Are you living with a phobia and do you feel that it will accompany you forever?

According to Wikipedia “A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder, generally defined as a persistent fear of an object or situation in which the victim agrees to avoid it, generally disproportionate to the actual danger it represents, and is often recognized as irrational.“.

There are a number of common phobias such as close quarters, heights, driving, flying, insects, snakes, and needles. That said, there is a long list of phobias that show us that we can be afraid of almost anything. Phobias often develop in childhood, but they can develop later in life as well.

Generally, people with phobias realize that the phobia is irrational, but they cannot control that feeling of fear. Just thinking about the feared object or situation can make the person feel anxious, the heart race, feel dizzy, uncomfortable, want to cry, or feel faint. When exposed to the stimulus that causes the phobia, people feel overwhelmed and have a sense of terror.

The feeling is so terrible that one can do everything possible to avoid it, often making oneself uncomfortable or changing a lifestyle. Craig, who suffered from claustrophobia, for example, did not want to fly and could not visit his daughter who lived in England. He hadn’t seen her for several years and now he was getting married. His phobia was so strong that he couldn’t get a ticket to go see her. “I used to be able to fly. My wife had to stand outside the bathroom door on the plane as I was feeling so anxious in this confined space that I couldn’t close the door. This feeling of not wanting to fly got worse and worse and I decided not fly anymore. I realized I had to do something about it when my daughter wanted to get married. I decided that this phobia would not ruin my daughter’s wedding day. “

Understanding the phobia is the first step in overcoming it and getting help.

There is a difference between being afraid in a situation that is dangerous and being afraid without actually being in danger. Fear is a normal response that can protect or hinder us in life. If we are in a dangerous situation, it serves as a protective purpose, activating the automatic “fight or flight” response. With our bodies and minds alert and ready for action, we can respond quickly, more narrowly, and have the opportunity to protect ourselves.

However, in case of phobias, the threat is greatly exaggerated or even non-existent. For example, it’s natural to be afraid of a large, aggressive-looking dog in front of you, but it’s not as rational to be terrified of a friendly poodle on a leash as you might be if you have a phobia of dogs. .

There are different signs to look out for when determining if you have a phobia:

Physical signs and symptoms

• Labored breathing
• Fast heart
• Chest pain or tightness
• Shaking or shaking
• Sweating or feeling cold
• Tingling sensation
• Feeling dizzy

Emotional signs and symptoms

• Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or panicky
• Needing to escape
• Know that the feeling is not logical
• Feeling like you are dying
• Feeling out of control and powerless
• Feeling “unreal” or detached from yourself

It is important to know that phobias are common and that many people suffer from different phobias. Having a phobia doesn’t mean that you have to live with it for the rest of your life. It is good to know that phobias are highly treatable and clients often only have to come in for three or four sessions to overcome the phobia.

Lynn, who had a phobia of holes (trypophobia), explained that she had had a phobia of insects as a child and developed this “new” phobia in recent years. He could not look at honeycombs, dried flowers with holes, anthills or any other object that has holes. Often, she couldn’t go out into nature or even connect to Facebook because she was afraid of running into an “ugly-looking object.” “I thought I would never get over my phobias. It seemed too difficult. My heart started to race, I felt dizzy and just wanted to run away when I saw something with holes in it. I felt embarrassed and weakened by my reactions because others couldn’t understand that.”

Lynn and Craig decided to try hypnotherapy. After explaining their feelings and reactions in detail, they were hypnotized and shown that they were able to smoothly overcome their fears. Hypnotherapy, along with slow desensitization techniques, helped them overcome their fears quickly and effectively. Each only needed four sessions and they were “phobia free”.

“I was able to fly and see my daughter in the UK. It was amazing to be able to use the bathroom on the plane on my own. My wife didn’t have to stand in front of the door once. When we were abroad we even took a boat trip during the night we had to sleep in a small room on the ship. I managed everything perfectly fine. I can’t believe I’ve lived with this phobia for so long and I never did anything about it, “Craig said. in one of your follow-up sessions.

Lynn is delighted that she is not afraid to go out in nature or visit other people, as she no longer has to fear encountering unsightly objects. “I feel free, I stay in control in any given situation and I don’t have to worry about going out or surfing the net. I learned that you can overcome anxiety or fear, no matter how out of control you feel.”

Remember, phobias are fairly easy to treat. There are several different therapies you can choose from, so don’t let your phobia rule your life! Take the first step and join many of my clients who now lead happy, in control and calm lives.