A phobia may just be an inconvenience, or it could be a constant nuisance that’s ruining your life. This is because there are two different types of phobias: simple and complex.
If you have a simple phobia, you are probably able to carry on with your normal life most of the time. You would only think about your phobia when you come across it, such as when spotting a spider. A complex phobia is where you think about the problem all the time and it stops you doing many things you would like to, such as a fear of enclosed spaces.
Hypnotherapy is a way of dealing with your phobia without having to physically experience the situations that scare you the most. There are a few techniques that hypnotherapists can use to help you to let go of your phobic response. The rewind technique has been shown to be effective in helping people with simple phobias. With hypnotherapy, you experience a sense of relaxation and calm during the hypnosis. The anxiety that accompanies all phobias responds very well to this.
Most hypnotherapy sessions are split into two distinct parts: ‘the talky bit’ and hypnosis. The talking element, which could be either counselling or psychotherapy, will help you to understand why you feel as you do and to understand what can be done.
The length of your hypnotherapy session could vary from 30 – 90 minutes. An initial consultation will generally be held prior to your hypnotherapy sessions starting. This is to agree the aims and goals of your treatment, to discuss your symptoms and to give you a guide for the number of sessions required. This will vary from client to client and depend on whether the phobia is simple or complex. As a rough guide, for long term results, simple phobias can be cleared in just 3-4 sessions while complex phobias can take 8-10 hypnotherapy sessions.
If you have a flying phobia (Aerophobia), you might not think about it most of the time, but when a holiday abroad is booked it could be all you can think about. This would usually be classed as a simple phobia. A fear of being sick (Emetophobia) or being around others who are being sick can be on your mind all the time. It might stop you doing things that most people take for granted, such as dining out or having a baby. This is classified as a complex phobia.
Phobias can be caused by previous events that the mind thinks are life-threatening. However, sometimes these events can be imagined, as the brain cannot tell the difference between imagination and reality. We can also learn how to respond to events by watching other people. If our parents or the people we look up to scream and run away from a spider, for example, then we learn to do the same.
There are potentially as many phobias as there are items in the world but there are around 500 named phobias. The top five phobias are spiders, snakes, public speaking, heights and social phobia (a fear of social interactions). The first 4 are usually classed as simple phobias while the last one is always a complex phobia. Regardless of whether you’re experiencing a simple or complex phobia, hypnotherapy can help you to get your life back on track.
It’s important to be aware that there is a sliding scale where fear is concerned. You might not like something and wouldn’t interact with it, but your life goes on as normal. For example, you notice a spider and you continue to do what you would usually do, even though you wouldn’t pick it up. This would be classed as a normal fear response.
But a phobia is an extreme anxiety response to a stimulus. In the case of the spider, you might not be able to go into the room or you might scream and run away. The brain believes this reaction kept you safe, so encourages you to do it each time you come across a spider. Although this would be classed as a simple phobia, it can be a nuisance and interfere with your life. If you have a complex phobia, you can start to opt out of life and your world soon gets smaller and smaller.
Anytime you find yourself reacting to a stimulus in a way that stops you from doing something, it is likely you have a phobia. Hypnotherapy can help to relax your mind and your body, so that it starts to see these stimuli as less frightening.
Phobias are intense, often irrational fears of specific objects, situations, or experiences. While they vary in frequency, many are surprisingly common and can significantly impact daily life. Below is a list of some of the most widespread phobias and their estimated occurrence:
Phobias can trigger both physical and emotional responses, often causing intense discomfort when faced with the feared object or situation. Common symptoms include:
Instead of physically exposing yourself to the stimulus for your phobia in the real world, hypnotherapy allows you to use your imagination instead. Hypnotherapy is a very relaxing therapy and, once you relax, your body no longer feels in danger. If you can then imagine the cause of your phobia, the stimulus loses some of its power over you. The brain no longer sees it as ‘dangerous’ as it used to and you can react to it in a calmer way.
When you are in a trance state, you will be in a state of focused attention. Different brain waves become more prevalent and you will likely be able to see things from a different perspective, altering your perception of the phobia stimulus. The change in brain waves will also make it easier for you to take on new ideas and new ways of thinking. Most hypnotherapists use an element of talking therapy and this supports the trance session, helping you to evaluate your current behaviour and the way you think.
It may be helpful to contact your GP about a phobia before seeing a hypnotherapist. They may be able to refer you to a free service to help rid you of your phobia.
The number of sessions you will need for a phobia will vary from person to person. Your hypnotherapist might ask some questions to help them calculate the number of sessions you need, such as, “How does the phobia impact your life at the moment?” or “How severe are the symptoms?” Another factor to consider is the level of your commitment. You might be expected to listen to an MP3 download every night or to perform some other task between sessions. You will see results much more quickly if you do the things your hypnotherapist suggests.
The cost of hypnotherapy for a phobia can vary from one therapist to another. This will depend on your location and the qualifications and experience your hypnotherapist has. To give you a rough guide prices can vary from £40- £150 per hour.
Children can be helped with phobias using the hypnotherapist’s normal approach. In fact, children often find it much easier to go into a trance state than their adult counterparts. This is thought to be because children are more open about trying new things than many adults.
Even before lockdown many hypnotherapists were running online hypnotherapy sessions for Phobias. The good news is that there is now evidence to support the effectiveness of online hypnotherapy sessions for a range of conditions. All you would need to take part in an online hypnotherapy session would be a laptop, tablet or smartphone, access to the internet and somewhere quiet where you can relax.
There aren’t many studies for Hypnotherapy treatments specifically aimed at phobias, but the ones there are, are very positive. Most studies show that hypnosis is more effective when combined with a psychological element than just hypnosis alone. However, it is not possible to guarantee a cure with any condition.
Start out with the basics, Search for “hypnotherapy for phobias” in Google or Bing. The results will contain a map with local hypnotherapy businesses. Start looking through their reviews either in the search engine or on their social (Facebook) pages.
The best hypnotherapists will be registered with a professional association and with organisations that are accredited by the professional standards authority. There are only two in the UK and they are the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) and the National Hypnotherapy Society.
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