About 400 study participants also wrote their own ideas about what makes them or people their age afraid, scared or fearful.

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"He was very afraid of fire, very scared of burning, " she said, describing his complaints after mere steam from hot tea once left a mark on his hand.

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In fact, I'm home in Houston for Memorial Day and restaurants have posted signs stating the shrimp they are now serving isn't from the Gulf Coast, hoping that will satisfy scared patrons who are afraid of any seafood from the region.

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