Ever since I can remember, I've hated furr

by YVETTE T.
(GREENBELT, MD)

EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER I HATED FUR. NOT THE LOOK OR THE SMELL BUT THE FEEL OF IT. IT MADE MY SKIN CRAWL. I HATED THE FEEL OF OTHER SOFT FABRICS AS WELL BUT FUR IS AND WAS THE WORST FOR ME. EVEN AFTER I HAD TOUCHED IT IT WAS LIKE I COULD STILL FEEL IT ON MY HANDS AND MY TEETH GRIND BECAUSE OF THE "YUCKY" FEELING IT GAVE ME. I ALSO HATED BRUSHING MY TEETH. IT WAS THE FEELING OF THE BRUSH ON MY TEETH AND GUMS THAT PREVENTED ME FROM EVER WANTING TO PUT A TOOTH BRUSH IN MY MOUTH. UP TILL ABOUT 5TH GRADE ME AND MY MOTHER FOUGHT IN THE BATHROOM TO GET MY TEETH BRUSHED! SHE WOULD HAVE TO DO IT FOR ME UNTIL I EVENTUALLY "GOT OVER IT". I SAY THAT LOOSELY, EVEN TO THIS DAY (AT AGE 22) I STILL FEEL WEIRD BRUSHING MY TEETH BUT IM MORE "COMFORTABLE" NOW I GUESS.

BUT BACK TO THE FUR. THAT WEIRD FEELING PLAGUED ME FOR YEARS (UP TILL TODAY). WHY CANT I TOUCH FURRY THINGS, SOME OF THE BEST THINGS ARE FURRY, TEDDY BEARS, COATS, BOOTS. ALL THINGS I STAY AWAY FROM BECAUSE I KNOW IT WOULD GROSS ME OUT BECAUSE THAT "FEELING" IT GIVES ME. I THOUGHT I WAS WEIRD. MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY THOUGHT I WAS WEIRD WHEN THEY WITNESSED ME IN ACTION WHEN AROUND FURRY OBJECTS. MY MOTHER TOLD ME WHEN I WAS 2 OR 3 (WHEN SHE FIRST NOTICED MY DISLIKE FOR FUR) SHE THOUGHT I WAS SCARED OF THE FUR ON MY COATS AND TEDDY BEARS, I WOULD REFUSE TO WEAR OR PLAY WITH THEM, SO SHE WOULD "BEAT UP MY COATS/TEDDY BEARS" TO PROVE TO ME THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF. YEARS LATER AT ABOUT 10 WHILE PICKING OUT WINTER COATS SHE DECIDED TO ASK ME WHAT WAS MY ISSUE WITH FUR. ALL THE CUTEST COATS HAD A FUR COLLAR AND I TURNED DOWN EVERY ONE SHE PICKED OUT. ALL I COULD TELL HER WAS THE FUR MADE ME FELL "GRRRR". THAT WAS THE ONLY WORD AT THE TIME I COULD FIND TO DESCRIBE THE WAY I FELT WHEN I TOUCHED FURS.EVEN NOW I STILL DONT EXACTLY KNOW WHAT TO CALL THE FEELING. THE BEST THING I CAN SAY IS IT MAKES ME CRINGE. NAILS ON A CHALK BOARD FOR OTHERS IS FUR ON MY HANDS FOR ME.

AFTER VISITING THIS SITE I'VE LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT MYSELF, IM NOT WEIRD AND I DONT HAVE A PHOBIA. I HAVE A DISORDER THAT IM NOT ALONE IN. I JUST WANT PARENTS TO LISTEN TO THERE CHILDREN AND WATCH THEM AND SUPPORT THEM. WHEN I COULDNT BRUSH MY TEETH MY MOTHER STUCK TO GETTING MY TEETH CLEAN, WHEN MY HANDS FELT WEIRD AFTER TOUCHING THE WRONG FUZZY OBJECTS SHE HELD THEM AND RUBBED THEM TO GET THAT FEELING AWAY. WHEN I TURNED DOWN ALL THOSE CUTE WINTER COATS AND TOLD HER THEY MAKE ME FEEL "LIKE GRRRR" LOL, SHE JUST SAID "BABY, I DONT EXACTLY KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT I WILL MAKE SURE YOU DONT HAVE TO FEEL LIKE THAT. NOW LETS GO FIND SOME "GRRRR" FREE COATS!".SHE NEVER UNDERSTOOD MY ISSUE BUT SHE TRIED HER BEST TO HELP ME.