Beware of Dog II

There is a dog I have heard barking for the past couple of years. I have grown incredibly scared of the sound the dog makes - far more scared than the Mexican chihuahua. Hearing it has given me full blown panic attacks, in a way that nothing else in my life does. It's definitely got worse over the years. I find it really hard to talk about how afraid I am of the noise, I'm deeply ashamed of it, because I know I shouldn't feel the way I do. I know that my fear is not grounded in reality, and that is alarming in of itself.

Anyway, last night I saw the dog. And once I did, I wasn't scared. In fact, it was kinda nice, it's a cute dog.

I've been advised a lot recently to 'allow myself to feel my feelings' and other similar cookie fortunes. In the wake of last night I have certainly felt a lot of feelings today, and have done my best to embrace both the painful and the comfortable.

Fortunately I wouldn't hear the dog bark very often, so I wouldn't say that it was necessarily having a huge effect on my life, but it is definitely some of the strongest anxiety when I do. I am hopeful that if I can overcome my fear of the dog, I will be able to come anything else I struggle with. Wish me luck.