The car wouldn’t start. Donna’s fear caused her to floor the gas pedal, pumping it in desperation.
She was normally composed and rational, but a mixture of anxiety and sweat poured over her. Facing her nemesis had thrown her off kilter. Even though its diminutive size was laughable as a dangerous threat, her phobia was gripping.
Escape from oneself: impossible. Reason returning, she looked for a weapon in the car, a stiff sales catalog she had received in the mail would do. It was sturdy but flexible — perfect for smashing. Quietly and gingerly rolling it for good swatting, her swing was targeted and sure, dead on literally. The wasp had to succumb to the bludgeoning.
Donna felt immediate relief from the tightness and pounding in her chest. Her angst is a learned response from her mother, who could easily be cornered by a roach on the sidewalk.
This saga could be repeated with other animals — bees, snakes, mice, etc.
There are a host of clinical names describing the personal terror experienced with such fears. Most of us are afraid of something; one common fear for most humans is of falling. However, with the onset of so many inexplicable, irrational acts, undoubtedly, new phobias will emerge and ascend to noticeable heights.
Some of the psychological designations might have to be augmented to more fully encompass the situations: splicing terms together to create ridiculously long words we cannot pronounce.
• Fear of crowds (enochlophobia) such as at a concert — might be coupled with fear of injury (Trauma Phobia) as by being trampled by fleeing victims — creating enochlotraumaphobia.
• Fear of being trapped, having no escape (claustrophobia) as at work, church, post office, theaters, night clubs — might partner with fear of noise (acoustico-phobia) such as loud music and gun shots make — forming claustroacousticophobia.
• Social phobia, the fear of social situations — paired with (xenophobia), fear of strangers — could result in coprophobia, the fear of defecation, which takes on a life of its own.
As we witness the exponential deterioration of morals, compassion for others and personal security and if we can’t stem the tide of violence, there may be one thing we don’t have to fear: gerascophobia — the fear of growing old.
Think about it.

Peggy Ann Barnhardt lives in Salisbury.