FACING our FEARS

The dread that comes with phobias can be crippling but it’s possible to overcome even our worst terrors, as these women discovered

- ELLIE FENNELL

Scared of flying, snakes or confined spaces? You're not alone. The NHS estimates that 10 million people in the UK have a phobia, making it the most common type of anxiety disorder.

'Phobias generally stem from a traumatic experience, like bad turbulence on a plane or being bitten by a dog when young,' explains clinical psychologist Dr Jo Stuart. 'There's also generational fear, where a parent passes their own extreme response on to their child. This could be through actions like screaming and running away if they see a mouse.'

The key problems

The most common phobias include spiders, public speaking and heights, but we can fear anything, from buttons to baked beans - or even a specific colour. Yet Dr Stuart believes the key to dealing with any phobia is the same.

'A fear develops when our brain associates something with danger. If we avoid that thing, our brain thinks we have avoided danger, so the fear is maintained. The only way to overcome a phobia is to show the brain it does not have to worry - so we must face the thing we dread.'

Here, three women share how they learnt to overcome their phobias.

Sara Shine, 35, is a software sales manager from Hertfordshire.

As the plane soared through the air I gripped the armrest so tightly my knuckles turned white. My eyes were shut and, paralysed with terror, I was convinced that at any moment we would crash.