Phobias and Fears
|
Hypnotherapy notes
|
|
There are a variety of approaches with substantial change in 1 to 5 sessions, with an average of around 2 sessions. Change can however be very rapid with complete resolution in a single session.
Hypnotherapy and can be used to desensitise reactions to the key stimuli (look of / sound of / movement of / ...) by pairing imaginary images with deep relaxation. A more literal method is to use the same relaxation approach but to confront real stimuli with the assistance of the therapist.
There are a number of NLP techniques that can be used to effect very rapid desensitisation.
A variety of EMDR protocols are also used to generate rapid change or where the situation is complex and / or strongly influenced by limiting beliefs.
"Brain function and how we 'do' phobias"
The human brain as a complex dynamic system
Deconditioning software utilities for home use are available for some common phobias. More about phobias and self help software for phobias...
|
|
A phobia is a fear that is out of proportion to the situation that causes it and cannot be explained away. The person typically avoids the feared situation, since this helps to reduce the anxiety.
Some phobias represent heightened normal anxiety towards situations that people are evolutionarily 'prepared' to fear, eg snakes, heights and sharp objects.
In other instances, a phobia may arise by a non-threatening situation being associated with a traumatic experience. Having a car crash in Spain may lead to a phobia of Spain itself, holidays, driving or flying.
Phobias typically occur in specific situations, eg a fear of dentists. People experience 'anticipatory anxiety' when thinking of the situation and so attempt to avoid it. They are common in the general population, but are only severe enough to prove disabling in 2 per cent of people.
Phobias are often the result of a "one time learning" process whereby a single experience is processed into a phobic response very, very quickly. This tendancy is increased if the person is stressed / anxious at the time or if the persons neurones are being over stimulated by the effects / after effects of recreational drugs.
Simple phobias are phobias that are specific to objects or situations. Specific phobias include:
- animal phobias (eg dogs, snakes, spiders):
the start of these phobias is often in childhood, usually before the age of seven years.
- blood and injury phobias:
the fear of blood tests or the sight of blood that results in fainting.
- vertigo:
a fear of heights.
- agoraphobia:
an intense fear of leaving the home, being in crowded spaces, travelling on public transport and being in any place that is difficult to leave. Around 75 per cent of sufferers are women, and it occurs in just under 1 per cent of people. Agoraphobia may follow a life event and be associated with a fear of 'what if it comes back while I am away from home'. It commonly occurs with panic attacks. The person may have a panic attack when outside the home and this reinforces the belief that it is safer to stay inside. Agoraphobia is often associated with depression.
- social phobia:
a fear of social interaction with others, talking to people, eating, drinking and speaking in public. In contrast to agoraphobia, men and women are affected equally. Many people have a mixture of both agoraphobia and social phobia. Social phobia is also a common symptom of depression.
See also:
|
