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Expository Essay: When Does A Fear Become A Phobia?

It would be fair to say that there are plenty of things in the world that are scary. With nearly 7.5 billion people currently living on the planet, you can pretty much assume that there is at least one person in the world who shares the same kinds of fears as you do, whether they are completely common or much more unusual. Fear is a completely normal emotional state that occurs in humans when they feel as if they are in danger. However, what about phobias? By very definition, the presence of a phobia is the fear of something ‘irrational’, something that a human being doesn’t actually need to be fearful of because it doesn’t pose any real danger to them.

Some of the most common ‘phobias’ are often things and concepts that are very understandably frightening. A fear of heights, a fear of flying in an aeroplane, a fear of swimming in deep water… These things in particular are easy to understand, easy to see why they would cause certain individuals distress: from a great height, a person can potentially fall and seriously injure themselves; from an aeroplane, the prospect of crash landing can be overwhelming; and in deep water, the potential to lose energy and one’s ability to swim is a real concern. There are indeed proper Latin names for these phobias, but in lieu of their tangible dangers, it could be argued that they are not strictly phobias but simply rational fears that are perfectly acceptable to harbour. Of course, the state of a fear can often determine whether you are experiencing a ‘phobia’ or not. For example, it can be perfectly normal to be nervous whilst taking a flight, but if you are a person who cannot even stand the sight of a plane in the air, let along entertain the prospect of travelling in one, then perhaps your own emotions are what justify the phobia classification.

For somebody to be classed as having a phobia of something, there is generally a set of physical reactions that accompany the experience. When faced with the object of their phobia, a individual might begin to feel panic attack symptoms, a tightening of the chest, elevated heart rate, noticeable sweating, crying, all classic indicators of a body’s distress in a given situation. If you find yourself reaction in these ways to something fairly trivial, then you may will have a phobia, but again, if these symptoms are occurring from a genuine trauma, an attack perhaps, then it would not be appropriate to state that you had a phobia of being mugged in the street. This would be the type of reaction that every individual had to that particular event.

When a fear truly enters in to the realms of phobia, I believe, is when a person is experiencing those reactions in the face of something completely innocuous or unusual. Some of the most common ‘irrational’ fears for people include things like spiders, small spaces, thunder and lightning, clowns, public speaking, medicinal needles and even the fear of falling in love. Though there are obviously negative aspects of all these examples, what makes them ‘true phobias’ is that fact in and off themselves, they are not objects of concepts that are going to pose real danger to people, therefore there is no logical reason to be so fearful. There is a common belief that most phobias stem from an initial trauma that occurred, most often as a child, and that if you can trace back to that point of trauma, you can begin to rid yourself of that particular phobia to improve your quality of life.

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Using Psychology

Do you have an essay-writing phobia.

by jmalouff | Sep 30, 2011 | Uncategorized | 87 comments

A few years ago another academic and I were walking with a student (“Kiki”) who said that she always handed in essay assignments two weeks after they are due — the last day before she would receive a 0. Each time she lost 20% of the total possible points due to an automatic penalty of 2% per work day late. Over the long run she was ruining her chances of going on to postgraduate study. The other academic walking with us started to tell Kiki that the university had now extended the penalty period to three weeks with a maximum penalty of 30%, but I elbowed him right away and shook my head. I knew that if Kiki heard this news she would change to submitting three weeks late and suffer an extra 10% penalty. I knew that because I understand phobias, and Kiki had one — essay-writing phobia.

This phobia involves fear and avoidance of writing an assigned essay and/or submitting the essay. In addition to lateness penalties, the avoidance can lead to last-minute writing with its attendant stress, poor quality, and low marks. This phobia is more common than you might think.

What causes essay-writing phobia? The causes are similar for all types of phobias. The main factors likely to contribute here are genetic, biological predispositions to feel anxious, perfectionism in general, setting an unrealistically high goal for the essay, low self-efficacy for writing in general or for the specific essay, and low levels of self-control. Two other possible factors: Avoidance helps the person feel much better in the short run by reducing anxiety, and avoidance with frantic last-minute writing gives the person an ego-protecting excuse for earning a low mark.

So what is the way out of essay-writing phobia? I’ll suggest 10 strategies in order of value for most individuals:

1. Change your goal to something realistic and valuable, like doing your best under the circumstances or submitting on time or ending your avoidance. Put aside goals of being perfect and impressing the heck out of someone.

2. Gradually expose yourself to what you fear. Write the easiest part of the essay first — start with your name or the title. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Then write the next easiest part and so on, all the way to submitting. Praise yourself for courage at each step. Use my favorite definition of courage: Doing the right thing even tho scared. There is a great deal of research evidence that gradual exposure helps eliminate phobias.

3. Discuss your fears with someone who cares about your welfare or write in a journal about your fears. Bringing them out in the open will help you deal with them.

4. Calm yourself thru deep breathing, meditation, or some other means.

5. Focus on the task at hand — tell yourself what to do next on the assignment. Think that you are writing a draft that you will improve later, if necessary. Positive thoughts often lead to positive behavior.

6. Challenge self-defeating thoughts such as “Ï can’t do this” by thinking clearly about what “this” is and by looking for evidence from the past about whether you can do it.

7. Think of times you have written good essays and submitted on time.

8. Think of how you overcame some fear before in your life.

9. Think of individuals you admire who acted bravely.

10. Write in a new location or using a different method, e.g., paper rather than laptop. The change of procedure might give you a new perspective or expectation.

Those are my thoughts. For a case study describing treatment of essay-writing phobia, see http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0005796786900422.

What helps you reduce essay writing fear and avoidance?

John Malouff, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology

[Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash]

87 Comments

I never liked writing papers, stories were easy, essays were always hard. It didn’t help that we were never really taught how to write a paper and I never had encouraging peers to help me. My best friend through part of high school helped me on my first essay of the year for a teacher and I got a B, but when I asked for her help again she refused and I got a D. Plus this teacher didn’t like me or my family, our grades were lower by default. No matter what we did. My cousin once switched the names on two papers, his and another student who always got A’s in her class, and the paper the other kid wrote with my cousin’s name on it received a D and the one my cousin wrote with the other student’s name on it received an A. But still, I am always scared about my papers, maybe that teacher was right and I am terrible at writing papers. My college career has suffered terribly because some part of me in convinced that I’ll never get better and that no one can help me. I haven’t told my school’s counselor yet, due to fear of judgement and I endlessly skip classes after a paper is due because of fear of judgement too. I really want to end the fear but it just feels like it’s eaten me alive and biting down on me.

Hi Kim. A counselor or psychologist might help you change your thinking and reduce your suffering. Those of us who work in mental health (and who are competent) do not judge clients. Our goal is to understand them and help them.

Writing is a skill, like riding a bike. With good training, practice, and helpful feedback, almost anyone can improve. It helps to set improvement, rather than perfection, as a goal.

Best wishes, John

So, if writing anxiety is having a debilitating effect on your life, how do you find skilled professionals who can focus on this issue specifically, as opposed to just general anxiety counseling?

Hi Doug. When you go to a psychologist or counselor, state your goal of reducing writing anxiety (and related avoidance, probably). Say you want to focus on that problem alone for now.

You won’t find a mental health professional who specializes in writing phobia, but in a big urban area you could find someone who specializes in anxiety treatment or phobia treatment.

John, thank you for this post. I feel less worthless just being able to formulate my problem to myself. Is it possible to develop an essay writing phobia over time? I am a first year postgrad and I consistently receive good grades, I have even won prizes for my writing and for being top in some of my classes in undergrad. I never had to try very hard in school. Over the years I have procrastinated on essays, but it got worse over time. I started off just doing all-nighters, starting essays the night before they were due but but still handing them in on time, and getting top marks, justifying to myself that I might procrastinate but at least I never miss a deadline. This probably started in mid high school. Then, in my 2nd and 3rd years of university I would start to hand things in after the deadline, counting on the fact that my lecturers knew me and didn’t really care that much about deadlines, as long as I produced top quality work. I would usually get away with it, even though I know I shouldn’t have, but there were a couple times when I’m sure I could have gotten a better grade if I started earlier. And I know I have never produced my personal best work, but only what I deemed the minimum to get the grade I wanted. The thing is I love university, I go to lectures, generally have no difficulty studying for exams, or making presentations, doing readings, other kinds of homework and assignments etc… I remember one friend of mine was puzzled by my behaviour when I missed a deadline for an essay, I told him “I’m just lazy”, but he said he knew that wasn’t the case, because he had seen me do my readings weeks before class had started. However, recently, I had to submit a 4000 word article. It is not particularly difficult at all, and I know it is well within my abilities to do it, I have all the research I need at hand and just need to write, but for some reason I haven’t been able to do it. I am almost a month overdue without a good excuse, and dread even opening the document. When I do, I can barely work for 5 minutes without panicking over how much I have to do and giving up, even when I compartmentalise it. I am constantly filled with guilt and self-loathing. In the morning I over-sleep because I dread getting up, knowing I haven’t finished this article. I feel so bad about it, and I keep telling myself that I will get it done today, but inevitably I never do, and just stay up all night procrastinating.

Hi Jan. You are suffering and not functioning completely as a student. It is time for you to consult a psychologist or counselor at your university. That counseling service is a great free benefit at most universities. Use the benefit now.

Jane’s scenario is similar to mine. I started college in 2006 and now 2018 I’m still struggling. I’ve taken multiple breaks, dismissed twice, failed the course 4 or 5 times thinking it would be different but it’s always the same result…. nothing to submitted after staying up all night trying to write it. I have so many papers incomplete because of not being able to finish them. I really would love to get over this phobia, it’s ruining my life.

Hi Tammi. You have had it tough. Is it time for you to consult a psychologist? If you are enrolled at a university, free counselling is likely available.

Dear John, First of all thank you, as have others I encountered the writer’s block. I have taken into account your advice and it really helped to find my own way of overcoming this problem. The trick I came up with is to change who I had in mind when writing my essay. I initially have to write a 20 page-long essay that sums up my year of research. So I wanted to write the way I thought my teacher would expect me to write. But nothing came to mind, and I was left feeling deprived of the ideas that had crossed my mind during my research. And then I thought about the perfectionism, it came with the idea that my teacher would read my essay and I kept thinking about what was expected instead of what I wanted to say. So I decided to write as if my sister was the one I explained my work to. She doesn’t speak english and would in actuality not understand a word of my essay, but she would hypotheticaly not know anything of the subject (this helps to develop the arguments, as if I were teaching her about the subject) and it easied my mind to picture her as the reader of my piece, someone that I don’t associate with grades and judgment. After that, it was simply a matter of time and patience and I have already writen 8 pages that I would be proud of.

I leave that here so that someone might use it as a clue to find their own trick, or simply replicate it. (Forgive me if someone already mentioned this trick in the previous commentaries, I haven’t read them all :))

Excellent, Alix!

As is so very common, “essay writing phobia” is presented as an individual pathology whereas it is actually largely a response to structural and cultural problems in the Academy. One problem is that universities (and psychology departments are esp. guilty of this) do not allow students enough leeway to develop their own voice (as you have done). I am shocked by how often students in social science degrees are told not to write in the first person. That prescription is about 20 years out of date!

Cheers, tjarlz

Thank you so much forthis article and all sharing. I am in tears with a ‘serious’ meeting due with the principle…having missed yet another deadline & extension for a research report that would see me complete my course. I have procrastinated ‘trying to fix everything else in my life’ befire getting down to starting and now I feel paralysed with anxiety, and still avoidance in getting a 2000 word research report done for much of what has been mentioned in the comments before. I am going to do my best to get it done for myself though, even though I think it may be the ‘end’ of my time trying to finish my course at my establishment. The thought of going to this meeting has me so upset to the point I don’t even want to show up at all. The article and your sharing has helped the hurting and worry. Thank you and all the best everyone. I’ll try to give it my best shot and get some help and support from here.

Yes, do the best you can. Then consider what you have learned from the experience.

I’m a 30-year-old software engineer who has had writing anxiety for…well since I was 7 and first had to write a 5-sentence summary of a book that I read. I’ve tried very hard to find a solution to it because it has caused me a great deal of suffering over the years and definitely caused me to be fired at least once. However, while I’ve found academic work on the subject, I’ve not yet succeeded in finding anyone who treats Writing Anxiety or who does Writing Process Training. Do you know of a way to find a professional who has experience in helping people overcome Writing Anxiety? I live in London but would probably want to work with someone over videochat so that I can do so outside of work hours.

Hi Alex. I don’t know any experts on treating writing phobia. I am an expert on treating phobias, but not specifically writing phobias. I could try to help you over Skype, but the times might not be inconvenient.

Hi John. Thanks for writing about this. I was about to send this on to one of my students who’s not handed in an essay but then stopped as I can’t send students something asking them to get naked. An edited version of this would happily go up as a link on my essay-advice page on our intranet. Cheers.

At your request, I changed strategy 10. Also, I added an image to suit the altered strategy, and I added meta-tags to help individuals find the suggestions.

Writing on a mountain, I like it. Looks like it might be Aotearoa New Zealand too, which is even better. Thank you.

I feel exactly like Jtxz! My goodness, I just don’t understand where this resistance comes from! I can do exams, class presentations, case studies etc etc… really well and without any stress… – but not essays! As the end of every semester looms nearer and due dates approach, I seriously think that I spiral into depression as a result of the essays. I can write really good essays, so for me it’s not even about the planning or structure, but I am overcome by the massive internal resistance, anxiety and stress as it comes time to doing them! I have finished my undergraduate degree and am now studying masters and so far it has been almost 10 years of tertiary study. But for the whole time I’ve been constantly docked marks over and over again – some times I’ve even had to repeat subjects because I’ve lost so many marks on papers that would have otherwise been distinctions. I feel like a failure the fact that although I’ve obviously learned the subject content well enough to get distinction level quality papers, I can’t seem to hand them in timely enough to prevent failing the subject. No idea what to do. What I find even crazier is that the course I am doing has nothing to do with writing essays, so why use this method of assessment at all?!?!? I feel like the field i’m studying is where my future purpose lies, but the journey to get there requires strengths that are outside of the skillset required for the field I wish to get into.

Totally feel like giving up – the only reason I haven’t is because I am stubborn. But it’s at the point now, where it’s not just affecting me, its affecting my wife,my son, my friendships etc.

They seriously are the bane of my life!

You and many others are in the same boat. Try all the methods I suggest in the blog entry. Best wishes.

This is what i’m exactly experiencing and i am happy to find articke like this and made me realize that there is really a condition like this. I thought this was a weird to have a problem like this… I have this phobia in essays when i read my essays and essay of my smart cousin, ive realized how lacking i am in putting ideas, the grammars , etc. My esteem on making essays became really low.. I feel like at suck at doing it and my ideas are too shallow etc, i think of things like that. when my prof gives us essay tasks, i dont have the motivation to do it and i ended up cramming and becoming stress.

Elle, I hope you keep writing. Strive not for perfection or for superiority but for competence and timely completion.

I have struggled unsuccessfully with this problem for years. I have consulted an educational psychologist and counsellors and explained the irrational feelings of fear and terror that spring up and pounce at random periods in the writing process. I have either been told that there is no problem or that it is too complex to solve. I weep in shame and I am distraught at not being able to identify the cause. I have always had good grades and years ago I had a couple of articles published in peer-reviewed journals. I have lost confidence in all aspects of writing and I no longer am able to judge what is good or bad in anything I compose. Thus I am plagued with doubt and my writing is stymied. I would like to hope that someone has further suggestions about how to tackle this problem when it strikes. I do want to write and to enjoy writing again.

Hi. I am sorry that you have suffered so much for so long. Try the methods in the blog. If none helps, consult a beahvioral psychologist. You may benefit from gradual-exposure treatment.

I can definitely relate to the essay writing anxiety when I first started university it took a me a while to understand how to write a university essay with the whole citing and referencing system I of course fail my way through essay. I did get some good grades and passed a few of my essay however now I get so much built up anxiety before writing an essay that it does take me two weeks after the due date to hand it in (if I even do that) then of course I get a low grade because of that and so the cycle continues. I have the same thoughts running through my head when I begin to write such as your gunna fail anyway why bother, your not good enough to be at uni, your a failure so why even try, your just wasting everyone time etc I’ve tried to start my assignments early but I just get anxious and end avoiding it then I freak out near the due try to start but end up not finishing it and then I fail which makes me feel worst

Hi there. You are struggling and suffering. Your self-doubt and procrastination are self-defeating. Time to make changes! I suggest facing your fear and taking one or more writing courses. Aim to improve your writing every day. Learn writing rules and apply them Then go on with your usual education — always facing fear like a soldier. If you do not make good progress, consult a psychologist.

One of the things that always helped me personally when it came to research papers/thesis papers was to go through one book at a time, take a TON of notes for what might be relevant (noting page numbers in case I had to go back and quote or clarify context), and then sort my notes by where they might belong: introduction, supporting arguments for idea 1, idea 2, etc., or closing. Then I’d repeat the process with the next book, and keep going until I’d used all of the possible sources. From there, I could then sort the ideas and place them in a more sensible order, and then link the ideas with a narrative. Sometimes I’d toss out certain ideas or notes completely, because they didn’t belong anymore. Another helpful tool for me was to write down an outline of the different ideas I wanted to discuss, and that helped to keep me on track and focus on which parts needed more support or where I didn’t have to keep looking. There were also at least two re-writes – 3 if I could get someone else to look at it for feedback!

Thank you so much for this article! I used to be scared of essays and long answers; the longer the assignment to be written, the greater my fear. Fortunately, we have essays only in languages ( I mean like narrative essays, descriptive, picture composition etc.)

I realise this is horribly behind the last person who submitted a comment, but I thought it might help me to respond, even though no one may read it. I have been out of fulltime study for many years now and so am very out of practice. But 9 months ago I enrolled on a Masters course and am so far floundering badly. My first essay, I confidently approached it, the same way I remember constructing essays when I was at Uni the first time, and I submitted well before the due date and I was confident I had done well. But! (And this is the crux really) the feedback I received was awful. I had just finished a very bad job where I was under ridiculous amounts of stress and used as a scapegoat and my confidence was already shaky. The comments I received from my tutor destroyed me and each essay I have handed in since have been received just as badly that now the anxiety is so great that I can’t even bring myself to begin. How can I get over the crippling anxiety I feel whenever I think about submitting another essay with the knowledge that I will get back, not just a disappointing grade, but a lot of nasty feedback which I am scared to read. I didn’t open my last email to see what my grade was for over a week because I was far too scared to do so, and when I did, it was not at all a pleasant experience.

Hi. You are having an unpleasant return to education! You may need to take a writing course before you take any other courses. For the time being, aim to get as many points as you can. Read the comments and try to improve your writing. Keep in mind that writing is a complicated skill but one that a person can improve with training, practice and feedback. Do the best you can under the circumstances.

As for nasty comments, they have no place in education. You might want to rethink where you are studying.

Best wishes!

I’ve this problem in my whole life. It’s not only caused my bad assignment, but also caused my inability. So whenever my Turkish language teacher gave an assignment, I felt like I was drowning while writing in middle school. More interesting that I wrote more realistic than figurative but this time it caused fault of grade, so I hate literature and writing, but I was a strict reader that times interestingly.

As a result: In my situation, couldn’t write perfect article with great imagination drive me avoiding writing. I want to write again. Thank you

I am reading this page and I know the last comment was 2017, but I still feel the urge to comment! I am a fourth-year university student, I have six months left of my course and I am in the middle of writing my last essay before my dissertation! I made a detailed plan weeks ago, and I have the resources I need for it, but yet I cannot start. I can relate to a lot of these comments and some of them made me cry because I can relate! I have cried for days because I have felt such an intense fear about this essay. I feel it like a burning sensation in my chest, and one day I felt paralyzed with fear over it and fought to even get out of my bed, I felt so low that these feelings were back again. This is something I have dealt with for as long as I can remember. As a child, I grew up in an abusive home and my father would yell at me if I got the answer to a homework question wrong, and would often call me stupid. One time he shouted at me so much, I blacked out, he was in my face shouting at me and calling me names for not knowing the answer, and when the rest of my family came home, he made me lie about it and tell them I passed out because I sniffed tipex (which was untrue but saved him from telling the truth). I believe this is why I have such a phobia of writing! I often am afraid for others to read my work for fear of them laughing at me or not being smart as others. I have this fear even though I have been to university twice and even have written reports to the sheriff, without any complaints about my writing, yet the fear remains. I have a psychologist and do not see her until 1st Dec, so I am currently trying techniques I hope will help me finish this essay. This post has helped me feel like I am not alone, thank you to the writer and everyone who commented. Much love to everyone, we are not alone in this!

Hello. You had a damaging childhood. Your’s father’s abuse may have damaged your self-confidence so much that you doubt yourself. Freud would say that you have introjected your father’s view of you. See: https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/introjection

Now would be a good time to break free of his negative influence and to write. You have nothing practical to lose and much to gain. Write one word. Then perhaps you will write a sentence. Freedom could be your reward.

Thank you so much for this article, John. Your tips and reading all of the comments have really helped me feel less alone in this post-graduate essay writing phobia hellscape I’ve found myself in. I’m having trouble thinking about something (emotionally) worse than not being able to execute something that is supposed to be your bread and butter- for me, writing has always come naturally, but deadlines have made me want to, well, die. They are called DEADlines after all. Anyway, thank you for this article and this space to engage with others who have this experience. I learned that my procrastination doesn’t come from perfectionism but from avoiding the fear/anxiety that comes with a task.

Thanks again, M.

Feeling alone when completing a challenging task is something to avoid. You could talk with your supervisor/teacher or with someone who provides counselling to students — a free service too few students use.

Thank you for this article. I am on the verge of academic probation due to my intense fear of writing essays. When I receive an essay assignment, I’m always thinking of what I’m going to write, but I physically can’t just sit down and write. I often don’t turn anything in at all and it causes intense panic attacks.

Hi Laila. I can sense your fear. I suggest consulting a mental health professional so you can find the cause of your problems and find a way to solve them.

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82 Phobia Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best phobia topic ideas & essay examples, 🔍 good research topics about phobia, 👍 interesting topics to write about phobia, ❓ research questions about phobias.

• School Anxiety and Phobia in Children Fear of school is a widespread phenomenon in the modern world, so it is essential to track the symptoms as quickly as possible and eradicate the cause of stress.
• Social Phobia and Stigma Treatment in Saudi Arabia In addition to the social factors, the causes of anxiety and phobic disorders include heredity, the individual characteristics of the nervous system, and the presence of congenital abnormalities.
• Old Age Phobia: Problems and Solutions Most of the countries of the world share the same view regarding the issue of the fear of aging. Thus, the perception of age is never well-received by the community and there is such a […]
• The Development of Phobias and Addictions On the other hand, addictions are the behavioral pattern that is characterized by either psychological or physical reliance on substances abuse which is known to have negative impacts on the health and the life of […]
• Social Phobia Issue Analysis From surveys of many individuals from across the United States and elsewhere, Ruscio and his colleagues found that 40% of individuals considered themselves to be chronically shy, to the point of it being a problem. […]
• Anxiety and Phobia in Dental Settings: Theories and Their Relations While external factors may lead to the creation of the anxiety pattern in a patient, the subsequent dental treatment and procedures and their experiences may either exacerbate or altogether nullify the condition.
• Behavioral Treatment of Phobias One of the key concepts of CBT is that the source of a patient’s problems most likely lies inside the person, not outside. Therefore, further research should be initiated to improve the understanding of CBT […]
• Anxious Phobia Disorder Patients’ Brain & Behavior The improvement of the methods of spectral and multifractal analyses of the electroencephalogram has enabled scientists and psychologists to sort the chaotic and fractal dynamics of the brain associated with anxious phobia disorders.
• Specific Phobia: Major Psychiatric Disorder Moreover, the client loved going to school when she was a child because she did well in all of her classes.
• Learning Theories Explaining Elevator Phobia I have tried to fight the phobia, but whenever I am faced with the scenario where I am supposed to use the elevator, the memory of the fall becomes so clear, and my fear comes […]
• Conditioning in Phobias and Addictions In classical conditioning, Extinction of a behavior is induced by use of a positive reinforcement to the organism which escalates a response.
• Phobia in Operant and Classical Conditioning The process of classical conditioning encompasses an association between a behavior that is involuntary and a stimulus. This process sharply differs with that of operant conditioning where the association is between voluntary behavior and a […]
• Social Phobia: Causes, Symptoms and Signs It is generally associated with the way a person conducts him or herself in any social setting; in this case, an individual may be in a position of feeling very shy and / or lacking […]
• Psychological Problems: The Social Phobia For the achievement of the positive outcomes in restoring of social phobia, the specialists suggest to include the assessments of the life quality and life events in the psychological treatment procedures.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Solving Social Phobia The third element “The situation is perceived as socially dangerous” is the cumulative effect of the trigger situation and the negative thoughts that the individual has accumulated about a particular situation and the perception by […]
• Aerophobia or Fear of Flying The main aim of the careful explanation of the positive reasons of recovering from the condition is to enable the victim to have a feeling of absolute calmness as the session winds up and to […]
• Blushing and Physiological Arousability in Social Phobia
• Phobia: Analysis of How It Affects Society
• Claustrophobia: Phobia and Frightening Airplane Experience
• Connecting Paranoia With Social Phobia, Eating Disorders, and Schizophrenia
• Phobia’s and Addiction Relating to Classical and Operant Conditioning
• Educational Phobia: How It Affects Education
• Erythrophobia: The Analysis of the Blushing Phobia
• The Differences Between Phobia and Panic Disorder
• The Problem of Exam Phobia Among High School Students
• Explaining Reasons People Might Develop a Specific Phobia
• The Relationships Between Faith, Self-Esteem, and Social Phobia
• Fear and Phobia: Social Anxiety Analysis
• Identifying Social Phobia: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prognosis
• The Relationships Between Phobia and College Student Fears
• The Problem of Islam-Phobia Under the Trump Administration
• Overcoming Social Phobia and Social Anxiety
• Overview of Three Most Common Phobias: Agoraphobia, Claustrophobia, and More
• Phobia: Phobias and Specific Activating Events
• Psychoanalytic and Behaviorism Explanations of Phobia of Darkness
• Social Phobia and Perfectionism: Theories, Types, and Models
• Psychological Reasons and Effects of Phobia Amongst Children
• Phobias: Effects and Treatments of Phobias
• Social Phobia Among Teenagers and Adults in America
• The Relationship Between Social Phobia and Fear of Public Speaking
• Social Phobia: How It Affects Children
• Phobias: The Cause, the Effect, and the Solution
• Analysis of the Effects of Phobias on People
• Subliminal Cues Bias Perception of Facial Effect in Patients With Social Phobia
• The Causes and Cure of Situational Phobia
• Social Phobia and Low Self-Esteem as Factors Behind Unhealthy Eating Behavior
• The Conscious and Subconscious Facets of a Phobia
• The Factors That Contribute to the Social Phobia
• The Millennial Generation Must End Islam Phobia
• Analysis of Causes and Disadvantages of Phobias
• Treatment Plan for Child’s School Phobia
• Understanding Social Phobia and Its Effect on People in the US
• What Shapes Europeans’ Attitudes Toward Xeno-Philia or Phobia
• Overview of Certain Strategies for Phobia Treatment
• The Netherlands on Combating Xenophobia and Racism
• Islamophobia in American Media: Cause or Result
• What Is a Phobia and How Does It Manifest Itself?
• What Shapes Europeans’ Attitudes Toward Phobia?
• How Do Phobias Differ From Ordinary Fears?
• What Kinds of Phobias Do People Commonly Develop?
• How to Portray Socioeconomic Factors as They Might Play a Role in Someone Having a Phobia?
• Are Phobias Genetic or Learned?
• What Symptoms and Behaviors Might Indicate a Phobia?
• How Can Therapy Treat Phobias?
• When Does Medication Make Sense for Phobia Management?
• What Age Has the Most Phobias?
• What Happens if Phobias Are Left Untreated?
• Who Is Most Likely to Get Phobias?
• How Can Utilizing Combinative Therapy Be Even More Helpful Than Just Administering One Method of Treating a Phobia?
• How Can a Blood or Injury Phobia Actually Cause a Dangerous Situation for That Person?
• Which Is the Most Common Type of Phobia?
• What Are the Complications Arising Due to Phobias?
• How Does Genetic Predisposition Play a Role in Whether or Not Someone Develops a Phobia?
• What Part of the Brain Develops Phobias?
• What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and How Do Mental Health Professionals Utilize It in Eliminating Phobias?
• What Are the Symptoms of Phobias?
• How Might Biofeedback, Deep Breathing Techniques, and Meditation Be Used in Conjunction to Help Treat Phobias?
• How Are Phobias Diagnosed?
• What Are the Causes and Risk Factors for Developing Phobia?
• Why Do Phobias Get Worse With Age?
• Meditation Questions
• Suicide Prevention Paper Topics
• Abnormal Psychology Paper Topics
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• Behaviorism Research Ideas
• Superstition Essay Ideas
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• Homophobia Topics
• Chicago (A-D)
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116 Phobia Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Phobias are an intense and irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger. They can range from common fears like spiders and heights to more unusual fears like peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth or fear of the color yellow. Phobias can have a significant impact on a person's daily life, causing anxiety, panic attacks, and avoidance of certain situations or objects.

If you're struggling to come up with a topic for an essay on phobias, fear not! We've compiled a list of 116 phobia essay topic ideas and examples to help inspire you. Whether you're writing a research paper, a personal essay, or a creative piece, there's sure to be a topic on this list that sparks your interest.

• The psychology behind phobias: causes, symptoms, and treatment options
• Common phobias: spiders, snakes, heights, and more
• Unusual phobias: fear of clowns, mirrors, or even the number 13
• Social phobias: fear of public speaking, social situations, or crowds
• Phobias in children: how they develop and how to help kids overcome their fears
• Phobias in adults: how they impact daily life and relationships
• Specific phobias vs. social phobias: differences and similarities
• Phobias and anxiety disorders: how they are related and how they differ
• The role of genetics in phobias: are they inherited or learned?
• Phobias and trauma: how past experiences can shape our fears
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy for phobias: how it works and its effectiveness
• Exposure therapy for phobias: facing your fears head-on
• Medication options for phobias: when therapy alone isn't enough
• Virtual reality therapy for phobias: a new approach to treatment
• The impact of phobias on mental health: anxiety, depression, and more
• Phobias and physical health: how fear can affect the body
• Phobias and relationships: how they can strain partnerships and friendships
• Overcoming phobias: success stories and strategies for recovery
• Living with a phobia: coping mechanisms and self-care tips
• The stigma of phobias: why they are often misunderstood or dismissed
• The history of phobias: how they have been perceived and treated over time
• The cultural aspects of phobias: how fears vary across different societies
• Phobias in literature and film: how they are portrayed and used for storytelling
• Phobias in art and music: how artists express their fears through their work
• Phobias and creativity: can fear inspire innovation and artistry?
• Phobias and gender: are women more likely to have phobias than men?
• Phobias and age: do fears change as we get older?
• Phobias and technology: the impact of social media, virtual reality, and more
• Phobias and the pandemic: how COVID-19 has influenced our fears
• Phobias and climate change: eco-anxiety and fear of the future
• Phobias and politics: how fear can be used as a tool for manipulation
• Phobias and religion: how faith can help or exacerbate our fears
• Phobias and philosophy: the existential dread of facing our fears
• The ethics of treating phobias: when is it appropriate to intervene?
• Phobias and personal growth: how overcoming fear can lead to self-discovery
• Phobias and resilience: how some people are able to thrive despite their fears
• Phobias and identity: how our fears shape who we are and how we see ourselves
• Phobias and spirituality: how faith can help us confront our fears
• Phobias and mindfulness: using meditation and mindfulness practices to cope with fear
• Phobias and self-compassion: how being kind to ourselves can help us overcome fear
• Phobias and perfectionism: the pressure to be fearless and its impact on mental health
• Phobias and imposter syndrome: feeling like a fraud in the face of fear
• Phobias and self-esteem: how fear can erode our confidence and sense of self-worth
• Phobias and body image: how fear of judgment and rejection can affect how we see ourselves
• Phobias and social media: the pressure to appear fearless and perfect online
• Phobias and vulnerability: how opening up about our fears can lead to connection and healing
• Phobias and shame: the belief that our fears make us weak or inadequate
• Phobias and courage: the bravery it takes to face our fears head-on
• Phobias and empowerment: reclaiming our power in the face of fear
• Phobias and control: the illusion of safety in avoiding our fears
• Phobias and acceptance: finding peace in the midst of fear
• Phobias and growth: the opportunity for personal development and transformation
• Phobias and change: how facing our fears can lead to positive transformation
• Phobias and connection: how sharing our fears can lead to deeper relationships
• Phobias and compassion: how empathy and understanding can help us overcome fear
• Phobias and forgiveness: letting go of past traumas and fears
• Phobias and gratitude: finding joy and beauty in the face of fear
• Phobias and resilience: the strength and courage it takes to face our fears
• Phobias and self-compassion: being kind to ourselves in the midst of fear
• Phobias and therapy: the benefits of seeking professional help for phobias
• Phobias and medication: when is it appropriate to use medication for fear?
• Phobias and exposure therapy: facing our fears head-on to overcome them
• Phobias and cognitive-behavioral therapy: changing our thoughts and behaviors to conquer fear
• Phobias and virtual reality therapy: a new approach to treating phobias
• Phobias and relaxation techniques: using relaxation and stress-reduction techniques to cope with fear
• Phobias and self-help: strategies and tips for overcoming fear on your own
• Phobias and support groups: finding community and connection in the face of fear
• Phobias and holistic healing: using alternative therapies like acupuncture and yoga to treat fear
• Phobias and nutrition: how diet and nutrition can impact mental health and fear
• Phobias and exercise: the benefits of physical activity for reducing fear and anxiety
• Phobias and sleep: how sleep and rest can help us manage fear and stress
• Phobias and creativity: how fear can inspire creativity and innovation
• Phobias and art therapy: using art and creative expression to heal from fear
• Phobias and music therapy: the healing power of music in facing our fears
• Phobias and dance therapy: using movement and dance to overcome fear
• Phobias and writing therapy: the therapeutic benefits of journaling and storytelling for fear
• Phobias and nature therapy: the calming and grounding effects of spending time in nature
• Phobias and animal therapy: the comfort and support that animals can provide in facing fear
• Phobias and aromatherapy: using scents and essential oils to calm anxiety and fear
• Phobias and crystal therapy: the healing properties of crystals in overcoming fear
• Phobias and energy healing: using Reiki and other energy healing modalities to treat fear
• Phobias and acupuncture: the benefits of acupuncture for reducing fear and anxiety
• Phobias and massage therapy: the relaxation and stress relief that massage can provide in facing fear
• Phobias and hypnotherapy: using hypnosis to uncover and heal deep-seated fears
• Phobias and neurofeedback: the benefits of biofeedback for managing fear and stress
• Phobias and breathwork: the calming and grounding effects of deep breathing in facing fear
• Phobias and visualization: using guided imagery to confront and overcome fear
• Phobias and EMDR therapy: the benefits of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for treating fear
• Phobias and somatic therapy: using body-based therapies to heal from fear and trauma
• Phobias and trauma-informed care: the importance of recognizing and addressing past traumas in treating fear
• Phobias and attachment theory: how early attachment experiences can shape our fears
• Phobias and self-esteem: the impact of fear on our sense of self-worth and confidence
• Phobias and stigma: the negative stereotypes and

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Anxiety about academic writing: I'm afraid

• Am I the only person who feels like this?
• I never have enough time
• I'm a bad writer
• I don't know enough
• Writing is too hard

You might be feeling:

• I'm afraid that I'm not as smart or capable as other students.
• I'm feeling overwhelmed and I don't even know where to start.
• I'm already struggling in my class, and I'm afraid I'm going to fail this essay. If I don't pass the essay, I'll fail the course. If that happens, I may have to quit my program, and then I'll have failed myself and the people who support me.

What can you do right now?

Emotional strategies

• Consider your fear from a rational perspective and ask yourself these questions:  What are you actually afraid of? How realistic is the outcome you're afraid of? What can you do to protect yourself from that outcome?
• Pay attention to where you're feeling the fear in your body. Now try a few long, slow, deep breaths. How does that part of your body feel now?
• Try facing your fear straight on by setting yourself a small writing goal and then do it.
• Ask for help from the Counselling Centre, the Writing Centre, and your instructor to give yourself the best opportunity to feel supported. 

Writing strategies

• Listen to a pep talk about the anxieties typically experienced by new graduate students: Gradschoolitis.
• If you're feeling overwhelmed, start at step one ("Understand the Assignment") in " How to write an undergraduate-level essay " or " How to write a graduate-level essay ". Use the 12-step process provided in each guide to help you move step-by-step through the process. of completing your document.
• Make an appointment to speak with your instructor to learn more about what you need to do to ensure you pass the essay. Once you have that information, book an appointment to speak with us in the Writing Centre so we can provide suggestions and information to help you succeed.

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Where can you learn more?

Counselling Services

• "A guide to fear mastery"

Writing Centre

• " I'm a new graduate student at RRU and I'm terrified by academic writing. Can you help me? " 
• " How to write an undergraduate-level essay "
• " How to write a graduate-level essay "  

Ask for help

[email protected] (250) 391-2600 ext. 4515   Book an appointment

[email protected] (250) 391-2600, ext. 4353 or 1-800-788-8028 Book an appointment

• << Previous: Am I the only person who feels like this?
• Next: I never have enough time >>
• Last Updated: Sep 9, 2023 2:11 PM
• URL: https://libguides.royalroads.ca/anxiety

Writing Anxiety

What this handout is about.

This handout discusses the situational nature of writer’s block and other writing anxiety and suggests things you can try to feel more confident and optimistic about yourself as a writer.

What are writing anxiety and writer’s block?

“Writing anxiety” and “writer’s block” are informal terms for a wide variety of apprehensive and pessimistic feelings about writing. These feelings may not be pervasive in a person’s writing life. For example, you might feel perfectly fine writing a biology lab report but apprehensive about writing a paper on a novel. You may confidently tackle a paper about the sociology of gender but delete and start over twenty times when composing an email to a cute classmate to suggest a coffee date. In other words, writing anxiety and writers’ block are situational (Hjortshoj 7). These terms do NOT describe psychological attributes. People aren’t born anxious writers; rather, they become anxious or blocked through negative or difficult experiences with writing.

When do these negative feelings arise?

Although there is a great deal of variation among individuals, there are also some common experiences that writers in general find stressful.

For example, you may struggle when you are:

• adjusting to a new form of writing—for example, first year college writing, papers in a new field of study, or longer forms than you are used to (a long research paper, a senior thesis, a master’s thesis, a dissertation) (Hjortshoj 56-76).
• writing for a reader or readers who have been overly critical or demanding in the past.
• remembering negative criticism received in the past—even if the reader who criticized your work won’t be reading your writing this time.
• working with limited time or with a lot of unstructured time.
• responding to an assignment that seems unrelated to academic or life goals.
• dealing with troubling events outside of school.

What are some strategies for handling these feelings?

Get support.

Choose a writing buddy, someone you trust to encourage you in your writing life. Your writing buddy might be a friend or family member, a classmate, a teacher, a colleague, or a Writing Center tutor. Talk to your writing buddy about your ideas, your writing process, your worries, and your successes. Share pieces of your writing. Make checking in with your writing buddy a regular part of your schedule. When you share pieces of writing with your buddy, use our handout on asking for feedback .

In his book Understanding Writing Blocks, Keith Hjortshoj describes how isolation can harm writers, particularly students who are working on long projects not connected with coursework (134-135). He suggests that in addition to connecting with supportive individuals, such students can benefit from forming or joining a writing group, which functions in much the same way as a writing buddy. A group can provide readers, deadlines, support, praise, and constructive criticism. For help starting one, see our handout about writing groups .

Identify your strengths

Often, writers who are experiencing block or anxiety have a worse opinion of their own writing than anyone else! Make a list of the things you do well. You might ask a friend or colleague to help you generate such a list. Here are some possibilities to get you started:

• I explain things well to people.
• I get people’s interest.
• I have strong opinions.
• I listen well.
• I am critical of what I read.
• I see connections.

Choose at least one strength as your starting point. Instead of saying “I can’t write,” say “I am a writer who can …”

Recognize that writing is a complex process

Writing is an attempt to fix meaning on the page, but you know, and your readers know, that there is always more to be said on a topic. The best writers can do is to contribute what they know and feel about a topic at a particular point in time.

Writers often seek “flow,” which usually entails some sort of breakthrough followed by a beautifully coherent outpouring of knowledge. Flow is both a possibility—most people experience it at some point in their writing lives—and a myth. Inevitably, if you write over a long period of time and for many different situations, you will encounter obstacles. As Hjortshoj explains, obstacles are particularly common during times of transition—transitions to new writing roles or to new kinds of writing.

Think of yourself as an apprentice.

If block or apprehension is new for you, take time to understand the situations you are writing in. In particular, try to figure out what has changed in your writing life. Here are some possibilities:

• You are writing in a new format.
• You are writing longer papers than before.
• You are writing for new audiences.
• You are writing about new subject matter.
• You are turning in writing from different stages of the writing process—for example, planning stages or early drafts.

It makes sense to have trouble when dealing with a situation for the first time. It’s also likely that when you confront these new situations, you will learn and grow. Writing in new situations can be rewarding. Not every format or audience will be right for you, but you won’t know which ones might be right until you try them. Think of new writing situations as apprenticeships. When you’re doing a new kind of writing, learn as much as you can about it, gain as many skills in that area as you can, and when you finish the apprenticeship, decide which of the skills you learned will serve you well later on. You might be surprised.

Below are some suggestions for how to learn about new kinds of writing:

• Ask a lot of questions of people who are more experienced with this kind of writing. Here are some of the questions you might ask: What’s the purpose of this kind of writing? Who’s the audience? What are the most important elements to include? What’s not as important? How do you get started? How do you know when what you’ve written is good enough? How did you learn to write this way?
• Ask a lot of questions of the person who assigned you a piece of writing. If you have a paper, the best place to start is with the written assignment itself. For help with this, see our handout on understanding assignments .
• Look for examples of this kind of writing. (You can ask your instructor for a recommended example). Look, especially, for variation. There are often many different ways to write within a particular form. Look for ways that feel familiar to you, approaches that you like. You might want to look for published models or, if this seems too intimidating, look at your classmates’ writing. In either case, ask yourself questions about what these writers are doing, and take notes. How does the writer begin and end? In what order does the writer tell things? How and when does the writer convey their main point? How does the writer bring in other people’s ideas? What is the writer’s purpose? How is that purpose achieved?
• Read our handouts about how to write in specific fields or how to handle specific writing assignments.
• Listen critically to your readers. Before you dismiss or wholeheartedly accept what they say, try to understand them. If a reader has given you written comments, ask yourself questions to figure out the reader’s experience of your paper: What is this reader looking for? What am I doing that satisfies this reader? In what ways is this reader still unsatisfied? If you can’t answer these questions from the reader’s comments, then talk to the reader, or ask someone else to help you interpret the comments.
• Most importantly, don’t try to do everything at once. Start with reasonable expectations. You can’t write like an expert your first time out. Nobody does! Use the criticism you get.

Once you understand what readers want, you are in a better position to decide what to do with their criticisms. There are two extreme possibilities—dismissing the criticisms and accepting them all—but there is also a lot of middle ground. Figure out which criticisms are consistent with your own purposes, and do the hard work of engaging with them. Again, don’t expect an overnight turn-around; recognize that changing writing habits is a process and that papers are steps in the process.

Chances are that at some point in your writing life you will encounter readers who seem to dislike, disagree with, or miss the point of your work. Figuring out what to do with criticism from such readers is an important part of a writer’s growth.

Try new tactics when you get stuck

Often, writing blocks occur at particular stages of the writing process. The writing process is cyclical and variable. For different writers, the process may include reading, brainstorming, drafting, getting feedback, revising, and editing. These stages do not always happen in this order, and once a writer has been through a particular stage, chances are they haven’t seen the last of that stage. For example, brainstorming may occur all along the way.

Figure out what your writing process looks like and whether there’s a particular stage where you tend to get stuck. Perhaps you love researching and taking notes on what you read, and you have a hard time moving from that work to getting started on your own first draft. Or once you have a draft, it seems set in stone and even though readers are asking you questions and making suggestions, you don’t know how to go back in and change it. Or just the opposite may be true; you revise and revise and don’t want to let the paper go.

Wherever you have trouble, take a longer look at what you do and what you might try. Sometimes what you do is working for you; it’s just a slow and difficult process. Other times, what you do may not be working; these are the times when you can look around for other approaches to try:

• Talk to your writing buddy and to other colleagues about what they do at the particular stage that gets you stuck.
• Read about possible new approaches in our handouts on brainstorming and revising .
• Try thinking of yourself as an apprentice to a stage of the writing process and give different strategies a shot.
• Cut your paper into pieces and tape them to the wall, use eight different colors of highlighters, draw a picture of your paper, read your paper out loud in the voice of your favorite movie star….

Okay, we’re kind of kidding with some of those last few suggestions, but there is no limit to what you can try (for some fun writing strategies, check out our online animated demos ). When it comes to conquering a block, give yourself permission to fall flat on your face. Trying and failing will you help you arrive at the thing that works for you.

Celebrate your successes

Start storing up positive experiences with writing. Whatever obstacles you’ve faced, celebrate the occasions when you overcome them. This could be something as simple as getting started, sharing your work with someone besides a teacher, revising a paper for the first time, trying out a new brainstorming strategy, or turning in a paper that has been particularly challenging for you. You define what a success is for you. Keep a log or journal of your writing successes and breakthroughs, how you did it, how you felt. This log can serve as a boost later in your writing life when you face new challenges.

Wait a minute, didn’t we already say that? Yes. It’s worth repeating. Most people find relief for various kinds of anxieties by getting support from others. Sometimes the best person to help you through a spell of worry is someone who’s done that for you before—a family member, a friend, a mentor. Maybe you don’t even need to talk with this person about writing; maybe you just need to be reminded to believe in yourself, that you can do it.

If you don’t know anyone on campus yet whom you have this kind of relationship with, reach out to someone who seems like they could be a good listener and supportive. There are a number of professional resources for you on campus, people you can talk through your ideas or your worries with. A great place to start is the UNC Writing Center. If you know you have a problem with writing anxiety, make an appointment well before the paper is due. You can come to the Writing Center with a draft or even before you’ve started writing. You can also approach your instructor with questions about your writing assignment. If you’re an undergraduate, your academic advisor and your residence hall advisor are other possible resources. Counselors at Counseling and Wellness Services are also available to talk with you about anxieties and concerns that extend beyond writing.

Apprehension about writing is a common condition on college campuses. Because writing is the most common means of sharing our knowledge, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves when we write. This handout has given some suggestions for how to relieve that pressure. Talk with others; realize we’re all learning; take an occasional risk; turn to the people who believe in you. Counter negative experiences by actively creating positive ones.

Even after you have tried all of these strategies and read every Writing Center handout, invariably you will still have negative experiences in your writing life. When you get a paper back with a bad grade on it or when you get a rejection letter from a journal, fend off the negative aspects of that experience. Try not to let them sink in; try not to let your disappointment fester. Instead, jump right back in to some area of the writing process: choose one suggestion the evaluator has made and work on it, or read and discuss the paper with a friend or colleague, or do some writing or revising—on this or any paper—as quickly as possible.

Failures of various kinds are an inevitable part of the writing process. Without them, it would be difficult if not impossible to grow as a writer. Learning often occurs in the wake of a startling event, something that stirs you up, something that makes you wonder. Use your failures to keep moving.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Hjortshoj, Keith. 2001. Understanding Writing Blocks . New York: Oxford University Press.

This is a particularly excellent resource for advanced undergraduates and graduate students. Hjortshoj writes about his experiences working with university students experiencing block. He explains the transitional nature of most writing blocks and the importance of finding support from others when working on long projects.

Rose, Mike. 1985. When a Writer Can’t Write: Studies in Writer’s Block and Other Composing-Process Problems . New York: Guilford.

This collection of empirical studies is written primarily for writing teachers, researchers, and tutors. Studies focus on writers of various ages, including young children, high school students, and college students.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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This is what admissions officers really want to read in college essays

The important thing is not to overthink it.

by Allie Volpe

One of the most memorable essays college admissions counselor Alexis White worked on with a student wasn’t about a harrowing personal challenge or a rewarding volunteering experience. “It started with the sentence ‘My hair arrives in a room before I do,’” says White, the founder and director of the consultancy firm Alexis College Expert. “It just was the best. And everybody who reads it loves it.”

College application essays have an infamous reputation for being one of the most difficult aspects of the application process. But it remains a crucial way to share details about your life and interests — a way to distinguish yourself beyond your grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities, even in the era of ChatGPT (more on that later).

Vox’s guide to college application season

You got into college. How will you pay for it?

Applying to college? Seven current students on how to stand out and stay sane.

Admissions officers are looking to be entertained when reading application essays, White says. Of course, students should use their essay to showcase their curiosities, character, and point of view, but contrary to popular belief, these personal statements don’t need to recount devastating moments of painful growth. “You can be fun,” White says. “You don’t have to have trauma.”

There are a number of essays students will need to write as a part of their college application. Over seven million students apply to college through the Common App , a streamlined platform that allows students to apply to multiple schools at once. There, students write a personal statement, usually between 500 and 650 words , centered on a student’s identity, beliefs, accomplishments, and interests, and can choose from among seven prompts for the 2024–25 application season. One prompt even allows the applicant to write about a topic of their choice. “Write the essay that your heart wants to write,” says college essay coach Cassandra Hsiao .

Individual colleges also ask for additional shorter pieces ( around 250 words ), also known as supplemental essays, which may ask applicants to explain why they’re applying to this specific school, and about their academic interests and extracurricular activities.

With so much to write, students need to dedicate serious time and effort — White suggests at least eight weeks — into crafting compelling and effective essays. Here’s what college essay pros want applicants to know.

Make sure your essays are unique to you

Students often put pressure on themselves to have a one-of-a-kind essay topic, White says. There are very few unique concepts, she continues, but what will set you apart is your way into the essay. Start strong with an attention-grabbing first sentence, experts say, that immediately hooks the reader.

Can’t decide what to write? Try these exercises.

Look around your house or room and pick 10 items that spark a memory — like a soccer trophy or a painting you made — and write them down. Or recount a typical day in your life in detail, from the music you listen to in the shower to the snack you grab before bed.

The point, Brooks says, is to hone in on things that you may think of as humdrum, but that you can use to tell a story about yourself.

Don’t discount minor details when thinking about extracurriculars and accomplishments. “When my kids are stuck, it’s a lot of chatting about things that they think don’t matter and then we typically come to something really great,” says Tyler.

Another tactic is picking five adjectives would you use to describe yourself, suggests White. Expand on each with an experience or memory.

Focus on developing a unique lens through which to see an event in your life, with an original point of view. These can be small moments, says Stacey Brook, the founder and chief adviser at College Essay Advisors . For example, one student she worked with wrote an essay about bonding with her mother during drives to gymnastics practice. After the student got her license and no longer had these moments with her mother, she wrote, she felt a sense of loss. “She was reflecting on what those drives meant to her and what it means to grow up and to gain things and lose them at the same time,” Brook says. “That’s the tiniest moment, the smallest slice of life out of which you can make an incredible essay.”

Even if you’re writing about a common topic, like school sports or lessons learned from an adult in your life, one way to differentiate your essay is to add dialogue, Hsiao says. “It’s in the specificity that only you can write because you went through that,” she says.

Avoid regurgitating your resume, Hsaio continues. Instead, lead the reader through a narrative arc showing your growth. You don’t need to explicitly state what you learned from the experience. Instead, use descriptive, scene-setting language — about how tense you were during that big game or your excitement when you stepped onto the stage — that shows how you’re different on the other side.

Again, you don’t need to share the worst thing that’s ever happened to you — or try to dramatize your life to make it seem more challenging than it is — but help the reader understand the effort you put in to get a new club off the ground, for example. “What you went through objectively might be really small on a global scale,” Hsiao says, “but because it felt big to you and I care about you as the writer, it will feel big to me.”

Don’t even think about copying from ChatGPT (or other generative AI)

While Brook understands the appeal of ChatGPT, experts say don’t use it to write your essay. College application reviewers will be able to tell.

The purpose of these pieces is to display your personality and writing ability and bots will never produce a unique, personalized essay. These chatbots use a style and tone that is immediately identifiable to readers, one that is rife with cliches and an awkward cadence, experts say.

Appropriate uses of generative AI include spell and grammar check or as a thesaurus. “Once you start pulling full paragraphs, you’re cheating,” White says. “It’s not your work.”

Tailor supplemental essays to each school

Depending on the school, you may be asked to write one or two shorter supplemental essays . These prompts may have similar themes, about your academic interests or how you relate to the people around you . For these essays, experts say you can reuse answers for multiple schools — but make sure you revise your answers to be specific to each school.

To ensure you’re tackling supplemental essays efficiently, Brook says to collect all of the prompts for the schools you’re applying to and see where they overlap. Hsiao suggests brainstorming three or four activities, obsessions or aspects of your life you know you want to showcase and try to match these topics to essay prompts. This can be anything from an extracurricular to your favorite TV show. “We are prioritizing what is important in our lives and then showcasing that by mixing and matching per school for the supplemental essay questions,” she says. For example, if you plan on writing about your future major for one college, adapt that essay to each school. However, make sure you’re researching each university and adding details about their specific program to your piece, Brook says.

For essays asking why you want to attend that specific college, ensure your answers are unmistakably catered to that school. “‘I love Delaware because I can’t wait to go to football games and pledge a sorority, and I’m excited about the business school.’ That is not going [cut it] because you could say that about Rutgers,” says Kyra Tyler , a senior director and college admissions consultant at Bright Horizons College Coach. Instead, pepper your answer with details about school traditions, an honors program you hope to join, interesting research opportunities or what you observed when you went on a tour (whether in person or virtual), Tyler says.

Tell a vivid story — and showcase your writing ability

Not only do your essays need to be of substance, but they should showcase style, too.

Tyler suggests students avoid metaphor: Don’t talk about caring for your younger sibling in the context of a Bluey episode — be straightforward. (“Kids can’t get away from [metaphors],” Tyler says, “and what happens is they get stuck under them, and they can’t write.”) You’ll want to write vividly using concrete examples instead of plainly spelling everything out, White says. For instance, if you were a camp counselor who helped a nervous child come out of their shell, write a scene showing the camper interacting with other kids rather than simply saying the camper was less reserved.

Write as if you were talking to your best friend, Tyler says. Avoid slang terms, but let your personality come through your writing. Try reading your essay aloud to see if it sounds like you.

Don’t forget about the basics, like good grammar, proper spelling, and word choice (make sure you’re not repeating similar words and phrases). You don’t need to focus on the five-paragraph structure, Hsiao says. Just make sure you’re telling a compelling story. Have a trusted adult, like a teacher or parent, read your essay to help point out style and structural issues you may have missed.

After you’ve completed a draft, set it aside for a few days, come back to it with fresh eyes for revisions, Tyler says.

College application essays are your chance to share who you were, who you are, and how this university will shape who you hope to be, Hsaio says. Focus on topics you want admissions officers to know and let your voice and passion carry the essay.

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How to overcome anxiety over writing papers?

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Alice! Health Promotion. "How to overcome anxiety over writing papers?." Go Ask Alice!, Columbia University, 24 Jun. 2022, https://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/how-overcome-anxiety-over-writing-papers. Accessed 19, Sep. 2024.

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Alice! Health Promotion. (2022, June 24). How to overcome anxiety over writing papers?. Go Ask Alice!, https://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/how-overcome-anxiety-over-writing-papers.

Dear Alice,

I have terrible anxiety about writing papers. Because of this, I put them off, need to ask for extensions, and then have more anxiety about completing the assignment. In addition, when I start writing, I find it difficult to keep going, especially because I hit what may seem to others as small roadblocks, like uncertainty about citation format. I don’t experience nearly as much stress about other types of work (e.g., studying for and taking exams). What can I do to get over or at least cope reasonably with this fear?

Dear Reader,

Just thinking about writing anxiety made this answer more difficult to compose. You see, writing anxiety and writer’s block are concerns for both students and professionals of all ages and academic levels. In fact, even the most seasoned writers experience anxiety or writer’s block now and then. Fortunately, writing is a complex process that, with practice and patience, may be improved. Read on for some strategies for overcoming the roadblock you’re experiencing.

Writing anxiety comes in multiple forms such as an inability to form an idea, a physical struggle to manifest words on the paper, or a fear of not meeting expectations that hinders your progress. The four main causes of writer’s block include psychological, motivational, cognitive, and behavioral reasons. Psychological causes often include mood or stressors that affect cognitive processing. Motivation-related blocks often arise from a fear of failure. Similarly, those categorized as cognitive causes stem from perfectionism and obsession with details, much like you described in your uncertainty when formatting citations. Lastly, the most common cause of writing anxiety is behavioral changes such as procrastination. Procrastination may lead to a domino effect in which more work doesn’t get done and the pile-up becomes overwhelming. Writer’s block is different for everyone not only in its cause but also in its manifestation and how long it lasts. For some, it may occur for a few minutes and for others it may take decades to overcome, but it’s good to know that it’s possible.

It’s worth noting that more and more research has been dedicated to understanding the psychology behind writer’s block in order to help conquer it. Multiple studies have concluded that writer’s block is most effectively combated by giving the brain a break. This period of time is called the incubation period and could include activities such as going on a walk, playing a word game, or getting a full night’s sleep. When done for an appropriate amount of time, these mental breaks could help writers to think more creatively and find inspiration. Fortunately, writing anxiety is typically a product of a writer’s habits, and habits are changeable! You’ve already made a great first step by identifying a few things that don’t work for you — procrastination and obtaining deadline extensions provide you little or no relief. Now, the next step is to try out or adopt some new habits. To help relieve the anxiety and fear you feel about writing papers, implementing any of the following strategies may be useful:

• Stay on top of your reading assignments and do your best to attend classes — that way you won’t have to cram or teach yourself course material before writing your papers.
• Prior to writing, brainstorm ideas. Create a chart or write down topics of interest to refer back to while writing.
• Follow the guidelines your professor talked about in class or included in a syllabus or grading rubric. If you’re not sure about the guidelines, ask for clarification early.
• Start writing even before you envision your entire argument. Getting words down on paper may help you come up with the rest of your writing assignment. Try free writing or diagramming to inspire ideas.
• Compose different parts of your paper in whatever order feels easy. You’re not required to write in sequential order, as long as the final product is well-organized. Some find it helpful to start with the sections that come naturally and move toward the more challenging parts.
• Avoid stopping and editing each sentence as you write. This will slow you down. Instead, consider writing your paper in several whole drafts, and take breaks between editing. Remind yourself that the first draft is low-pressure and exploratory.
• Write your paper in several sittings rather than trying to crank it out in one marathon session. Attempting to write a paper in one sitting may overwhelm you, thereby distracting you from your task.
• Avoid distractions by turning off your internet and cellphone or writing a draft by hand.
• Get feedback from others. Many schools offer writing support services such as helping you develop and structure ideas, find research, connect thoughts, strengthen your understanding of grammar, and much more.
• Seek out additional support. If you’re wondering if your writing block is related to a learning disability, you can check to see if your school as an office of disability services that provides support to students. 

You can also reach out to instructors or a tutor to help implement these strategies for combating writing anxiety. Remember that writing anxiety is common — and you’re certainly not alone. However, if you continue to experience these feelings and need additional support, you might find it helpful to reach out to a mental health professional.

Additional Relevant Topics:

How do i implement time management strategies and avoid procrastination, what are some tools for managing stress, what should i do if my classmates seem to breeze through coursework while i struggle, how can i find a therapist.

writing essay about phobia?

Would it be a bad idea to write my Common App essay about a phobia? I’m thinking about using the “Describe a problem you’ve solved or would like to solve, explain its significance and the steps you took to try to solve it” prompt, but it seems like it would also fit in the failure essay topic or the meaningful identity/background essay.

Anyway, I’ve had moderate to severe emetophobia (the fear of vomit) my entire life and I recently started going to therapy for it this past summer. It’s one of the most under-researched phobias out there and there is no guaranteed cure. Because of this, I’ve become interested in researching this phobia as an independent project during college, to try and help others once I’ve gotten a better handle on my own phobia. It is one of the only things I can pinpoint that has drastically changed my life, which is why I am considering using it for my essay. I would, of course, focus on how I’ve become a stronger person through dealing with this rather than all of the things I can’t do because of my phobia.

Will colleges view this negatively? It’s a big part of who I am, but I can see why they’d be hesitant to admit a student who is deathly afraid of throw up. I don’t want to use this as any sort of “sob story” or make the reader pity me, but I don’t really have any other unique qualities or talents that I feel would be eye-catching or relevant enough to write about.

Well, imagine attending the admission’s committee meeting. Of course you want to stand out, but I am not sure that vomitus is the image that you want in their minds. Probably too much information.

You might make it personal but general about how a young person faces fear and anxiety to overcome (or adapt to) a problem and how that prepares you or influences you in regard to college.

@WISdad23 Haha, okay, good point. I wasn’t planning on being graphic with it or anything, but mainly focusing on how it’s changed me as a person.

Would writing about just plain anxiety and fear not be too generic for an essay?

I don’t think the details of the pathology are as relevant to college admission as are the details of the struggle and its outcome.

I had a relatively funny story about one of my fears that fulfilled the prompt and was interesting/insightful. I think it works pretty well actually.

I think if you make it somewhat funny and maybe give a couple of anecdotes about the lengths you went to in order to avoid vomiting combined with the strength it took to actually address the problem and try to overcome it, it could be a good topic. Your interest in wanting to help others with similar problems shows your character and that should come across well.

Everyone is repelled by vomit. Is a fixation with vomit what you want the AdComms to remember you by? How does this want them to say YES?

I’d stay clear of topics about repellent bodily fluids.

College Essay: Overcoming Social Anxiety

“William, you’re up first,” the teacher said excitedly. 

I was instantly anxious when my ninth-grade English teacher announced I would be the first person presenting. As I walked to the front of the classroom, I was fidgeting and could feel  my face turning red. My classmates’ eyes followed me, looking like they were planning something. I started by introducing the title of the poem I was going to recite. I included some hand gestures and facial expressions while reciting the poem to make it better and less awkward, but I was still stiff. I felt like I did a solid job of engaging the audience and helping them understand the poem. People started applauding for me because they didn’t expect me to be that good because I was a shy dude. I finished by making some personal connections to the poem I chose. I went back to my seat, my face feeling hot because of how red I was. A classmate who sat next to me told me I did an outstanding job. This compliment really made my day because I thought I did OK.  This experience was the moment I realized I had some hope of overcoming my social anxiety. At the end of the presentation I felt like it wasn’t that bad, and I overcame something that was always with me throughout middle school. Now, it could change.

Social anxiety has especially affected me during middle school. I probably first realized I had social anxiety when I had to present in front of the class in seventh grade; I felt a little weird as soon as my classmates’  eyes were on me. In the middle of my presentation, I started crying because my teacher insisted I continue after pausing multiple times because of my nervousness. Since I refused to present in front of the class again, my grade was an automatic zero. 

I finally overcame my social anxiety after joining a program called Minnesota Business Venture, which was recommended by the college counselors. I signed up for it because it was going to help me feel and live a little bit of that college experience at St. Thomas by staying in dorms and learning on campus for a whole week. This program helped with my social anxiety significantly because I was able to see new faces and meet really kind people. Being in an inclusive environment allowed me to express myself better, without being judged or teased. I realized I have had some friends in the past who made me feel like I was kinda worthless. But since my peers from the St.Thomas program helped me and complimented me on my work. I felt like I had worth and confidence in expressing myself.

I noticed how having this social anxiety and awkwardness had really taken a toll on me and prevented me from making friends and feeling comfortable talking. I feel confident now that I’m opening up more. When it’s time to start college, I will be facing many obstacles, but I feel like I just took my biggest obstacle away. Joining a new university will help me start fresh. As I’m becoming  friends with the right people, I will be able to feel more comfortable because I know I am able to socialize with strangers. 

Through this program, an experience of meeting new people, I felt relieved and free. I interacted with random people and made new friends. Now, when I am connecting and collaborating with my classmates, teachers and relatives I am confident, feeling like I’m a new and improved person. What I learned is how putting yourself out there not only reduces your shyness; everyone can go far if they push themselves out of their comfort zone.

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Phobia Essays

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A phobia is an “irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid the subject of the phobia” (Ankrom, 2009 pg.325). Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder that may leave an individual with a strong irrational fear of something that poses …

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Home — Essay Samples — Psychology — Phobias — The Fear of Heights

My Phobias: The Fear of Heights

• Categories: Phobias

About this sample

Words: 1065 |

Published: Jan 4, 2019

Words: 1065 | Pages: 2 | 6 min read

Table of contents

My biggest fear is heights, causes of acrophobia, therapy of the phobia, works cited, acrophobia from traumatic events, fear of heights since birth, cognitive biases in acrophobia.

• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
• Blenkiron, P. (2013). Acrophobia: Fear of heights. Psychiatry, 12(10), 423-426.
• Craske, M. G., Kircanski, K., Epstein, A., Wittchen, H. U., Pine, D. S., & Lewis-Fernández, R. (2017). Panic disorder: A review of DSM-5 panic disorder and proposals for DSM-5. Part II. Psychiatric Times, 34(4), 1-4.
• Davey, G. C. (1997). The latent fear of heights. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 35(9), 741-748.
• Eysenck, M. W., & Derakshan, N. (2011). Cognitive biases in anxiety and attention to threat. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(6), 301-308.
• Gallagher, M. W., Bentley, K. H., & Barlow, D. H. (2014). Perceived control and vulnerability to anxiety disorders: A meta-analytic review. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 38(6), 571-584.
• Gouliaev, G., Einarsson, E. Ö., Öhman, A., & Wiens, S. (2018). Early neural correlates of conscious somatosensory perception of fear-related stimuli in hypochondriasis. Biological Psychology, 135, 78-85.
• Kessler, R. C., Berglund, P., Demler, O., Jin, R., Merikangas, K. R., & Walters, E. E. (2005). Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), 593-602.
• Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019, August 9). Phobias: Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/phobias/symptoms-causes/syc-20376903
• McEvoy, P. M., & Mahoney, A. E. (2011). Achieving certainty about the structure of intolerance of uncertainty in a treatment-seeking sample with anxiety and depression. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 25(1), 112-122.

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