[imsurroundedbyfish]

I have an irrational fear of extractor fans, and have done since a very young age (5 or 6?) I don't know how I acquired this phobia and I don't know exactly what it is about them that creeps me out. It isn't what they do or what they are and I know they can't hurt me. I
t's just something about the grid on them, and the darkness behind that grid, that makes me shudder and creep out for no reason. Especially when they are on and making a noise.
I'm also afraid of swimming pool filters and air vents, just because they look like extractor fans.

Everyone in my family knows about this, but my mum has just had our bathroom redone and has had an extractor fan installed. I need to use this bathroom to wash my hair, there is no other way of me washing my hair (except the bath but it doesn't work really it doesn't and it's really hard as well).
My Mum tells me I need to have the fan turned on when I am in the shower, and the other day I tried to have a shower in there. Whilst she was showing me how to work the shower, the fan was on and I was having to work not to scream and run out the room, I felt really faint.

I know this fear can't be solved over night but I really need somebody to please suggest a way I can at least begin to get over this fear!

[KiraKent]

I have the same fear, in sixteen at the moment and I have had the fear ever since I was about three. It started at a swimming pool with the filters and jets that nearly caused me to drown. ( in short: I was very small just touching the bottom when I walk past a jet that knocks me of my feet and makes me go under to then land on one of the big grates) in time I got over the initial fear of air vents and most pool filters. But some still creep the scrap out of me. I am still however petrified of the extractor fans found in bathrooms and have never really been able to come to terms with the nature of my fear.
The only advice I can offer is that the phobia bay subside in time, or just become less traumatic if never fully going. It's good to know that I'm no the only one in the situation, I always thought I was alone.