Phobia means fear. Most of us fear some things, places, or certain situations, but a phobia is an irrational, intense and persistent fear – possibly to the extent that it effects your day to day life. You may experience symptoms similar to those of panic and anxiety.

Often phobias develop after a traumatic event, or after something has ‘happened’ to you. You may not remember what this was, and you were probably very young at the time. Whatever happened was probably quite harmless, but the memories and associations have been locked away, and now you have a phobia. Hypnotherapy can help to sort this out.

Phobias tend to be categorised according to what it is that you are fearful of. For example:

Specific Phobias – that is, you have an inappropriately intense fear of something or somewhere. Contact with, or the thought of coming into contact with your feared object, place or situation can lead to symptoms of panic. You become desperate to avoid whatever you have a phobia of, and this in turn can lead to panic or anxiety attacks.

Agoraphobia -  this is where you fear places and situations. You fear them in case you can’t escape, in case there might be no one to help you if you have a panic attack, and in case you embarrass yourself in public. Such places includes crowds, public places and public transport.  Claustrophobia is a fear of confined spaces, where feeling trapped may cause you to experience anxiety and panic.                       

Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder) – that is a fear of specific social situations where you are worried what other people might think of you, for example, speaking in public. The symptoms of social phobias may  also include blushing, trembling or an urgent need to go to the toilet.

Hypnotherapy is a safe and gentle treatment, which can effectively treat all kinds of phobias.

It is possible to develop a phobia about absolutely anything, so avoid feeling embarrassed about yours. You may have a fear of flying or faeces, clowns or colours, spiders or sex. If you would like a safe, brief and effective treatment in a caring and supportive environment, pick up the phone today and call 01202 731385.

All calls, answer phone messages and emails are completely confidential, and are only answered by Caroline.