Advanced psychotherapist and clinical hypnotherapist CLAIRE GASKIN sees clients in Essex and in London’s Harley Street. She is now bringing her expertise to the problems of our readers as our agony aunt. If you have a problem you’d like Claire’s advice with, email agonyaunt@nqe.com For more details on Claire’s work, visit benefittherapy.co.uk/

Today claire focuses on phobias in general - what are they and how can you overcome them?

What is a phobia?

A phobia is characterised by an irrational fear of an object or situation.

Phobias are an anxiety or panic disorder which will cause our inbuilt defence mechanisms to trigger a fight-or-flight response whenever we are exposed to the source of our irrational fear.

There is some evidence to suggest that we are genetically pre-disposed to certain anxieties or fears. However, most phobias develop during childhood, learned by associating danger with a certain situation or object, or by observing the actions of another person, such as watching a parent become panicked upon seeing a spider.

Lots of people know how their phobia started and can even laugh about it. For others, it makes no logical sense at all, which can add to their distress.

Types of phobia

Probably the most common phobia is arachnophobia - an irrational fear of spiders.

Also in the Top Ten are: Acrophobia: Fear of heights, Aerophobia: Fear of flying, Cynophobia: Fear of dogs, Ophidiophobia: Fear of snakes, Trypanophobia: Fear of needles/injections, Social Phobia: Fear of social situations, Agoraphobia: Fear of open or crowded spaces, Claustophobia: Fear of small or restricted spaces, Mysophobia: Fear of germs Coping Strategies People who suffer from coulrophobia (fear of clowns) or phonophobia (fear of loud noises) usually dread this time of year because of Halloween and Bonfire Night.

When it comes to infrequent events such as these, avoidance can be the best strategy. Practising mindfulness, as well as breathing techniques, will help to quell anxiety when confronted with the source of any phobia.

Help for phobias

The good news is that you can get over a phobia but when a phobia begins to affect everyday functioning, such as a social phobia that has stopped you going out, it’s time to get help.

Anxiety UK has lots of good resources on its website, including interesting stories about people’s experiences. Or, you might want to engage a professional therapist. I always recommend visiting CNHC.org to find a register of practitioners .