People often put up with mild phobias for long periods, usually until something happens which turns a manageable discomfort into a serious hindrance. A full blown phobia such as a fear of leaving the house, (agoraphobia) or fear of throwing anything away (hoarding) only appears odd to an outsider. For the person suffering, however, the phobia serves to protect against an unknown danger. In an inside-out sort of way, the phobia seems to make sense.
When a phobic person comes to therapy, they are looking for help with the riddle of their fear. Since they also realize that therapy will eventually solve the riddle by exposing the thing they are most afraid of, the therapist must be sensitive to these competing desires. |