I can accept that I have to have a phobia. I can even accept that it will get worse as I get older. But why why why do I have to be phobic of something that is so fucking day-to-day common?? Why couldn't I be phobic of something like ... purple Grizzly bears or penguins or something else I would be as unlikely to see all the frickin' time?

I think I handle the debilitating fear extremely well, given the prevalence of the cause of that fear, mostly through mental distraction tactics and denial, but when it happens when I'm driving ... well, that just takes the cake. Given that it happened on my way home this evening, and getting back into my car will require more denial than even I can muster (and it's dark), I'm considering switching to public transit for the rest of my life, starting now.