- Friday the 13th makes us superstitious, but many Islanders suffering genuine phobias.
- Charity Triumph Over Phobia believe dozens of people in Jersey suffering in silence.
- Find out why Friday 13 is such a superstitious date.
FOR most people, the idea of Friday the 13th being unlucky is a harmless superstition – but for sufferers of triskaidekaphobia, the irrational fear of the number 13, it can be a debilitating disorder.
Phobias can come in a variety forms, and the head of the Triumph Over Phobia Jersey branch fears that there could be dozens of people in the Island living with the consequences of phobias and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder who are suffering in silence.
Former Deputy Celia Scott-Warren, who has received specialist treatment for OCD, said she had not come across any cases of triskaidekaphobia locally but had seen the harmful effects of other irrational fears.
‘Statistics show that 2.5 per cent of people have some form of OCD, and there are Islanders who will know people and not know they have OCD or a phobia,’ she said.
Social phobia – fear of interacting with other people
Agoraphobia – fear of open public spaces
Eemetophobia – fear of vomiting
Erythrophobia – fear of blushing
Driving phobia – fear of driving
Hypochondria – fear of illness
Aerophobia – fear of flying
Arachnophobia – fear of spiders
Zoophobia – fear of animals
Claustrophobia – fear of confined spaces
‘I think some of them are scared to come forward and get help. But these things are treatable.
‘The message is that people suffering from these conditions can get help and get their lives back to how they want them if they get support.’
She added that she has seen a variety of phobias during her time with the charity, from common issues such as agoraphobia (fear of being away from your ‘safe circle’), claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces), odontophobia (fear of dentists) and a fear of blood, to the more obscure such as a fear of buttons (koumpounophobia) or feathers (pteronophobia).
Meanwhile, one mother-of-two, who has asked to remain anonymous, says her life was torn apart by her OCD.
She has now encouraged other Islanders with phobias to seek help.
The woman, who is her 30s and has been working with Triumph Over Phobia Jersey for two years, said she battled with a fear of intruders coming into her home as well as contamination from food.
She said it got so bad that she struggled to look after her children.
‘It started when I was eight, but it got drastically worse when I had children,’ she said. ‘I was scared to leave the house because I thought intruders would come in, and it was very difficult to buy stuff from the supermarket because I had a fear of contamination.
‘I would say to anyone that support is available. My life has turned around since I received help.’
Triumph Over Phobia’s development officer, Trilby Breckman, said: ‘Many people’s lives are severely affected by having irrational fears or obsessive behaviours, but they are reluctant to seek help because they are afraid of being branded ‘silly.’
‘Those that do, then find there can be a long waiting list for therapy on the NHS.
‘Our self-help groups, which are recommended by the NHS, can provide immediate help. They are open to anyone aged 18 or above.
‘You do not need to have seen a doctor or have a formal diagnosis to attend.
‘They meet once a week and are run by trained volunteers, many of whom have overcome a phobia or OCD themselves.’
Anyone who wishes to attend a group will need to complete an application form as none of the groups are drop-in. There is also a small weekly charge to attend a group but this is reduced for those on low incomes. Triumph Over Phobia is not currently receiving any government funding and relies on donations to continue its work.
The Jersey branch of Triumph Over Phobia meet every Thursday at 7 pm at the Headway Centre in Springfield Road. For more information, phone 608008 or visit the TOP website.
- The fear of 13, triskaidekaphobia, comes from the Greek tris meaning three, kai meaning and and deka meaning ten.
- Its roots stem back to Biblical time times. In Christian tradition it is unlucky because there were 13 disciples at the Last Supper. Judas was the 13th and he betrayed Jesus.
- The Vikings believed it unlucky because Loki, the mischief-maker, was the 13th god in the Norse pantheon and, having engineered the murder of Balder, god of light and purity, was the 13th guest to arrive at his funeral.
- It is a superstition most common in the Western culture.
- As a result, many hotels omit 13 from their room numbering, many airlines have no Row 13, many high-rise buildings have no 13th floor, and in Florence, Italy, and elsewhere the 13th property in a street is numbered 12A.
