The Irrationality of Fear

Yes yes I have a phobia and that phobia consists of shrieking uncontrollably at the sight of a little animal about the size of two fingers. I know it's retarded and though people have tried to talk me through the irrationality of it all, I just can't help it. Every time I hear a noise in my apartment, I tense up. Do I fear a break in? No...that would be way too rational for me. I fear the little four pawed rodents that really could do no harm to me directly, except perhaps by inducing a heart attack. The other day I discovered that these little brats have invaded my Lays chips, which I had purchased with great delight and planned on savoring for the weeks ahead. It was with great dismay then that I found a breach in the system (aka chewed plastic bag, hole, nibbles etc) For a good half hour or so, I kept hearing noises and though I investigated diligently, I was never able to find the culprit. I finally found that my bag of chips have been invaded. Of course the bag of chips went promptly into the dumpster, but since then I've been sort of high strung and tense. I even screamed when I inadvertently scattered some decorative objects, and one of them, a ball, but the size of a mouse rolled across the floor. My phobia and hysteria was such that I thought I saw one of those little buggers racing across the rug, and so a shriek erupted from me of its own accord. I scared my roommate and also myself. At least I didn't wet my pants, geez, I am such a lily-livered thing.