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Fear and phobia

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Photo of an elderly man sitting on a chair surrounded by various ornate coffins in a room with a chequered floor.

Death and dying

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As a society, we’re not death phobic, we’re death complacent

Our culture is routinely diagnosed with an excessive fear of mortality. A calm look at the evidence tells a different story

by Ingemar Patrick Linden

A close up shot looking down upon the toes and feet of a person balanced on the edge of a jetty over water

Fear and phobia

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To fear well is virtuous and more important than being brave

Fear is not the enemy, but a real and legitimate emotion. To truly support another in their fear, let them give it a voice

by Ami Harbin

Photo of a person wearing sunglasses sitting in dappled sunlight with a thoughtful expression. Shadows cast on the face.

Anxiety

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How to tell whether you’re being careful or giving in to anxiety

It’s not always easy to tell what’s a sensible safeguard, and what’s an anxiety-fuelling habit. A few questions can help

by Jemma Todd, Amelia Scott, Rachel Menzies & Louise Sharpe

Photo of a plane cabin interior showing passengers seated, viewed from the back.

Group therapy

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Behind the scenes at an ‘exposure’ flight for flying phobia

A single-session, exposure-based treatment for large groups could help bring evidence-based psychotherapy to the masses

by André Wannemüller

Painting of goldfish in a bowl surrounded by plants with two people viewing in a gallery setting.

Therapeutic relationships

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What my patient with paranoia taught me about fear and humanity

John was a paranoid patient who sat in my therapy room and scared me – until I realised I was not without paranoia myself

by Patricia Steckler

Photo of people waiting on a train platform standing on marked spots as a train speeds past in the background.

Community

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The behavioural immune system protects us, but at what cost?

The COVID-19 pandemic created an unplanned social experiment on skin hunger and touch aversion. How will our politics suffer?

by Manos Tsakiris

Photo of sunlight through trees with colourful light leaks creating red and white streaks across the image.

Autism

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Feeling fearful? Welcome to my world, and let me help you with it

My experience of autism and my scientific expertise in photonics have given me a special insight into breaking down fear

by Camilla Pang

Photo of a child in a red headband in the foreground with other children and adults sitting outside a building in the background.

Emotion regulation

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Can the Mapuche teach us to transform fear into respect?

Respect your fears: what the Mapuche approach to fear can teach us about transforming our biases and fighting prejudice

by Dejah Oertwig & Amy Halberstadt