I have had it since age 6 (and I'm now 37). I just thought it was some weird hang up and I had no idea so many others suffered. Friends and family have made fun of me for years. The strange thing is, I am not afraid of v***** myself, I am just afraid of others doing it. And I made it through med school without a major breakdown! And I have 2 small kids one of whom is prone to sv!