Reader Stories

A parent and carer describes fears involving driving, heights, flying, water, and crowded settings. This is a reader’s personal account, edited for readability. Ages and circumstances refer to the time of submission. It is not a clinical assessment. A reader’s account Hello folks I am a 39-year-old married mother of six and caretaker for an ailing elderly … [Read more...]

A young adult describes fear and suspicion around some men, concerns about being judged, and uncertainty about what the feelings mean. This is a reader’s personal account, edited for readability. Ages and circumstances refer to the time of submission. It is not a clinical assessment. A reader’s account Hi. I'm a 19-year-old girl. I've always been socially awkward … [Read more...]

An anonymous reader describes prolonged isolation, distress about appearance and eating, and suicidal feelings. If these feelings are current and you may harm yourself, seek urgent local help and tell someone you trust. This is a reader’s personal account, edited for readability. Ages and circumstances refer to the time of submission. It is not a clinical … [Read more...]

A reader describes fears about relationships after difficult family experiences and uncertainty about trusting a new romantic interest. This is a reader’s personal account, edited for readability. Ages and circumstances refer to the time of submission. It is not a clinical assessment. A reader’s account Throughout my life I have seen men walk in and out of my … [Read more...]

A reader describes intense distress around earthquakes, episodes of fainting or lost awareness, and difficulty settling afterwards. This is a reader’s personal account, edited for readability. Ages and circumstances refer to the time of submission. It is not a clinical assessment. A reader’s account I mostly get scared or afraid at the mention of the word … [Read more...]

A reader describes substantial improvement in a long-standing fear of snakes after receiving professional treatment. This is a reader’s personal account, edited for readability. Ages and circumstances refer to the time of submission. It is not a clinical assessment. A reader’s account I want to share this story because people in my life had been trying to convince … [Read more...]

A reader describes persistent distress after finding a rodent at home, despite taking practical steps to address the problem. This is a reader’s personal account, edited for readability. Ages and circumstances refer to the time of submission. It is not a clinical assessment. A reader’s account I have a severe phobia of rodents and bats. I believe it stems from one … [Read more...]

A reader describes persistent fear of death after their mother’s illness, including fear-driven beliefs about medicines. Those beliefs are part of the account, not medical facts or treatment recommendations. This is a reader’s personal account, edited for readability. Ages and circumstances refer to the time of submission. It is not a clinical assessment. A reader’s … [Read more...]

A reader describes anxiety around some male peers and uncertainty about relationships, while feeling more comfortable in other interactions. This is a reader’s personal account, edited for readability. Ages and circumstances refer to the time of submission. It is not a clinical assessment. A reader’s account This is difficult for me to say. There are some men whom … [Read more...]

A student describes fear of being judged, difficulty speaking in class, and the effects of earlier bullying about appearance. This is a reader’s personal account, edited for readability. Ages and circumstances refer to the time of submission. It is not a clinical assessment. A reader’s account I don't know if I really have a phobia because I am terrified of people … [Read more...]

An adult reader describes long-standing fear of darkness and experiences they interpret as paranormal. The edited account distinguishes those interpretations from verified explanations. This is a reader’s personal account, edited for readability. Ages and circumstances refer to the time of submission. It is not a clinical assessment. A reader’s account I was 41 … [Read more...]

A reader describes an intense fear and disgust response to decorative bows and the effect on ordinary outings. This is a reader’s personal account, edited for readability. Ages and circumstances refer to the time of submission. It is not a clinical assessment. A reader’s account To be honest I can barely even write down the words, but for as long as I remember I … [Read more...]

A reader uses humour to describe a long-standing fear of spiders and the practical ways it has affected daily life. This is a reader’s personal account, edited for readability. Ages and circumstances refer to the time of submission. It is not a clinical assessment. A reader’s account Like a lot of people, I'm deathly afraid of spiders. I know, I know. It's an … [Read more...]

A reader describes fear around some women, difficult school experiences, and improvement with professional support. This is a reader’s personal account, edited for readability. Ages and circumstances refer to the time of submission. It is not a clinical assessment. A reader’s account At first all the women in my life just said that I was sexist and lashed out at … [Read more...]

A reader describes social fear, mistrust, painful self-judgment, and wanting to feel less isolated. This is a reader’s personal account, edited for readability. Ages and circumstances refer to the time of submission. It is not a clinical assessment. A reader’s account It's been some time now. I've slowly lost communication skills that build rapport and respect, … [Read more...]