Is NOW the right time to let it go?
The Phobia Release
Beyond debilitating, a phobia can have a huge impact on your life, the decisions you make on a day-to-day basis, and create challenges in relationships.
How might your life be if you didn't have to consider your phobia ahead of making plans?
Hypnotherapy for phobias
A phobia is not a flaw.
It's an evolutionarily beneficial behaviour. A phobia is a subconscious function that in certain times in our evolution, a phobia might have kept us out of harm's way and served a very useful purpose.
We don't have so much need for these phobic responses nowadays. We're not living the same primitive environment (although it might feel like that sometimes!). Additionally, we have had a neurological upgrade; the conscious mind. The conscious mind can differentiate between an actual threat or a perceived threat. So if you have a fear of snakes, for example, your conscious mind knows the difference between a snake and the garden hose, or an image of a snake, whereas the subconscious mind will invoke the phobic response just-in-case.
What phobias does it work on? Here's a few...
Aerophobia
Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia
You're among friends!
Aerophobia, or Aviophobia as it's also known affects at least 1 in 10 of the UK population.
How might aerophobia be affecting your life now and your vision of your future?
Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia
A fear of becoming trapped or restricted in tight or crowded spaces.
Claustrophobia can influence so many decisions and invoke a fear of loss of control, spiraling into a change of behaviour and lifestyle.
Arachnophobia
Claustrophobia
Social Anxiety
Needs no introduction!
Probably the most common phobia in the UK. It can cause sleepless nights and escalate into panic. Like any phobia, it can make you feel incredibly disempowered.
Social Anxiety
Claustrophobia
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety or social phobia often starts in teenage years although can develop after a stressful event or overwhelming situation. It looks a lot like excessive worry and you'd often rather avoid a social situation than get worked up about it.
How do I know if it's a phobia?
Phobias are distinct from a fear or a dislike. of something in that the trigger subject provokes an exaggerated or powerful response that to another person might seem out of context or irrational.
Responses are very similar to and can appear as anger or anxiety responses. You might experience the following:
- Shortness of breath
- Raised heart rate
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Upset stomach
- An overwhelming urge to stop, or escape from the trigger or potential trigger.
Ultimately, phobia sufferers will go to great lengths to avoid the triggers which can have a huge impact on life choices and career and social opportunities.
How can Hypnotherapy for Phobias help?
There are two distinct types of phobias
Phobias can appear as a Specific Phobia or a Complex Phobia.
Specific Phobias
Specific phobias cover phobias with a specific object, place, or situation and include phobias such as:
- Arachnophobia (spiders)
- Ichthyophobia (Fish)
- Acrophobia (Heights)
- Aquaphobia (Water)
- Dentophobia (Dentist)
Complex Phobias
Complex phobias are often experienced alongside other anxiety disorders and, as the name states, can have complex layers to them. Some examples of complex phobia include:
- Agoraphobia:
- Social Anxiety
- Misophonia
Phobias can be triggered by a specific event, accompany anxiety or depression, or be learned behaviours from a parent or caregiver. Sometimes there seems to be no obvious source of the problem.
There is some suggestion that there may be a genetic component, but there's little evidence to support this.
More recently, a fear of driving (Amaxophobia) seems to be occurring in women during peri-menopause and post-menopause years. This may be related to an increase in hormone-induced anxiety or stress, or other related challenges (more on this in my menopause support sessions. Please contact me if you identify with this problem.)
How I can help?
The Sessions
A specific phobia can often be resolved in just 3 hour-long sessions. These can be held online, preferably over 3 weeks.
The number of sessions you might need for a complex phobia will vary depending upon your own circumstances.
Do get in touch and we'll have a chat about how I can help you.