Fears

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Ever since I was a young child, I've been suffering from the fear of thunder and lightning that often led to an uncontrollable urge to scream. What terrified me most was the lightning - I couldn't stand the sight of it so I'd bury my head under my pillow and scream! My mum hugged me and sang to me trying to soothe my fear. When I was 11, I saw The Sound of Music at the cinema for the first time and realised that other children also fear storms and so whenever there was a storm, I thought of my ...favourite things and felt better. I can't say, however, that I've completely overcome this fear as I still feel the urge to scream on a stormy day.
My second fear has to do with the dentist. When I was 15, I had a bad toothache but the dentist said that was nothing serious - I just needed a filling. However, he accidentally touched a nerve, and I passed out. (I wasn't given any anesthetic for a filling!) Consequently, I decided never to visit the dentist again - not even for regular dental checkups every six months.  As a result, my negligence gradually led to more serious problems such as gum disease. Although now I fully trust my dentist, I still shiver while hearing that nightmarish sound of his drill, and I urgently need the nurse to hold my hand!
My worst fear, though, is the fear of flying. I love travelling so much, yet I can't be on a plane for more than 5 hours (maximum!!).  What terrifies me most is the time before landing and take-off - since most airline accidents happen then. I honestly feel sick: I sweat all over, I feel weak and helpless, my mouth is unusually dry, I sometimes feel like screaming, I always feel dizzy during take-off. That terrible speed of the plane makes me feel numb. On a bumpy flight, I am unable to eat or drink or take a tranquilizer or sleep because I want to be alert in case of emergency. I also feel silly when I realise that I am the only person on board who listens to the flight attendant during the pre-flight safety instructions. And I am, I think, the only person on the plane who carefully reads the passenger safety information card - the one found in the seat pocket in front of me or watch the safety instructions video... while others are sitting back, relaxing and reading books or newspapers. This is an ordeal!

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