It is possible to have a phobia about almost anything, and at the end of this bood, there is a list of both familiar and rare phobias which have be reported and treated. Joy Melville's aim in writing this book is twofold. First, she wishes to reassure phobics that they are not isolated in what they fear; second, she demonstrates how different phobias and obsessions (e. g. compulsive hand-washing) can be treated. She makes graphic use of many fascinating case histories that have been described to her both by psychologists and phobics themselves. She also talks about self-help methods that phobics have used successfully. old medical library bood. first published in 1977, 190 pages. good condition.. This is honestly a fasinating book. Chapters focus on: Agoraphobia Spiders and insects flying and heights social phobia school phobia thunderstorm phobia specific animal phobias claustrophobia death, pain, illness phobias rare phobias obsessions