About Hypnotherapy for Phobias
​Are you organising your life around avoiding the things you are afraid of? A phobia is an exaggerated fear of something, which can cause unnecessary but intense feelings of panic and distress. This can be overwhelming and debilitating, stopping you from the things you want to do and generally making life more difficult than it needs to be.
Phobias are intense and irrational fears of specific objects, situations, or activities. They are irrational but the brain is actually doing what it is supposed to. The primitive part of the brain is there to ensure our survival - if a threat is perceived, it triggers the fight-or-flight response in order to keep us safe. The primitive mind doesn’t have recourse to logical thinking. Instead, it gets programmed by past experiences, and the resulting way we react is out of our conscious control.
A phobia can be the result of something you have experienced or it can be a learnt response. It can also be something you have created using your imagination - the primitive part of the brain can’t tell the difference between what is real and what is imagined. Once the subconscious has this pattern in place, it becomes reinforced with each experience. Your primitive mind doesn’t know that the reason you survived that situation is because your life was actually not in any danger. It “thinks” is that the fight-or-flight response helped you to survive.
Hypnotherapy sessions can help overcome a phobia by working directly with the subconscious mind to update that unwanted programme, so that you can remain calm and relaxed in that situation in the future.
Hypnotherapy for phobias typically involves several steps:
Assessment:
The therapist will explore the nature and origin of the phobia. Understanding when and how the fear developed can provide insights into the underlying causes.
Relaxation:
Hypnotherapy induces a state of deep relaxation through focused attention and guided imagery. This relaxed state is similar to meditation or daydreaming and allows the subconscious mind to become more receptive to suggestions.
Suggestion and Visualisation:
During the hypnotic state, the therapist introduces positive suggestions and imagery related to overcoming the phobia.
Desensitisation:
Hypnotherapy often incorporates desensitisation techniques. This involves gradually exposing the individual to the feared object or situation in their imagination while maintaining a calm and relaxed state. Over time, this can reduce the emotional intensity associated with the phobia.
Reframing Negative Thoughts:
The therapist works on changing negative thought patterns and beliefs associated with the phobia. This may involve challenging irrational fears and replacing them with more rational, positive thoughts.
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