Tackling Phobias

Did you know that hypnotherapy can be an extremely effective treatment for phobias?

Does the thought of a particular situation make your heart race in an unpleasant way and your breathing become rapid? Does your chest feel tight, your palms clammy and your tummy queasy?

Perhaps you go out of your way to find a workaround but the fear is still there, lurking in the background? Do you find yourself taking long train or bus journeys rather than flying? Do you put off going to the dentist or doctor because of a fear of needles? Perhaps you hold yourself back from applying for promotion because you’d have to engage in public speaking? If you find yourself avoiding certain situations because of fear, you are not alone. Did you know, however, that the more you avoid the fearful situation, the more entrenched the fear may become? Fortunately, help is at hand.

It only takes one unpleasant experience for a phobia to be created. Often phobias are rooted in childhood experiences, which we may not even be able to remember. When we are children, we are more susceptible because we are naturally more vulnerable and cannot always escape situations we find distressing. We may look to others around us and assess their reaction which in turn influences ours. If they are also distressed by the situation, it’s likely that will compound our own reaction. Likewise, if our reaction is ridiculed, our distress can be amplified. This can mean that the part of our brain that assesses threat, the amygdala, “codes” the experience as a threat, rather than simply a memory. It’s not our fault but it means our brains are primed to avoid that situation, and other situations which appear similiar, in the future. It’s a protective mechanism, albeit a very uncomfortable one.

The great thing about hypnotherapy is, we don’t need to revisit that initial experience or even remember it to be able to change how we respond in the future. We can learn to disentangle the unpleasant feelings from the situation so that it becomes simply an experience and not a threat. We keep the protection but lose the discomfort. This is surprisingly easy and quick to do.

Can you imagine the freedom of being able to do all the things you’d like to do without the phobia hanging over you? The peace of mind you’d have when you don’t have to figure out that workaround? The ease of travelling, going about your day and rising to life’s challenges in a way that feels comfortable, safe and empowering?

If you’d like to find out more about how hypnotherapy can help you tackle a phobia, book a short discovery call with Tracy Forsythe. Sessions are held online or face to face in Rosslare.