A mother claims a rare phobia of kittens is ruining her life.
Alesha Duncan, 27, from Waterloo, London, says the sight of a kitten leaves her sobbing with terror and that even a picture of one can trigger a panic attack.
She says her phobia - known as ailurophobia - has ruined relationships and is now threatening friendships, but she is determined to beat it.
Ms Duncan, a fulltime mother to Sapphire, 13 and Luke, two, said: ‘I know most people love little kittens but to me they are just evil. There is nothing cute about them at all.
‘I hate the way they are allowed to just roam around the streets staring at people and hiding. It’s terrifying.
‘I don’t see them as harmless and cute. They are just little monsters. I absolutely hate everything about them.’
She says her phobia is debilitating because the animals are almost impossible to avoid, meaning she is confined to the house is she sees one and refuses to visit anyone who has a kitten as a pet.
She claims her phobia has already ended one long-term relationship because her former partner had a cat - meaning she was unable to visit.
She said: ‘It was going really well between us but once I found out about the cat, I kept making excuses not to go and see him.
‘I was too embarrassed to admit the real reason so would invent reasons to cancel.
‘I would have invited him to my house but I wasn't ready for him to meet my child, so in the end there was nowhere we could relax together.
‘He couldn’t understand what was wrong with me and when I finally admitted the truth to him the damage was already done. We’d had too many arguments and decided to split.
If she spotted one she would stay inside until up to an hour after it had gone to make sure the coast was clear.
If she ventured out and saw one she would turn and run the other way.
Now she claims even the sound of a cat screeching at night sets her palms sweating.
She said: ‘My children have grown up with this so they understand mummy hates cats.
'I don’t want them to be scared of them so I try to play it down if I see one but there’s no way I could handle seeing them touch one.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2660261/My-phobia-kittens-ruining-life-Mother-two-says-sobs-terror-sees-cat-photo-trigger-panic-attack.html#ixzz34zE3eoIM
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Key Vocabulary
1.sob--> to cry noisily, taking in deep breaths
2.trigger--> causes something to happen
3.ailurophobia --> fear of cats which causes undue anxiety
4.debilitate-->Make (someone) weak and infirm
5.coast is clear--> no danger
6.venture out-->go somewhere
Conversation Questions
a)What did you think when you read the headline?
b)What springs to mind when you hear the word 'fear'?
c)What are you most afraid of and why?
d)Why are we afraid of things that are not dangerous?
e)What was your biggest fear when you were a child?
f)Have you ever overcome a fear?
g)Are people in different countries afraid of different things?
h)What do you do when you are really scared?
i)How could you get over one of your fears?
j)Is fear healthy?
k)Do you fear certain insects or animals? Why?
l)Do you know anyone with a phobia?
Read more:http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1403/140328-phobias.html#ixzz34zkTS3XP
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