A 12-year-old boy who developed a paralysing fear of flying was stuck in Abu Dhabi for 18 months unable to take a flight home. Joe Thompson had moved to the UAE capital with his family when his father got a job there, but when it was time to go back to the UK, Joe found he couldn't make it on to the plane. With the help of a hypnotist who accompanied the boy on the flight, Joe and his father were finally able to make it back to England. Joe's parents estimate that they spent £40,000 tackling his fear of flying.

Have you ever dealt with an extreme phobia? Do planes, trains or car journeys fill you with fear? Have you developed a phobia which has stopped you from doing things you'd like to do? Perhaps you've tackled a phobia successfully – in which case, we want to know how. Tell us about the things that fill you with panic, and let us know how you deal with them.