‘So listen,’ Sam said, looking at each of the five people in front of him in turn, ‘I thought I should begin by telling you a bit about me. The first thing to say is that I’m an Assistant Professor here in the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science. Some of my main research interests are in how we quantify happiness and how we can help people to change their behaviour and make positive choices to lead happier and healthier lives, but – and this is where you all come in – I’m also fascinated by phobias. And yes, I get my kicks from the really weird ones.’
The Artist and the Lost Girl humoured him with smiles. The Athlete straightened in his chair, alert and attentive. The Boxer scowled, scratching at his swollen belly, while the Librarian kept glancing towards the door as if he was contemplating leaving.
‘What I’m really saying is you can relax. Or try to relax. Because whatever fears you’ve come here to share today, I will probably find you super interesting. But more than that – and I hope you’ll all see this as reassuring rather than a challenge – you should probably also know how unlikely it is that you’ll tell me anything that will surprise me. There are a whole host of recognized phobias, and numerous recurrent and recognized patterns with phobias, and over the years I’ve probably heard them all.’
Sam paused to take the temperature in the room. Most of them seemed to be with him so far. He would have guessed the Boxer would be guarded and hard to win over, and he wasn’t altogether surprised by the Librarian’s skittish vibe. But experience had taught him how vital it was to lay out his credentials and his expectations in order to build a foundation of trust.
Leaning forwards, he rested his elbows on his thighs and pressed his fingertips together. A little stagey, but it worked.
‘A quick primer on phobias,’ he continued, ‘because you may be wondering if you really have one, and if you do, if it’s even that big a deal. And it may not be, but it could be, and if it is, I want you to know that I am here to help you. I can give you some strategies to think about, some exercises to try at home, and I can also recommend specialist therapists if that becomes appropriate.’
‘What kind of exercises?’ the Boxer asked.
‘I’ll explain more a bit later, if that’s OK?’
‘What if they don’t work?’
‘Odds are they will. In fact, the odds are very good that they’ll work comprehensively. A lot of the people who have come to these support groups in the past have found them hugely beneficial.’
‘Well, that’s reassuring.’ The Artist smiled, hunching her shoulders.
‘Good,’ Sam said. ‘The other thing I think it’s important to make clear early on is that we all have fears and stresses in our lives. That’s perfectly normal. For example, right now I have a house that I’ve inherited and am trying to sell, and while that should probably be a good thing, it also comes with a lot of baggage. Financial worries. Stress. Guilt. Will I be able to sell it? When will I sell it? How? But even though it’s keeping me up at night, that’s really a regular worry. It’s part of the stresses and strains of normal life. With phobias, what we’re talking about is a persistent, unreasonable and excessive fear that can become all-consuming, sometimes overwhelming.’
He paused again, aware of the watchful silence in the room, the way all five of them were now hanging on his words as if maybe – just maybe – he really did hold the key that could unlock them from the mental cages they were trapped in.
‘Left untreated, as I’m guessing some of you have been finding, any phobia can make going about your normal life increasingly challenging.’
The Boxer grunted. ‘Try impossible.’
‘Then why don’t you go first?’ Sam said to him. ‘Can you tell us about what you’ve been experiencing?’