If you were asked, “What is your phobia?”, how would you answer? Traditionally, people have spoken of a fear of spiders, or reptiles, or heights. If you are with someone who has one of these phobias, then you can see it pretty clearly – they will react physically, become emotionally a bit disoriented, and perhaps vocalise their fear (we all have our different styles of expression, of course). 

When I was training as a psychologist, we were introduced to more serious versions of phobia.