Redditor Gets Upset With Her Mom For Buying A Pet Bird When She Knew She Had A Phobia For Birds, Mom Laughs At Her Instead

"My mum comes into my room and starts laughing at my panic attack and saying it's no big deal"

Maryjane

• Published in Animal Stories
• December 5, 2022

If there's one thing every dedicated pet parent fears, then it is losing their pets. Yes, we know they can't live forever, but it's still painful when they're gone.

The OP in today's story has a pet dog and cat, both of which were originally given to her as a kid. Her family loved these pets, so it was devastating when both pets died of old age only a couple of months apart.

The OP's family had lots of talk about getting a new pet, but it ended with the likelihood of no new pet anytime soon. One day, the OP came home from work only to find out that her mom and brother were going to get a new pet.

The OP wouldn't have had a problem with this, but the pet was a bird, and she has a terrible phobia of birds. And everyone knows about this phobia—her mom, her brother, her entire family, including her friends. 

Fear of animals is known as zoophobia. Some people who suffer from zoophobia are terrified of all animals, while others are just afraid of one type of animal.

Following a distressing encounter with animals, you might experience zoophobia. The phobia could also be a symptom of another anxiety disease.

Ornithophobia is a particular phobia that focuses on birds, and that is what the OP has. Her mom didn't even try to help matters as she was laughing at the OP's face instead. 

The OP writes

It was devastating when they both died of old age

The discussion kinda hit a stalemate

The OP spent the next few hours absolutely freaking out crying and shaking in her room

The OP's brother has apparently already grown attached to the bird

I'm not a terrible sister and am putting up with it solely for my brother

A little edit for more info

We've gathered a bunch of comments from Redditors for you to read through below.

Moving out of the home

It is not your job to watch your brother

This Redditor would have insulted their mother if she laughed

The place that is supposed to be safe

They are their parent's child

You might want to see a therapist about this phobia

The OP's mom doesn't want her to move out

She doesn't want you to move out because of the bird

According to this Redditor, the OP's mom sounds horrible

Your mother seems not to consider your feelings

It wasn't fair to you or the bird

In the comments, the OP revealed that her mom had bipolar disorder, and Redditors were of the opinion that it can be extremely difficult to deal with someone who has BPD, especially if it's a mother. But still, that doesn't give her the right to behave badly as she did in this story.

They also advised that she'll be astounded by the improvements in her mental health once she is ready to live independently.

Maryjane