PHOBIAS

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A phobia is an excessive or unreasonable fear of an object, place or situation. Phobias are extremely common. Sometimes they start in childhood for no apparent reason; sometimes they emerge after a traumatic event; and sometimes they develop from an attempt to make sense of an unexpected and intense anxiety or panic (e.g. "I feel fearful, therefore I must be afraid of something").

When the phobic person actually encounters, or even anticipates being in the presence of the feared object or situation, s/he experiences immediate anxiety. The physical symptoms of anxiety may include a racing heart, shortness of breath, sweating, chest or abdominal discomfort, trembling, etc. and the emotional component involves an intense fear - of losing control, embarrassing oneself, or passing out.

Commonly people try to escape, and then to avoid the feared situation wherever possible. Avoiding the feared situation may limit their life severely. Escape and avoidance also make the feared object/situation more frightening.

Hypnotherapy is probably the kindest way to deal with phobias quickly and efficiently. Most Phobias can be treated in just a few sessions.



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How can Hypnotherapy help me?

* Desensitising the patient to the stimulus e.g. spiders, flying, the dentist, Buttons etc.

* Replacing the fear with a new more relaxed response, helping you to become much calmer in situations where you are likely to encounter the stimulus.

* Uncovering the source of the phobia although this is not generally necessary

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