From Cotton Balls to Jodie Foster – Listeners Share Their Odd Fears

Fear, it's not just for monsters and clowns.

On Tuesday I mentioned that I recently found out someone I know gets freaked out by Meryl Streep. They couldn't explain why, just simply that there's something about her that creeps them out. I know, I know, she's a national treasure, and there's nothing to be frightened by, but the mind works in mysterious ways I suppose.

Anyway, it got me thinking about odd fears. Those things that shouldn't be scary, but for some reason they just are to some people. For example, frogs freak me out. They're slimy, they're gross, and they're just so — jumpy. I'm the same way with fish. When it comes to taking a live one off a hook as it flops around gasping for air, I'll wrap a towel around it first so I don't have to touch it with my bare skin. Even then, I rather someone else do it, or just avoid fishing altogether.

But I just want to be your friend. Your gross, slimy friend.

Honestly, I think it both cases, it's not the frog or the fish itself that freaks me out, it's the unpredictability of what it going to do as it tries to get away. But now we're starting to tread into some deep psycho-analysis type stuff, so let's get back on point.

I put the question on our Facebook page to see if anyone was willing to share their "irrational fear" as I called it (although in hindsight, that may not have been the best description since the person with the fear have their reasons for why it's completely rational), and several of you did.

I'm not here to judge, but l'll say a few comments certainly made me feel better about my fear of fish and certain jumpy amphibians.

I know a few people who don't care for crossing bridges. But what's there to fear? The worst that could happen is the bridge collapses while your driving over it and plummet to your death in the water or ravine belo...oh, I get it now.

I get this one too. Hospitals are full of sick people, and if we're being honest here, death. If you're in one it's usually because you, or someone you know is sick enough for there to be serious concern.

I'll chalk this one up to the same thing that freaks me out about frogs and fish. Unpredictability. Will it pop? If it does, will it be in face? If it is in my face, will it blind me for life?!?!

This one is a little tougher for me to wrap my frog-fearing mind around. Is it the feel of the cotton ball itself? Is there a noise it makes when you rub on it? I have no idea, but it's not called "irrational" for nothing. But, at least she's not alone.

Then things got a little weird.

Whoa. Flip over to Food Network every once in a while. The only thing to fear there is Guy Fieri's goatee.

"I'll take your soul on a one way trip to Feartown!"

Finally, it turns out Meryl Streep isn't the only actress capable of sending chills down your spine.

Check out the rest of the comments on our Facebook page, and feel free to add your own, unless you have an irrational fear of social media. Although with social media being what it is today, fearing it would be anything but irrational.