Do you suffer from phobophobia (a fear of phobias)?

MOST people have a fear of one kind or another.

While some suffer from Arachnophobia (fear of spiders), Agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) and Glossophobia (fear of public speaking), there are many more bizarre phobias.

For instance, there are apparently many who suffer from Macrophobia (fear of long waits) for whom doctors’ waiting rooms, Bank Holiday travel on jammed motorways and crowded airports with cancelled flights must be a nightmare.

The fear of riding in cars (Amaxophobia), too, is hugely problematic especially for those living in suburban areas. And even if there are no cars around, those with Agyrophobia still have the fear of crossing roads.

Not all phobias have been in existence for thousands of years. While Astraphobia (fear of thunder and lightning), Pyrophobia (fear of fire), and Herpetophobia (fear of reptiles) have probably existed since the Middle Ages, others have emerged much more recently.

Phobias like Motorphobia (fear of vehicles), Electrophobia (fear of electricity) and Pteromerhanophobia (fear of flying).

After the Second World War, a brand new phobia was quickly formed and escalated dramatically in the Cold War that followed: Nucleomituphobia or the fear or nuclear weapons. But that’s not the newest phobia around now. That threat’s Cyberphobia (fear of computers), Hellenologophobia (fear of confusing, highly technical terminology) and especially Nomophobia (fear of losing mobile phone contact).

Not surprisingly, phobias can severely impact your life. A person with Aichmophobia (fear of needles or pointed objects) or Algophobia (fear of pain) probably won’t make it to their next dental appointment, even assuming they don’t already suffer from Dentophobia (fear of dentists). A person with Mageirocophobia (fear of cooking) or Obesophobia probably hasn’t eaten for ages and could easily die from anorexia.

If you have a phobia, though, don’t despair! There’s still hope. Phobias can be cured! Remember when you were a child and suffered from Scolionophobia (fear of school) because of Arithmophobia (fear of numbers) and Logophobia (fear of words)?

Not to mention Ablutophobia (fear of washing) and maybe Ichthyophobia (fear of fish). The chances are good that you’re now quite happy to hop into the shower and that you enjoy your Sardinas a la plancha after a hard day’s work.

But, if all else fails, and you do miss a day at the office, you could always try telling your boss you’ve suddenly developed Ergophobia (fear of work). Particularly if you’d rather be al fresco than al desko…

Nora Johnson’s novel, The De Clerambault Code (www.nora-johnson.com) available at Amazon in paperback and as eBook. Profits to Cudeca

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