More Complementary & Integrative Healthcare Articles
Hypnosis and Phobias
Do you have trouble getting on an airplane? Does the thought of crossing the Bay Bridge make you break out in a sweat? Do you have a fear of crowds, or getting on an elevator? It's not uncommon for some people to experience some or all of these symptoms. What are they? They are phobias. A phobia is an irrational fear of a nonthreatening object or circumstance.
Sometimes phobias are created from a single incident. Sometimes they are stimulated by repeated exposure. Regardless of how they are created they can and sometimes do disrupt a person's daily life. People will go out of their way in order to avoid putting themselves in a situation where they have to confront their particular phobia.
Now you might be surprised that people would go to that extreme in order to avoid something that is for most people a nonissue. But to a person who suffers from a phobia confronting what they are phobic about can be tantamount to life threatening. Fortunately, you don't have to spend the rest of your life avoiding those phobic circumstances.
Hypnosis is shown to be very effective for releasing the emotional responses that people have to phobic circumstances. The process is quick, effective and long lasting. That sounds almost too good to be true. Everyone can be hypnotized if they want to; in fact, we normally go in and out of trance every 60-90 minutes.
People frequently have misconceptions about hypnosis; they are asleep, someone else is controlling their mind, they will tell deep dark secrets, etc. Fortunately, that's not what happens and all. When you are in trance, it's like you are in a guided daydream. In a daydream you are awake, aware of your surroundings, and focused on the daydream. You are in full control. When a hypnotherapist uses hypnosis to help you with your phobia, it is essentially a guided daydream and the hypnotherapist is operating as a tour guide. He is trained in how to guide your daydream to facilitate the release of the emotional energy that you have associated with your phobia. Once that is complete, you get your life back.
Next time you find yourself rearranging your life in order to avoid a situation that causes you distress and anxiety, you might consider using hypnosis to change your life. Most hypnotherapists offer consultations where you can discuss your problem and gain a better understanding of how hypnosis can help you.
