I have never found it awkward or embarrassing to acknowledge my claustrophobia. Perhaps because I have found it possible to control and calm myself under claustrophobic conditions like the MRI I had before my back surgery (see below). 

It’s my second phobia that I feel silly mentioning. It is called lepidopterophobia. Sounds much more impressive than "fear of butterflies or moths". I can’t remember when I last encountered any flying creatures in my high rise apartment.  But two days ago I first noticed a few moths clinging to the outside of my windows. Ok- they were outside. I could handle that. I kept my windows closed and made sure the screen door to my patio was closed.

Then I noticed a moth on my curtain. Horror of horrors. It was actually inside my apartment. My visceral reaction was panic.Trapped inside with a moth. Yes I know it sounds ridiculous but that’s what phobias are. Irrational fears. Luckily my daughter does not have lepidopterophobia, so she trapped the moth inside a jar and released it out onto the patio. That’s when I noticed a veritable plague of moths on my patio. 

I googled moth infestations Apparently Vancouver is in a 3 year cycle of moth infestations. They happen every 10 to 20 years. The moths disappear when it gets cold. That’s no comfort. I would like to enjoy my patio for the rest of the summer, however short it may be.

Apparently lavender, lemon and other aromas repel these creatures so we sprayed the patio surfaces with a lavender spray.  I watched moths flutter away and hoped they would not return any time soon.

Do you have any phobias? If so what do you do to manage phobic situations? 

Claustrophobia and my MRI