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Woman with button-phobia trains as counsellor to eradicate fear
A woman from Newcastle has undergone training to become a counsellor to help overcome her own irrational fear, thesun.co.uk reports.
Students typically consider counselling training so they can help others overcome habits or fears. Louisa Francis, however, sought a counselling degree so she could overcome her own phobia, of buttons.
Francis, a mother of one, developed a fear of buttons - or koumpounophobia - from a young age and could not stand wearing any garment with buttons on. She was also unable to cope when her daughter wore buttoned clothes so had to resort to only buying her garments with zips.
In a bid to help overcome her fears, Francis sought a counselling course as opposed to a qualified counsellor so that she could try a new career path; whilst putting all she learned to good use on herself.
The course has helped Francis take the steps to overcome her fear and whilst she has not completely put it behind her, the effect it has had lessened.
Francis gave an insight into the techniques she learned on dailymail.co.uk, stating: "It really used to affect my chances in job interviews, but I know more about self-control techniques now, so if someone is wearing buttons I try really hard to control my reaction.
"It still makes me feel uncomfortable but I can now distract myself if it's just on someone's shirt, however if it starts coming towards me I still panic."
