Wow! I thought I was the only one with this somewhat irrational phobia until I looked it up online. It's nice to know that I'm not alone out there
I developed this phobia since an age of about 6 or 7 when I first started kindergarten and in the shared bathroom is this enormous industrial sized exhaust fan which left me scarred throughout my childhood and well into my teenage years. And this doesn't fare well for me when you are slightly claustrophobic in some toilets too :/ Still, the situation is getting slightly better as long as I don't directly see the fan blades or hear any loud whirrs I don't get all jumpy and rush straight out of the toilet.[/align]

Well having always been condemned for my "fake fear" its nice to know that others have the exact same as I do. all over the world in fact. except it sucks others go through what I do. :/ Im a 22 year old mechanic and I previously worked as a janitor before trade school. Im also afraid of heights and snakes and sadly... the dark. In my line of work (both of them) I face most of my fears daily. its kinda like living in a panic attack. however I must say I have an addition to the symptoms of others. I am also afraid of large UNCOVERED speakers. and Im just lucky enough to also be a metal musician...fml. I find all of my fears fascinating but not enjoyable. Its kind of a "train-wreck" effect. I have to know more. I have to see if this or that will disturb me. but at the same time its aggravating to see anyone and everyone else having no trouble at all. aeronautical mechanics who can crawl into a TURBOFAN and crank wrench with a smile on their face... I would be rendered catatonic or simply pass out from fear. even highway engines like the ones in your car or truck can cause anxiety if there running and my head is near them. Ive noticed that its not just visual either. as has been said before me, its the sound as well. the buffeting of the blades of the fan or the draft from the vent. all of these are contributing factors to the panic or anxiety (depending on the degree). also, ANY fixture thats submerged, including but not limited to, lights, filtration inlets-outlets, drains, ect... I wont swim in the deep end of the pool because of them (usually where the drain vents are located) and I stay away from the sides if its a top filtered pool. now, in conclusion, If it helps anyone to know I'd like to tell you that I stare most of these in the face almost daily. I do live with it and I do hide it. everyday. So If it provides hope for anyone at all, your not alone. Its terrifying I know, but I do it and you can to. the easiest way Ive found is to distract yourself (I know its a mind consuming fear) from the object causing the anxiety. For example heights dont bother me if Im at work as much anymore. This is because Im focused on my job. Im up in the air for a reason so my mind is there. and I wont let it be anywhere else. same for fans and vents that I come into contact with at work. This takes patience and practice but I swear to you it works. no it wont make you not afraid, but it will allow you to be in control and not it. any comments or replies I more than welcome. Good luck. thank you all for showing that Im not alone and God Bless. -Steven

(08-23-2012 06:20 AM)Ahleah Wrote:  finally people who understand my pain. i have always had this problem with the bathroom fans, i have told my mum but she just looks baffled. everytime i go somewhere i always have to look for these evil things. the sight of them scares me and the noise. i have one at home where i have made my mum cover it with a tea towel at all times otherwise i will not go in my bathroom. :005_sconfused: even when i went on holiday i would refuse to use the bathroom with out a towel over my head ¬¬ lol so i couldn't see them. i have a kind of same problem with the big huge air conditioning they have when you go on holiday. now im going to uni in sep and im scared my en suits going to have a bathroom fan too.:005_ssad:

I'm another victim of the extra fan phobia! I'm going to uni soon as well and I'm scared that there will be a fan in the bathroom! There has been at the unis I've been to so far. I've got all the same fears as you other guys have said, can get use to certain ones if they are quiet, nice looking and don't turn on with the light. What is it about those ones that have sensors on! It's like they've purposely turned on to scare me! I can't go to most public toilets, and I also hate filters in pools. Fans blowing the right way are fine! Like heaters and things but as soon as I'm on the other side then I get so freaked out. My fear stemmed from a cover falling off a fan onto me when I was young, and the fan itself was broken and made the most horrible sound! I also don't like the darkness behind the grill. I don't like telling people about my fear because then then tend to turn the fan on. Also if someone turns the light off when I'm in a bathroom ill freak out like mad! Then obviously look like an idiot and feel really embarrassed as they haven't actually turned the fan on. What is weird though is at Manchester city football stadium, in the toilets, they have a wacking great big fan, honestly it's huge! That's the one fan that its actually acceptable to be scared off and I'm not! Possibly because its not in a confined space? I'm only a student so definitely don't have the money for theropy, but from reading things online about phobias what I've gathered that not thinking about the phobia will help. Easier said than done, but to try to ignore it and only let it be a problem when your actually in an environment with a fan. Not to worry about them at night or when your on your own or what ever and to just think ill deal with it when I have to helps me a lot! :)

I am so glad I had found this forum, this started when I was 4 and was forced to walk in front of a spinning jet engine at the airport. I have the fear with almost all types of suction devices, except vacuum cleaners when I am using them. Is there an easy way of getting over this fear?

Im afraid there is no EASY way of getting on top of any phobia.

Mate, it will take counselling and lots of dedication, tears and effort but in the end it will be worthwhile. You certainly will need to seek professional assistance and the first stop is your local GP.

hi everyone, i still have a fear of exhaust fans and i'm 35 going on 36 in may. it all started when i was like 1 or 2 years old when my then birth mother when into the men's room at my grandmother's flower shop looking for something. i was taking a nap on the cot in the men's room and she came in turned the light on and when you turn the light on, the fan would come on. the fans i hate the most are the NuTone ones that are circular and are silver. below is the one i speak of.

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evil fan