From fear of particular animals to flying, heights or enclosed spaces phobias are so common but also so treatable. Cognitive-Behavioural interventions have an outstanding record when it comes to helping people overcome their fears and the additional use of hypnosis enhances the rate of improvement and the profundity and permanence of the change.
Some of the signs and impacts of a Phobia
As with the manifestation of anxiety, phobias can be characterised by the disproportionate response to a relatively modest stimulus. In the case of phobias the response is fear in the face of an unthreatening prospect and can lead to avoidance of situations, animals, objects etc. People with a phobia usually seek help to conquer their fear when it has begun to have a negative impact on quality of life, or holds them back from enjoyable experiences. Someone who has a phobia of aeroplanes and flying may avoid this type of travel, therefore missing out on many positive experiences.
When you are missing out on some of the good things life has to offer because of a phobia it's time to take action. The only regret will be that you didn't do it sooner.
Some of the different Phobia Categories
For many years records have been kept of examples of the objects of phobias and subsequently categorised by type. Hear is a selection:
- Situational type phobias - fear of flying, enclosed spaces such as lifts etc.
- Natural environment type phobias - fear of thunder, heights, being underwater etc.
- Blood/Injection/Injury type phobias - fear of needles, blood, operations etc
- Animal type phobias - fear of dogs, cats, snakes, spiders etc
Additionally, there are a couple of stand-alone phobia categories - Agoraphobia (with or without panic attacks) and Social phobia (this is distinct from social anxiety and is to do with fears of appearing foolish, clumsy or shameful in front of others and can encompass fears of public speaking etc).
All phobias listed are very treatable and respond extremely well to hypnotherapy.
Treatment with Hypnotherapy
Overcoming a phobia is all about desensitisation. The client has a chance to consider then systematically engage with and, finally, embrace the object of their phobia within a completely safe environment. This is one of the most repeatable and prolifically successful interventions in psychotherapy and hypnotherapy offers the ideal and optimum medium for its delivery.