I’ve been terrified of glitter since I was very young and it ruins Christmas for me
DEAR DEIDRE: I HAVE a phobia that sounds so stupid but it isn’t funny for me – I’m terrified of glitter.
I am a guy of 29 now but I’ve had this phobia since I was very young. I don’t know what started it but I hate the way it is unnatural, gets everywhere and sticks to everything.
Christmas is awful. I hate cards because they often have glitter on, people put it on themselves and even on food. Christmas crackers are covered in it.
If it gets on me or my clothes I get really upset. My family don’t seem to realise how genuinely distressing I find it. I feel like crying sometimes.
I want to get over this as it ruins Christmas, but how?
Get in touch with Deidre today
Got a problem?
Send an email to problems@deardeidre.org. Every problem gets a personal reply, usually within 24 hours weekdays.
You can also send a private message on the DearDeidreOfficial Facebook page.
Follow me on Twitter @deardeidre.
DEIDRE SAYS: This fear is called sparkalaphobia and it seems to be our lack of control over glitter, the way it sticks to everything and is so hard to remove, that freaks some of us out.
I would guess you got some on you when you were very little, you were frightened by being unable to remove it and it is the two-year-old in you panicking now.
Panic attacks underlie all phobias, and my e-leaflet on Coping With Panic Attacks will help you handle Christmas more calmly.
NEXT IN TODAY’S DEAR DEIDRE My stepdaughter believes she is transgender and wants to start transitioning when she moves out
READ DEIDRE’S PHOTO CASEBOOK Susie feels that she and husband Jimmy have become more like siblings