Metathesiophobia

the problem often significantly impacts the quality of life. It can cause panic attacks and keep people apart from loved ones and business associates. Symptoms typically include shortness of breath, rapid breathing, irregular heartbeat, sweating, nausea, and overall feelings of dread, although everyone experiences metathesiophobia in their own way and may have different symptoms.

Though a variety of potent drugs are often prescribed for metathesiophobia, side effects and/or withdrawal symptoms can be severe. Moreover, drugs do not “cure” metathesiophobia or any other phobia. At best they temporarily suppress the symptoms through chemical interaction.

http://www.changethatsrightnow…

[sigh] Life is often hard that way.

Though laliophobia (fear of public speaking) has often been described as the most common phobia, I suggest metathesiophobia (fear of change) is far more common.

Man oh man, did I raise some hackles when I proposed that Hillary probably couldn’t change a diaper let alone change the world.  “Misogynist” was the kindest epithet.  Kinda strange charge against any man considering most men in the past have dreaded such tasks even more than Hillary. In Salt of the Earth, Jack Olsen told of a woman capable of gutting a bear in her finery and high heels before a doing.  Now that is bravery beyond even the imagination of any man.  You wouldn’t catch Hillary doing that.  She doesn’t mind embracing elephants but gutting bears and changing diapers probably isn’t her thing.

Not terribly likely that the current rage for chanting “change” repetitiously even by the most reactionary souls will make a dent in the pandemic affliction of metathesiophobia that even afflicts liberals to some degree.

The only effective cure is to do it.

Not easy to do but it beats the heck out of those of us afflicted by ophidiophobia playing with vipers or voting for Romney to overcome fear of snakes.  I can’t even bear the thought.  

Best,  Terry

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  1. change… i keep saying that for most people, change often isn’t good.

    and what does it mean anyway, change? like a panacea… that great cure-all for everything: CHANGE.

    we have to CHANGE… well, i’d prefer to make things better. or here’s a better word:: make life on this planet more equitable for all the creatures here.

    • Pluto on January 8, 2008 at 05:38

    …was the word choice for the Democratic onslaught.

    The nice thing about “change” is that it naturally begs the question and evolves. (Change what?)

    “Change” of course, is an indictment of Bush and his disasterous affect on the nation. Change is the non-Bush. Change is the anti-Bush. Change is healthcare. Change is civil rights. Change is no more lying the nation into war. Change is no more war. Change is sharing the wealth across the nation.

    When the primaries roll around, I believe the word will evolve — and become more specific. But who cannot know the true meaning?

    “Change” backs the Republicans into a terrible corner. They are forced to be the party of “More of the Same!” Remember “Four More Years!”? Man, that sucks. For them.

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