COPING WITH…a phobia
Woman's Weekly Living Series|February 2021
Facing a fear is the best way to overcome it, says Dr Melanie Wynne-Jones
Melanie Wynne-Jones
COPING WITH…a phobia

Aphobia is an irrational fear of something that wouldn’t frighten most people. But even if we know it’s irrational (or if we think it’s justified), it can also feel unbeatable and affect how we live our lives.

One in 10 of us has a phobia at some time. Spiders, snakes, dentists and flying are common triggers, but it could be certain textures, foods or situations, such as crowds, being closed-in (claustrophobia), going out (agoraphobia), or social phobia. Or it may be something unusual or personal, perhaps linked to an unpleasant past experience, such as illness, traumatic events, including difficult childbirth, or relationship/ sexual problems.

The symptoms

This story is from the February 2021 edition of Woman's Weekly Living Series.

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This story is from the February 2021 edition of Woman's Weekly Living Series.

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