beyond our boundaries. Especially if they are more or less self-imposed. I wonder if she continued to step out now and then, having done so with her son? I hope for her sake she has conquered this phobia, at least somewhat.

      For myself, I call it “cocooning” and it’s something I have to be constantly aware of, in order not to let it take over my life and turn me into a housebound hermit. My husband and I have been taking daily walks of late, and that helps me a lot. He gets in several miles every day (usually 5 or so), but when we go together, we walk a mile-long loop through the neighborhood, and that’s enough for me and my achy ol’ bones. I enjoy getting out for a bit, and the exercise is good for me.

      I can’t remember the last time I went to a store, though. That’s something I need to work on, I suppose. (One of these days. 😉 )

      Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, Janet. Here’s to a great day ahead!
      😀 ❤

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  5. I haven’t used it in my own books, but I’m reading one book where the main characters has an extreme fear of thunderstorms, and just recently read another book where one of the characters had a fear of flying (and that played a big part in the story), and I’ve read a few books and watched movies where agoraphobia was also an important element. It can work quite well, but it depends on what you want to use it for (I’ve seen it used for laughs, and also in thrillers and horror…) I hope you can get yours under control Marcia. I just love going for walks and I live in a big city, so can’t imagine what I’d do…

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    • I think COVID set me back quite a bit in my journey towards kicking agoraphobia out the door, Olga. BUT, even though I don’t remember the last time I’ve left the house to go to the store or the like, I do go for a walk with Mark every morning. He gets in about five miles a day, but only a mile of that is with me. However, I feel pretty good about walking that mile each morning, and think it benefits my brain as well as my body.

      Wednesday is our 38th anniversary, and we are planning to visit Wekiva Springs Park for a nice walk in a beautiful area, with a stunning turquoise spring to circumnavigate. We got married on the bridge there, and thought it would be fun to visit it on our anniversary. We’re sure to cover a mile or two while there. I’ll try to remember to take some pictures. I’m far more comfortable walking in “nature” and being surrounded by trees and birds and the like.

      BTW, I’m afraid of flying, too, though I used to force myself to go when absolutely necessary. These days, however, I wouldn’t get on a plane for anything! Happily, that doesn’t impact my life very greatly.)

      Thanks for stopping by and weighing in on this topic, Olga, and I hope you have a great day ahead! 😀 ❤

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    • Well if you decide to include someone with a phobia in one of your stories, I’ll be interested in seeing what you create. I think there’s a lot of potential in a character like that, though I haven’t used one in my stories, either. Yet. 😀

      Thanks for the well wishes. I do hope to get back into writing and more VERY soon! I’m working on it!

      Thanks also for stopping by and taking the time to share your thoughts. Have a great day! 😀 ❤

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    • Glad to know this has sparked your interest in writing about phobias, John. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

      When I was giving my nature talks twice a month (for nine years) and involved in some things like that, I got out regularly, and did just fine. But nowadays, I don’t have anything that’s as much fun as those were to lure me out of the house. I’m going to have to come up with something new again, with friendly, smiling faces involved. That would do the trick. I’ll give it some thought and see what I can come up with.

      In the meantime, Mark and I are planning to take some walks at a couple of the wildlife areas near us. Shady paths through wooded areas, with lots of birds in the trees … now THAT would really tempt me to get OUT of this house for a bit!

      Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to say hello! Have a super day, John! 😀 ❤

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    • Glad it sparked your interest, Jan. Hope you come up with some great ideas. I think the possibilities are probably endless, though I confess, I’ve never used the idea in any of my published books. I need to finish my WIP wherein I DO have a phobic sorta guy on a rampage. This conversation has made me think about where I could go with this one.

      Thanks for stopping by and weighing in on this idea, Jan, and here’s to a great day ahead!
      😀 ❤

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  9. Phobias are a great idea for a story, and I’m with you, the more I stay in my house the less enthusiastic I am about going out. So, I make myself get out and walk, most of the time with my spouse, and we do go into stores now and then, but I much prefer large open spaces.

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    • Glad you like the idea, Debra, and that you understand how hard it can be for some of us to leave our “safe zones” and head out into the REAL (read “scary”) world out there. I’m doing the same thing and walking with my husband daily, though he logs in about five miles, and I usually only go about one. Still, it gets me out AND provides me with some healthy exercise, so it’s a win-win! 😀

      If you enjoy “large, open” spaces, you definitely do not have agoraphobia, anyway. 😀 So that’s good, at least. 😀 If you decide to use a phobia as a feature in one of your stories, I’ll be eager to read it. In the meantime, have a super day today, and thanks for stopping by! 😀 ❤

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  10. I was thinking about writing a post about the fear of public speaking. I’m not sure if this true or not, but my high school speech teacher said that it was #1 fear in America. It’s on my mind because one of my former 3rd graders (now a senior in high school) contacted me from out of the blue. She was one of the shyest kids I ever taught, so I was pleasantly surprised when she told me she is producing a radio show and wants to interview me next Friday. I’m looking forward to that and reconnecting with her after nine years.

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    • How wonderful about your student, Pete! That she contacted you, AND that she’s doing interviews for her radio show. It would seem her shy days are a thing of the past … or that she now refuses to let her shyness interfere with what she wants to do. Either way, great for her, and a fun event for you, too. Thanks for sharing that with us, and here’s to a great time for both of you, and a super day today. 😀 ❤

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  11. Great post, Marcia! I’d become pretty much a hermit myself after a protracted period indoors with health problems. I made myself join Judith Barrow’s writing group and it was the best thing I could have done. It was a wonderful and uplifting experience and I was sad when Covid ended it. I do hope you manage to regain the progress you’d made before. I had a fear of thunder and lightning as a child, having been told never to stand under a tree because it would kill me. Once that was put in context, the fear eased. I was also scared of injections, but I’ve had so many now, I’m fine as long as I don’t look. I do, however, have arachnophobia and introduced it into my first novel. It’s not a logical fear and so I can understand the illogicality of others’ phobias. ❤ 😀 ❤

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    • It’s funny how once we are in a situation that forces us to stay at home, it’s hard to get back into a more normal life style, isn’t it? The longer we’re in the house, the less we want to leave it. We are strange creatures, aren’t we? 😀

      I don’t like thunder and lightning, myself, but living in the “unofficial” Thunder & Lightning Capital of the World (Florida), I’ve had to cope with it almost all of my life. That doesn’t make me like it any better, but at least I don’t still get hysterical every time we have a storm.

      I have always had a fear/dislike of spiders, but as I say about loving wildlife in my bio above “The exception would be spiders, which she truly loathes, convinced that anything with eight hairy legs is surely up to no good. She does not, however, kill spiders anymore, since she knows they have their place in the world. Besides, her husband now handles her Arachnid Catch and Release Program, and she’s good with that.”

      I’m sure glad you joined Judith’s group and we connected online. Our virtual friendship is one I truly cherish! And thanks so much for stopping by to share your thoughts, Trish. Here’s to a wonderful day ahead, my friend! 😀 ❤

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  12. I’ve never taken a character down that path before, and I write some weird characters. Sometimes it’s easier not to diagnose it on the page. One of my recent books has someone with PTSD, but I showed it without spelling it out. It’s worth considering some day.

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    • I can see not spelling out PTSD, especially since it can present all manner of symptoms caused by the Stress Disorder, so I fully understand your choice there, Craig.

      I think to write a specific phobia, you might have to share a bit more info so readers understand. You might even want to describe the inciting incident, possibly working it in as another bit of drama. Or perhaps, the cause of the phobia might be saved for a dramatic ending to the story. Perhaps the character experiences something that makes him relive it?

      Writers have lots of ways to use both PTSD and various phobias to add interest to a character or drama to a scene. (This whole conversation is making me want to get back to my WIP. Ideas are beginning to churn again. 😀 )

      One thing that struck me while writing this post is that readers who share similar phobias or have had other traumatizing events in their lives might identify more deeply with a character who’s gone/going down the same path. Things to ponder here … 😀

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  13. I have a fear of spiders (I won’t even touch a picture of one – heck, I won’t even LOOK at a picture of one). I haven’t used any phobias in any of my books, but that’s an interesting idea.

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    • For many years, I was so terrified and/or disgusted by spiders, I’d go crazy when I spotted on, especially in the house. I am not nearly so bad now as I used to be, though I certainly wouldn’t pick one up. I call Mark to remove any that manage to get in the house. He releases them outside where they have very important work to do.

      I think including a character in our books with a phobia of one sort or the other could be a lot of fun, and open up some great scenes here or there. If I get back to my WIP, I’m definitely gonna do it.

      Thanks for stopping by, Sue, and taking a moment to share your thoughts. Hope you have a great week ahead! 😀 ❤

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  16. Let’s see. I remember giving Riss, my MC from my Kismet and Tell and Chronicles of Riss books, a phobia of spiders that I played up humorously. And one of the main MCs in my WIP, an elf, has a fear of ghosts that has been mentioned briefly and played up for a little humor. One of the big points in my WIP is the female MC (Althea) is a fear of being alone, with no friends.That’s all I can think of offhand.

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    • Sounds like you are taking full advantage of fears and phobias, Jeanne. And I’m with Riss. No spiders near me, please! (Happily Mark escorts them outside, if they happen to show up in the house.)

      I think a fear of being alone could be a very interesting phobia to play with. Here’s to big success with your current WIP, and thanks for stopping by to add your thoughts to this thread. Have a great rest of the week! 😀 ❤

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