Hypnotherapy for Phobias, Stress, and Anxiety
How can hypnosis and hypnotherapy help with a phobia?
We develop phobias because we have an inbuilt tendency to organize our thoughts into categories, and once we have experienced panic when faced with a particular thing or situation, we automatically associate that thing with panic and anxiety. Our fears are learnt. Fortunately, this means that they can also be unlearnt. Whilst in hypnosis you will be taught to visualize the feared object whilst in a state of total relaxation. By doing this you will learn to associate the thing you fear with a calm mind and a lack of unpleasant symptoms. Gradually, you will be encouraged to actually come into contact with the subject of your phobia, again whilst practising the relaxation techniques which you have been taught whilst in hypnosis. You will also be encouraged to use self hypnosis to reinforce your new beliefs. You will be given relaxation techniques which really work to help you to stay calm and in control, whatever fears you are facing.
What is a phobia?
A phobia is an irrational and exaggerated fear which causes anxiety, stress and panic. A phobia will often lead you to avoid the feared thing. From an evolutionary standpoint, there are reasons why panic, fear, anxiety and stress exist; if tens of thousands of years ago you found yourself in the vicinity of a vicious animal, and had no means of protecting yourself, then your instinct to run, or to fight, was correct. This is known as the “fight or flight” response. Fear, anxiety and stress, in historical terms, led us to avoid dangerous things, or made us able to fight them off or run away from them, which meant that we were more likely to survive and to reproduce. So those individuals who felt anxiety and fear were more likely to survive to pass on their genes. The ability to become anxious sometimes has a purpose, in that it leads to avoidance of something which it IS rational and sensible to avoid. However, all too often when we are fearful it is the fear itself which harms us. It’s not rational, for example, if your fear of needles is so great that it stops you from getting medical treatment which would help you get better, or possibly even save your life. Hypnosis and hypnotherapy allow you to overcome your fears; and getting rid of your fears enables you to live your life without inconvenience, and improves your confidence, so that you are more easily able to deal with new or difficult situations.
Simple phobia and complex phobia
There are two types of phobia – simple (or specific) phobias, and complex phobias; both can be treated successfully by hypnosis and hypnotherapy. A simple phobia is a fear of a single situation, object, living thing or situation – fear of spiders, needle phobia, fear of public speaking, dental phobia, fear of flying, vomiting phobia, or fear of enclosed spaces, for example. Such phobias are very common in children, who generally grow out of them; however where such a fear develops in later life, or where a child does not lose his reaction to the object of fear, this can cause difficulties. Those individuals who suffer from simple phobias are unlikely to have any other sort of mental health or psychological difficulty, although they may be more prone to suffering from stress and anxiety.
Agoraphobia is an example of a complex phobia, involving a number of anxieties – fear of crowds and public places, fear of various means of transport, and fear of being unable to get safely back home. Whilst such phobias are rarer than simple phobias, they are often found in individuals who have other psychological disorders.
Phobias lead to panic and anxiety
Most people who suffer from a phobia deal with it by avoiding what they fear. By avoiding what they fear they can also avoid the unpleasant symptoms of panic and anxiety. However, this can make life difficult in the case of simple phobias and near to impossible in the case of complex phobias. You may feel unable to have simple medical treatment or tests because of a needle phobia, or a dental phobia may mean that you cannot have preventative treatment or regular check ups. This can lead to serious problems – many individuals who have needle or dental phobia suffer much more serious problems than would otherwise be the case, as their fear prevents them from going to the dentist or doctor at an early stage. Some women even put off having a baby because of a fear of needles. Fear of flying stops many people from flying, or prevents them from really enjoying their holiday. People even refuse promotions because the new job would mean having to fly. Phobias and anxiety can also lead to emotional problems and difficulties at work.
Facing your fears
You will have learnt in the first sessions of hypnosis to associate the former object of your fear with positive, relaxed and calm thoughts. This is not magic – it is just a normal result of practising more positive thinking. When you get to the stage of facing your fear in reality, your mind will also recognize and remember that being in contact with the subject of your phobia does NOT actually cause you any harm. You will have learnt that panic and anxiety are not inevitable, and that there are other ways of reacting to the thing you once had such a fear of. Your life will be much easier, too, as you will not have to take steps to avoid those situations any more, or be anxious that you might be placed in a situation where you have to face something which will cause stress, anxiety or panic.
South Manchester Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis in south Manchester
The therapists at Manchester Hypnotherapy have over fifteen years of experience in treating insomnia, anxiety and teaching relaxation techniques and self hypnosis. If you are looking for anxiety treatment, or want to find a hypnotherapist in south Manchester to help stress and anxiety, emotional problems, tinnitus or low self esteem, then go to any of the independent websites which list and give reviews of hypnotherapists (for example www.freeindex.co.uk – Google also displays reviews) and you will see the excellent results which Pam and her team have achieved. If you would like further information about hypnosis in Manchester, for sleeping problems andinsomnia, self esteem and confidence, phobias such as fear of flying, depression, for help with weight loss, to break bad habits, or for any other problem, please call 07779 575816 for a free, no obligation, confidential discussion.
Hypnosis and hypnotherapy in Didsbury, Manchester – convenient for Chorlton, Gatley, Cheadle, Stockport and all areas of central and south Manchester.
