Hyderabad: Know someone with an irrational fear?

Instead of cracking jokes, suggest that s/he visit a therapist immediately. ADVERTISEMENT

The death of a 25-year-old woman in Telangana has brought to light how deadly phobias can be. The woman from Sangareddy district, about 66 km from Hyderabad, suffered from a rare condition known as Myrmecophobia – the intense and irrational fear of ants.

She took her own life on Tuesday after encountering the tiny insects while cleaning up. Her husband returned home to find her dead.

The woman had apparently being living with the condition since childhood and had even sought counselling at a hospital in Mancherial to manage her fear. Despite treatment, the phobia continued to haunt her.

According to therapists, Myrmecophobia, though uncommon, can

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