Millions of Brit men suffer from oikodomophobia – a fear of tradesmen

London: Millions of men in Britain are suffering from oikodomophobia – a fear of tradesmen, a new research has found.

When negotiating work with builders, plumbers or electricians, the victims suffer symptoms such as sweaty palms, breathing difficulties and breaking into a cold sweat, reports the Daily Express. The men worst affected by oikodomophobia tend to be those who themselves work in advertising, recruitment and banking. More than 30 percent of men admitted feeling intimidated and confused when speaking to trades-people. The main reason is their lack of knowledge, particularly about technical terms and whether the price they were being quoted was fair. A third said their minds went blank when talking to tradesmen and that they felt nervous when dealing with them. One in four men admitted to needing help with do-it-yourself projects, but many turned to friends rather than professionals, the study for thomson- local.com found. The term oikodomophobia was coined in 2006 from the ancient Greek oikodomo for building. With September being the busiest month for home improvement projects, Thomson Local has launched an online Man Skills Academy on its Facebook page. The aim is to teach men basic DIY skills as well as providing tips on how to commission trades-people and overcome their fear of dealing with household emergencies. ANI