I've beaten my phobia of spiders. Whe I was younger I cried when I saw one, severely panicked and sweated until the age of 18/19 when one ran in the room, stuffed pillows down the sides of my bed to stop any underneath it getting me, I wouldn'd dleep if there was one in my room, I couldn't look at a picture of one etc etc.. it was quite a big phobia... But anyway, about a year and a half ago I discovered 2 little ones living in my wing mirrors od my car... I swerved and very nearly crashed when the one on the driver's side ran onto it's web but then forgot about it.... I did this a few times and then named it Derek when I was drunk... soon I got used to seeing him with the window firmly wound up, this lasted about 6 months. I then found a dead moth in my car... and with Derek in hiding, I stuck it in his web... and later watched him come out and wrap it in silk... I was fascinated watching this so closely. Meanwhile Rolf in my passenger side mirror was doing the same thing... After a year of this, I was drunk and just picked up one of those monster ones and wasn't too bothered... I'm still nervous now but will happily pick them up and throw them out the window, so long as they stay still... I'm still not quite used to them running or making me jump, but it's a hell of a step to be picking them up! Thanks Derek. You too Rolf... Oh and Cecil Legsalot lived on the back windscreen wiper for a bit too!

YESSSSSSSS. I have had a stupid phobia about OPTICIANS since I was a child. I had not had my eyes tested since I was in preparatory school.I bought spectacles for myopia across the Phamicist counter. If I was asked to read an eye chart I would go completely word blind. Recently I went to an Eye Clinic that did all they eye tests on a machine and I then had Lens replacement surgery. BRILLIANT, I have 20/20 vision and to heck with opticians they do not scare me one bit anymore. Oh Yes I was in fact very long sighted not short sighted at all.

I have had profound fears. I am not sure they were as disruptive or pervasive as phobias (in the clinical sense of the word). However, I have overcome many: As a child and a teenager, I had a major fear of needles. that is gone. I was afraid of dead bodies. No more. I can easily assist in "removals." I have been afraid of mingling and other things. Here is the one and only thing that has ever worked for me: Confront it. Do the thing I fear most and have a backup plan for escape.