Your Fear: Dentists (Dentophobia)

How It Affects You: You’re hoping the throbbing pain in your tooth will go away on its own. But when it doesn’t, you still can’t bring yourself to set up an appointment.
The Facts: Today’s dentistry can be nearly pain-free, thanks to topical and oral anesthetics, nitrous oxide, and other sedation techniques.
How to Deal: Meditation, deep breathing, and familiarizing exercises, such as holding the dental instruments, can all help reduce mild anxiety, says Louis Siegelman, a dentist in New York City who specializes in working with fearful patients.

Your Fear: The Dark (Nyctophobia)

How It Affects You: You’re in your 40s. Needing a night-light seems just a tad pathetic.
The Facts: Everything is in the same place as it was when the lights were on. (No monsters, either.)
How to Deal: Ask someone you trust to encourage you to stay in a dark place until your anxiety is 50 percent less, says David Jacobi, Ph.D., a psychotherapist at the Anxiety and Agoraphobia Treatment Center, in Northbrook, Illinois. Repeat until comfortable.