How can one overcome the phobia - fear of reading horror story?

One way is to start small. Read very mild horror stories or ones with a humorous take on horror first. This can gradually desensitize you to the scarier elements.

You can try to analyze the stories rationally. Realize that they are just fictional tales made up to create a sense of fear. Also, talking about your fear with others can help. They might share their own experiences or give you tips on how to face it. Another approach is to focus on the positive aspects of the stories, like the creativity in the plot or the way the characters are developed.

Start with milder horror stories. Gradually expose yourself to scarier ones as you get more used to it.

Well, it is common to an extent. Many individuals might have had a bad experience related to horror stories, like a nightmare after reading one or being overly scared as a child. This can then develop into a fear of reading such stories. Also, some people are just more prone to anxiety in general, and horror stories can exacerbate that, making the phobia more likely.

One way is to just remind yourself that it's just a story. Fiction has a way of making things seem scarier than they are in real life. So, just keep repeating to yourself that it's not real.

Well, you could start by reading or watching them during the day when you feel more safe. And talk to friends about it to make it less scary. Maybe even analyze the plot and figure out how they create the fear, which can make it less intimidating.

Just keep telling yourself it's not real. Focus on the fact that it's all made up and try to think of something positive instead.

One reason could be a vivid imagination. People with very active imaginations might find it hard to separate the fictional horror in the story from reality, and this scares them.

You could try to think about positive things and distract yourself. Maybe watch a comedy or do some exercise.

One way is to face it gradually. Start by learning small bits of the back story at a time. For example, if it's about a person, first ask about their recent past and then slowly move further back.