Hypnotherapy and Phobias 

A phobia can be described as an irrational fear to a particular object that is out of all proportion to the threat that the object actually represents.  The sufferer will acknowledge that their fears are exaggerated but feels powerless to respond in any other way.  A phobia may start because of some traumatic incident in the past, have been learned by observing others or the cause may be unknown.  However the phobic response originated the feared object or situation will automatically trigger feelings of anxiety and distress.  This response is produced by the unconscious part of the mind and as such is difficult to consciously control. 

If There Is A Conflict Between The Conscious And The Unconscious Then The Unconscious Will Usually Win.

For some the thought of boarding a plane will produce feelings of intense anxiety and the aim will be to avoid the situation at all costs.  For others a spider scuttling across the room will mean a hasty exit.  This avoidance strategy prolongs and increases the phobic response as there is never the possibility of testing the reality of the situation.

Hypnotherapy uses the fact that anxiety and relaxation are incompatible and cannot exist together.  Think of how your muscles are when tensed and relaxed.  Two opposite states, one or the other, but never both together.  There are also certain mental states that will dominate and subdue others.  Just as laughter will defuse anger so relaxation will overpower fear.

During hypnosis images associated with the phobia, having previously been agreed with the client, are presented with suggestions for deep relaxation.  The client works at their own pace and only moves on to the next image when ready to do so.  In this way the habitual fear response to the phobic object is replaced with feelings of calmness, relaxation and control.

I hadn't flown for 10 years as a result of the extreme anxiety I felt leading to and during the flight.  After a number of sessions with Ruth I was able to manage my anxiety on a short flight and as a result of this experience have since flown to New York and Hong Kong.  The sessions provided me with a way of controlling my anxiety so that flying is no longer the terror inducing experience it once was!  (Kelly W)