[Alistair Fawkes]

My biggest phobia is heights. When confronted with it I start sweating and shaking; it's pretty irrational. But then that's very definition of a phobia, I guess. Sometimes I feel it really intensely, but other times not so much.

Luckily I don't find myself put in an inescapable situation that agitates this fear too often, but when I do I just admit it to those around me and make light of it, instead of trying to hide it or participate in some grand internal struggle. For me, struggling to rationalize something irrational can be more stressful than the fear itself.

The act of just admitting it makes me feel better, and most people completely understand as it's a fairly common phobia. You may think you sound crazy to others, but hearing yourself say it aloud and laugh about it with company may make a world of difference. A little humor goes a long way in a scary situation.