Woman says she has a phobia of Scottish accents which makes her 'feel sick'
A woman has revealed that she has a phobia of the Scottish accent that makes her feel sick.
Kirsty Baker, from Hampshire, says the Celtic tone gives her a panic attack and the thought of actually going north of the border is her 'worst nightmare'.
The 32-year-old is so terrified of the accent that she claims to have experienced heart palpitations and nausea upon hearing it.
Speaking about the unusual fear, Kirsty said it goes all the way back to her childhood, when she would turn the TV off if she heard a Sottish accent.
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"If I hear a Scottish accent, I literally start to panic," she said. "My heart races and I feel really sick. It's awful."
Recalling one particularly terrifying childhood encounter, Kirsty said she was at a boat show with her parents when a man on stilts, and boasting a thick Scottish accent, came up to her.
"The man started speaking in a thick accent and the way he looked and sounded just terrified me," she remembered. "I ran away and hid behind my parents.
"Since then I've been so scared of Scottish voices."
But the traumatic scenes have not been reserved for her adolescence.
Kirsty revealed that she was shopping in a supermarket recently when a fellow - Scottish - customer started talking to her.
Not sure how to deal with it, she dropped her goods in the aisle and ran off.
So it won't surprise you to learn that Kirsty doesn't plan on shacking up with a Scot anytime soon.
"I've had a few men message me online and the moment I find out they're from Scotland, I ask if they're Scottish," she said. "If they are, I explain about my phobia.
"Most of them think I'm joking, but when I tell them I'm serious, they just find it hilarious. I tell them I don't have anything against Scottish people, just their voices.
"I've definitely missed out on some good looking guys because of my fear."
And that goes for celebrities too.
Kirsty says she used to be a fan of David Tennant until she realised he was Scottish.
She said: "Because he had an English accent in Dr Who, I didn't realise he was Scottish until a few years ago when my mum told me.
"It's a shame as I really liked him. I have never watched Brave Heart either because of my fear.
"If I want to watch a TV show I'll check if any of the cast are Scottish."
Dominic Smithers