I don't know if you'd classify it as social phobia, but I hate calling people I've never met. My heart races and I end up staring into my phone and feeling slightly sick. I force myself to do it anyway, though I avoid it if at all possible.
Oddly enough, I'm (mostly, only a little bit twitchy) ok if it's to a business, or via email or sms. I still triple check everything before I send it though.
I don't like phoning people, because to me it's about the same as repeatedly belting them over the head with a foam bat and screaming "TALK TO ME!!! ME ME ME ME ME!!! NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW!!!". It's rare that I have something to say that needs to be paid attention to at that instant, so I'm happier letting people get back to me when it's more convenient for them. I also prefer it when people treat me the same way. I don't see email or sms as "less personal" at all - just "less invasive".
I used to be a lot worse. I couldn't post on forums for a start. I joined up here and forced myself to post to try and fix that. I still read everything more than twice before I post, but I don't even get slightly nervous anymore. I used to be terrified.
I also don't like the crowded areas. In a crowded waiting room, train, or break room I have the most terrible time choosing a seat. I can never pick who's personal space I'll invade. Sometimes, when I can, I just leave.
I hate invading other peoples personal space, and I hate having my personal space invaded (exception : if I think you're hot, then you get a free pass into my personal space with my blessing
).
Another weird phobia - I had this car that had broken down on me so many times, and generally been a pain (3 years owned, 3 months running. Bad car) that I actually developed a fear of driving it!
I would pull up (that's when it'd usually die), and start uncontrollably shaking. Last time I drove it I shook so bad I almost stalled it. That sucked, because I actually really liked that car. I even swapped the engine out, spent a heap of time and money on it. After that it ran well, but I could never get over the shakes. In the end, I had no choice but to sell it.
After that, when I'm stopped somewhere and the revs change slightly (or look like they're about to drop) I still get a bit nervous. I'm getting over it with the new car and learning to relax again, but I think I'll always be in the habit of scanning my gauges and listening for noise changes a bit more than most people.
All my phobias share the same weird feature - I can mentally control myself, but it's the physical effects such as shaking and wanting to throw up that I find overwhelming.
I dislike some things in this thread - crowds, "fly larvae", wasps (both kinds
), brutish aggressive people - but they don't inspire the irrational fear response.
Oh, one last one - I'm absolutely terrified of being outed at work. It's a matter of social survival. But I'm sure many of us can relate.
