A phobia is an intense and irrational fear reaction, which is usually in response to a certain place, object, animal or situation. Unlike regular anxiety disorders, a phobia is related to something specific. A phobia usually feels like a deep and overwhelming sense of dread or panic when you are faced with the source of your fear.

People who have phobias often realise that their fear is irrational, but have no idea what to do about it. These fears can begin to interfere with work, personal relationships and can leave you feeling totally powerless.

First of all, we want you to know, phobias are very common and are nothing to be ashamed of. And guess what? They are curable!

But before we talk about how hypnotherapy can help, let’s first look at the causes.

What causes phobias?

There is no one cause as to why someone would develop a phobia, but there are several factors that may play an important role:

• A traumatic incident. For example, almost drowning, insect/animal bites or experiencing intense turbulence at a young age might later develop into a fear of water, animals or flying. 
• Learned behaviour. Children who grew up with parents who were overly worried or anxious can affect how you deal with anxiety later in life. You may have developed a phobia similar to that of your parent or sibling.
• Genetic. There is a lot of research to suggest that just as you can inherit a parent’s brown eyes and blonde hair, you can also inherit a parent’s tendency towards excessive anxiety. 
• Not accepting your own fear response. A rejection of your response to what scares you can develop into chronic anxiety or a phobia. This is usually due to the embarrassment and shame you feel around others, which can cause intense anxiety about being in that triggering situation again.  

What are the types of phobias?

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is a fear of a place or situation that you can’t escape from. People with agoraphobia have a fear of going outside and being exposed to large crowds. There is usually a fear that they will be trapped outside the home. Many people with agoraphobia fear that they will have a panic attack if they find themselves in a place that they can’t escape from. This usually means they will avoid leaving their house altogether. 

Social phobia

Also referred to as social anxiety disorder, social phobia is extreme worry about being in social situations. A social phobia can feel like extreme panic even in the simplest interactions such as answering the phone or ordering food at a restaurant. This can lead to self-isolation and an avoidance of public places or situations.

Other common phobias

• Fear of confined spaces
• Fear of heights
• Fear of needles
• Fear of blood or vomit
• Fear of the dark
• Fear of dentists
• Fear of dogs
• Fear of flying
• Fear of pregnancy
• Fear of sickness
• Fear of spiders and other insects
• Fear of water

How Hypnotherapy can help your phobia

Hypnotherapy is essentially a way of helping you change your thoughts and behaviours around your specific phobia. 

Hypnotherapy taps into your subconscious by using different methods and techniques specific to your phobia. As you enter more into a relaxed and calm state you can begin to create a more positive association with your phobia. So instead of seeing the triggering situation with a sense of fear and dread, you will begin to view the situation as non-threatening, normal and even pleasant. Contact us today for a consultation and to find out how we can help you with hypnotherapy for phobias.