Hypnotherapy for phobias
Phobias work on a subconscious level. This means that no matter how much we tell ourselves that XYZ isn’t life-threatening, our minds and bodies still react with fear. The aim of hypnotherapy is to communicate with the subconscious and change the way you feel and behave towards your phobia.
The process itself involves putting you into a very relaxed, hypnotic state. Your hypnotherapist will talk you through this, and you’ll be in control the whole time. If you’re unsure where your phobia came from, you may spend some time getting to the root of it and remembering the event that triggered it (if there was one). I can then move on to using different techniques to help change your response. Often this will involve you gradually and gently confronting your phobia whilst being in a calm state.
What causes a phobia?
As with many matters of the mind, phobias rarely have a single cause. There can be a number of factors involved. The phobia may have stemmed from a particular trauma or event (for example, if you experienced a particularly bumpy flight when you were younger, you may develop a fear of flying as a result). It may be a learned response that you picked up from someone else (for example, if your mother screamed when they saw a spider, you may have subconsciously learnt that this is the appropriate response).
Some research also points to genetics being a factor. So it may be that you were simply born with a tendency towards anxiety. Existing mental health conditions like depression, anxiety and long-term stress can all feed into the development of a phobia too. Regardless of the cause, it’s important to know that phobias can be treated and that help is available. If you feel as though your phobia is holding you back or it’s interfering with your life in a significant way, consider seeking support. For many people, hypnotherapy is a helpful tool.
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