How Far is too far?

[Steve]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, Paula Gaon <paulag5777 at y...>
wrote:
> 9Aug04:
> Saintaina wrote:
> "...I spend ten hours a day in this fandom, which
> seems like a lot. But I have no outside the
> home job, no children and I'm basically alone
> day in and day out due to a phobia of mine...."


> Paula now:
> 
> Don't want to step on any toes and I'm certainly not a shrink?  But,
what kind of phobia could keep one "basically alone"?  Is this really
a phobia, or do you just really prefer a private, quiet, and focused
life?  A phobia would keep a person from doing things that he'd really
like to do, wouldn't it?  But seems like you really enjoy HP Fandom. 
Sounds to me that you're very lucky, being able to spend time and
energy on something you really enjoy rather than being forced to work
a soul sucking job that could really make you crazy just to be able to
keep food on the table.
> 
> ENJOY, ENJOY!
> 
> Paula Gaon


Asian_lovr2:

Equally not wanting to offend, I must still wonder whether you have
lead a bit of a sheltered life yourself. There are many many phobias
that cause people great anxiety and panic under certain circumstances.
I saw one on TV recently where a woman had an unnatural fear of making
left turns. In her rational mind, she it made no sense to her; left
turn, right turn, what's the difference? But, the anxiety and panic
that occurred were out of her control; it was real, it was there, and
it was disabling. She still drove a car, but would use maps to plan
out elaborate routes to get where she wanted to go making only
right-hand turns.

Fear, panic, and anxiety at leaving your house is far far more common
that the 'left-turn' phobia, and is disabling to many more people that
you would imagine. And, it is /truly/ disabling, as painful and
limiting as any other disability.

Just passing it along.

Steve/asian_lovr2