I Don’t Like Spiders and Snakes (and Also Crowds, Cats, and Crickets That Look Like Spiders)
We asked y’all a simple question:
👉 “What’s something completely normal that freaks you out for no real reason?”
And let’s just say... we cracked open a treasure chest of the wonderfully weird, the oddly specific, and the downright hilarious.
From frogs to feet, velvet to video stores, the everyday stuff that gives folks the heebie-jeebies is as diverse as it is oddly relatable. Here's a roundup of your answers — the common, the curious, and the totally unexpected.
🕷️ Bugs, Birds & Backyard Beasts
Let’s kick it off with the classics. Bugs had a strong showing in the fear department. Janet Sprinkle gave a solid “nope” to snakes, frogs, and mice, while Donna Waters Evans said ticks are her personal nightmare. Julia Kathleen Craig Cole and Beth Briley both nominated spiders — and honestly, can you blame them?
Birds were surprisingly unpopular. Traci Holliday and Tiffany Michelle both admitted they’re freaked out by our fine-feathered friends. Maybe it’s the way they flutter, maybe it’s the beady little eyes. Either way, birds got the boot from more than one of y’all.
Pamela Haynes took things a step further, calling out “crickets that look like spiders.” Now that’s nightmare fuel.
🧵 Textures That’ll Make Your Skin Crawl
If you've ever touched microfiber and wanted to evaporate into the air, you're not alone. Jessica Warren said microfiber and velvet make her skin crawl — and the comments exploded with agreement. Candi Lackey chimed in simply with “velvet,” while Amber LouAllen took the texture talk to another level.
Here’s what Amber had to say:
“Human hair! Loose hair on the bathroom floor 🤢, people that play with their hair 🤢, even the feel of washing my own hair in the shower 🤢. And HEAVEN FORBID I find one in my food 🤮🤮🤮🤮.”
Relatable, dramatic, and completely valid.
🤰 Body Stuff & Belly Button Dread
Some of y’all opened up about fears related to the human body — which, let’s face it, is a weird machine.
Shea Parker Letson said she’s freaked out by belly buttons (we’re gonna assume it’s the innies, right?), and Kim Sessions Vines said “pulling teeth” gives her the full-body ick.
One of our favorite responses came from Jenni Crosby, who said this about pregnancy:
“Being pregnant.
I have three kids and it still weirds me out. 🤣🤣
Literally have something growing inside you and using you for food 😝🤣🤣.”
Honestly, when you put it that way...
🐾 Surprising Animal Picks
Cats got the side-eye from Carolyn Brackin Orr and Mitzi Trussell, while Victoria Jackson admitted dogs terrify her. And yes, you read that right — dogs! Even the “man’s best friend” types aren’t safe in this conversation.
Then there’s Ann Mitchell Milligan, who said feet creep her out. Not dogs’ feet. Just… feet in general. Human feet. Bare feet. All feet.
🎞️ Movies, Crowds, and the March of Time
Some fears went beyond the physical and dove into psychological territory.
Jessika Rose shared that nature disaster movies — like The Day After Tomorrow or The Perfect Storm — are her version of horror films. She said:
“I’ll occasionally watch one, but they are terrifying to me.
Those are my ‘scary movies.’”
Judy England Louallen said the thought of going somewhere packed with a big crowd freaks her out. We hear you, Judy. That post-pandemic social anxiety is real.
And Andrea Letson Dean hit us with some truth:
“Old age. Very scary.”
No sugar-coating there.
🌀 Tornadoes, Teeth & Rental Stores?
Lisa Parker gave a fear that most of us in Alabama can relate to: tornadoes. Those spinning monsters have kept more than a few of us up at night.
And then there was one that stopped us in our tracks. Jo Ann Archer — a Top Fan, no less — shared this little gem:
“Not something you see anymore, but video rental stores used to freak me out.
I would sit in the car while my husband went in.”
We’re not sure what it was — the lighting? The awkward aisle pacing? The pressure to pick the right movie? Whatever it was, Jo Ann, you are seen.
🎤 The Final Freak-Out: Frogs Everywhere
And now, the grand finale. The undisputed, most popular answer from our readers…
🐸 FROGS.
Frogs were mentioned by:
Amber Brownlow
Sherra Imonwatuon Polk
Stephanie Aldridge Black
Twila Hood
Anna Solomon
Allison Posey Blaxton
...and more.
Apparently, these little green hoppers are terrorizing porches, gardens, and southern souls across Lawrence County. Whether it’s the way they jump, the cold wet skin, or those bulging eyes — frogs are out here causing full-blown panic attacks.
So, what’s something totally normal that freaks you out?
👉 Is it frogs? Textures? Belly buttons? Something else entirely?
Drop your answer in the comments — or send us a message if it’s too weird to share publicly (we won’t judge… unless it’s lima beans).
Thanks to everyone who joined in on this delightfully oddball conversation. You proved once again that Lawrence County is full of personality — and just the right amount of quirky.
