Key points

Though a person may dismiss a small phobia, it can express something their unconscious wants them to know.

The phobia itself may not be revealing, but the feeling that accompanies it might be.

By tracing the phobic feeling back to its origin, the real disturbance may come to light.

Exploring whatever created the phobia or the time period when it developed might bring relief.

I always thought phobias were dramatic inhibitions that stopped your life dead, like the germaphobe who practically lives in Saran Wrap to avoid contamination or the guy who can’t fly to his sister’s wedding without having a panic attack. I know a few agoraphobes who mostly don’t go out. Period. Phobias were about fears so great that the person experiencing them would rather forego life’s pleasures—li

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