Eva Speakman, who is one half of the TV duo The Speakmans, has shared some advice for anyone who is struggling with a phobia – and it’s something she regularly helps people with
No matter what your phobia is, Eva Speakman from TV duo The Speakmans has revealed that there are methods you can attempt to conquer it, even if it seems like it’s becoming “worse” over time. A phobia is an overwhelming, unreasonable fear of a particular object, circumstance, or activity that is disproportionate to the real-world threat that the thing presents, but that is irrelevant to the person with the phobia.
Frequently, individuals will make considerable efforts to steer clear of what they dread, for instance, avoiding overseas travel if they suffer from a fear of aeroplanes, but this can significantly disrupt their everyday lives, careers, or personal relationships.
Eva, who is commonly seen on ITV programme This Morning with her husband Nik, said: “Do you have a phobia that feels like it’s getting worse? You’re getting triggered more often and to more things?
“Well, if that’s you, please be reassured that this is quite standard, and there are two good reasons behind it.”
She outlined that “every time we actually access our phobia, we are going down a neural pathway,” so the “longer you’ve had it” the easier you can “access” the phobia.
Eva continued: “The second thing is that we associate things with our phobia, so, let’s say, for example, as a kid, you were teased with a spider, and your fear is created.
“So, then it might be that the only time it really troubles you is in October, November, it’s spider season, so October and November become a problem, but then one day you might go into the shed, spot a spider, and now the shed becomes a problem.
“It may be that you go round to somebody’s house and you notice that they have a spider in the bathroom, now, every time you go round to that friend’s house, you’re reluctant to go to the bathroom because that bathroom has now become a problem.
“So it feels like the phobia is getting bigger and bigger with every layer we’re adding to it, and it just means that we’re being triggered more often because we’re adding more avoidance”.
There is “good news,” however, for those battling with phobias, as Eva revealed: “If you find that foundation, you positively change it, and you completely destroy it,” then the “whole structure falls apart”.
But how do you achieve this?
Eva explained it can be “done with therapy, or adding lots of contra-evidence to your belief”.
In the comments section, people opened up about their phobias, with one woman revealing: “Emetaphobia [the fear of being sick] is absolutely taking over my life, to the point I’m scared for when my son starts nursery and brings home a tummy bug. I am terrified, I just know I will spiral into panic”.
Another admitted that “out of the blue” she’d developed a fear of “motorways”. The Speakmans replied: “This most commonly stems from fear of heights or claustrophobia. Few sufferers realise this and that’s why they struggle to overcome it”.