So you really think you are NORMAL?  

by  Filzah Sobri  DMC10

Part I

Let’s face it.  Most of us think like to believe that we belong in the ‘normal’ group.  So, what really is normal?  As Whoopi Goldberg put it - ‘normal’ is nothing more than a cycle in a washing machine. For me, normal is a term for zombies.  All zombies walk the same way, they don’t talk, they look as if they have put on too much make-up and they tear up people’s skin for food!  (Well, at least that is what I have always watched on TV).  So that makes them normal to each other.  No people, each of us is not normal.  Everybody is unique.  All of us have different habits and fears!  So your nutty quirk - the one you think is so freakishly unusual – is shared by plenty of other people.  Whether it’s telephoniphobic (fear of answering the telephone) or peladophobia (fear of bald people).  Yup, these things exist.

Some phobias are wacky and some are worrisome.  I recently read a feature about various phobias listed from A to Z.  Do you know there is such thing as fear of feet touching the ground?  So how in the world those people survive in walking?  Basically, this phobia is not about walking, it happens afterwards.  It’s a problem standing still, and eventually, the person will experience a weird tense of feeling in the stomach.  One person that is living with this fear actually quoted, “It’s worse when I’m standing near a chair – I can’t think of anything but my urge to get my feet off the floor.”

Even if the person is calm when walking and still feeling anxious through out the day, it best describes an obsession.  It may sound weird but people have the tendency to describe an obsession as irrational and excessive, and yet they can’t convince themselves not to act on it.  The feeling of putting the feet off the floor is more to compulsion – an action taken to manage your obsession.  An advice?  Do things that could divert your mind off the thoughts.  I don’t enter any psychology school, but I do know that doing something that causes more brain stimulation is at least less anxiety provoking than doing nothing.  New York City psychologist Nando Pelusi says if he were to treat a person with the phobia, he would make sure the person practice keeping the feet on the floor until the weird feeling in the stomach is gone.  So, face the anxiety! Face it good.

Next week: A sneak-peek through ‘I-can’t-remember-people’s-names’!  I’m positive it is very familiar. Keep reading people!

 Filzah Sobri is very keen in writing about quirks in life. Having interest in observing, analyzing and getting to know weird things, she also believes good writings can change the world. So don't miss her next week on 'This & That' section!