Sometimes, in fact, they come in handy.

Sometimes it pays to have a phobia.  It can get you out of certain situations.  It's a buy for things you used to try to do but now either can't, or don't want to.  I actually think that psychologically, we look for reasons to develop them as bona fide excuses to get out of doing things we don't really want to do anymore.  The problem is, they keep creeping up and are sometimes inconvenient.  Especially to my children.  For example, climb 463 stairs in an enclosed space on a spiral staircase of a 1000 year old church in Italy with 2000 other people?  That would be a definite YES on any number of phobia's;  claustrophobia, check.  Stairwayphobia, check. Sweatypeoplephobia, double check.  See what I mean?

When I was younger, I would tough out that kind of shit all the time.  To be cool.  To prove to myself that I could do something out of my comfort zone.  sometimes because I was too stoned to notice. (sorry, Mom.)   But as we get older, we can tend to get less adventurous, less worried about what others think and definitely less stoned.

My kids call me a chicken.  My husband just nods.  I, on the other hand, really don't mind it.
I left my family at the base of those curvy, insane stairs and went for a coffee and a little window shopping.  It was WAY better.  The phobia thing really can pay off if you just give in to it, embrace it and then go for it.  It doesn't mean you need therapy, or drugs. You just use it as an opportunity to do what you want to do. So bag the stuff that makes you nuts and go for it.   Use the phobia card!