Fears and Phobias

Why do we have fears and phobias?

Our fears are natural responses to perceived danger in our environment. When our brain senses a threat, it naturally fires off to warn us that there is something threatening our survival. Phobias, on the other hand, are irrational fears that do not represent a real threat to our existence. Phobias that people can suffer from are various and all have their origin in the human psyche. Sometimes we may pick up a fear from our parents or carers, like fear of spiders or dogs. Or it can be an event that at the time we did not seem traumatic, but some years after, it suddenly becomes an issue!

How and when fears and phobias occur?

Fears and phobias can prevent us from living a normal life in so many ways. They may pose an obstacle to having a dream job, living in another country or having successful relationships. People who suffer from fears and phobias know best what they are going through. They may experience feelings that range from discomfort, anxiety to full-on panic attacks. No matter how much one attempts to rationalise the situation, when the triggers are there, our subconscious mind takes over.  Everything we have experienced, since the beginning of our existence, is stored. We may tend to think we forgot something we have experienced years and years ago. However, when a situation occurs  again, we become pleasantly (or unpleasantly) surprised that the information is still there. This is particularly prominent when intense emotions are associated with the event.

How can hypnotherapy help with fears and phobias?*

The amygdala and the hippocampus are the parts of our brain that are responsible for storing the information so it becomes a long-term memory. If we have learnt from our parents that spiders or dogs are dangerous, then when see a spider or a dog in the street, our amygdala will initiate a fight or flight response. Depending on the template of our previous experiences, we will demonstrate behaviour that matches the one stored in the template. As our subconscious mind does not like change – although it is for our betterment – it will prompt us to react in the same way. Consequently, we remain in a vicious circle. Hypnotherapy can help you by accessing the subconscious mind and changing those templates. In most cases, fears and phobias can be removed in one or two sessions, depending on the complexity of the issue.

To find out how hypnotherapy could help you, please book your free consultation call or send an inquiry, and I will be in touch shortly.

*  Results may vary from person to person.