Phobias and Fears
There are, apparently, over 3,000 different phobias with clinical names. The dictionary tells us that a phobia is 'an irrational, uncontrollable fear of a specific object or situation', but sufferers of phobias will tell you that it feels so much worse than that. Sometimes, for whatever reason, our hippocampus holds templates that tell us that certain things are life-threatening when, in fact, they are not. Symptoms can include everything from nausea, dizziness, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, palpitations... the list goes on and is different for every sufferer.
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There are two types of phobia – specific and non-specific (or complex). As the name suggests, the specific phobia relates to one specific stimulus, such as spiders, bridges or needles, for example. As anxiety increases, as does the fear level relating to that particular thing. Non-specific phobias, however, are much more generalised and include agoraphobia (the fear of open spaces, the outdoors or in crowds) and social phobia (which can include speaking in public, social environments and blushing), amongst many others. While the details of the phobia may be quite specific in themselves, these can easily become an opt-out and grow to affect every aspect of a person's life. Interestingly, the biggest phobia to humans is noise and when our anxiety levels increase, we become much more susceptible to this phobia.
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Hypnotherapy – especially Solution Focused hypnotherapy – can help put those irrational fears and terrors into perspective and change the negative thought patterns around the subject matter.
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Of course, as my tutor told me when I was studying, hypnosis doesn't make you an idiot – it won't make you lose rational fear from situations! If you have a fear of heights, hypnotherapy won't suddenly give you the urge to jump off a cliff, but it can help you stop having panic attacks at the mere thought of climbing a ladder!
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Generally, specific phobia treatment lasts for three sessions (plus the initial consultation), using a very simple psychotherapeutic technique. Non-specific phobias, however, are slightly more complicated and, as such, may probably need a few more sessions*. This can be discussed in more detail with the hypnotherapist.
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To find out more or to book a free initial consultation, click the button below...
Common Phobias
Achievemephobia – The fear of success.
Acrophobia – The fear of heights.
Aerophobia – The fear of flying.
Agoraphobia – The fear of open or crowded spaces.
Ailurophobia – The fear of cats. Also known as Gatophobia.
Alektorophobia – The fear of chickens.
Anatidaephobia – The fear of ducks.
Androphobia – The fear of men.
Anthropophobia – The fear of people.
Aphenphosmphobia – The fear of intimacy.
Apiphobia – The fear of bees.
Aquaphobia – The fear of water.
Arachnophobia – The fear of spiders.
Athazagoraphobia – The fear of being forgotten or forgetting people or things.
Atychiphobia – The fear of failure.
Autophobia – The fear of abandonment and being abandoned.
Basiphobia – The fear of falling.
Carcinophobia – The fear of cancer.
Claustrophobia – The fear of small spaces.
Cynophobia – The fear of dogs.
Emetophobia – The fear of vomit or vomiting.
Enochlophobia – The fear of crowds.
Entomophobia – The fear of bugs and insects.
Galeophobia – The fear of sharks.
Gamophobia – The fear of commitment.
Gephyrophobia – The fear of bridges.
Globophobia – The fear of balloons.
Glossophobia – The fear of public speaking.
Gynophobia – The fear of women.
Hemophobia – The fear of blood.
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia – The fear of long words.
Iatrophobia – The fear of doctors.
Ichthyophobia – The fear of fish.
Katsaridaphobia – The fear of cockroaches.
Koumpounophobia – The fear of buttons.
Lepidopterophobia – The fear of butterflies and often most winged insects.
Metathesiophobia – The fear of change.
Monophobia – The fear of being alone.
Mottephobia – The fear of moths.
Musophobia – The fear of mice.
Mysophobia – The fear of germs. Also known as Germophobia or Bacterophobia.
Nyctophobia – The fear of darkness.
Ophidiophobia – The fear of snakes.
Ornithophobia – The fear of birds.
Panophobia – The fear of everything or fear that terrible things will happen.
Paraskevidekatriaphobia – The fear of Friday the 13th.
Pediophobia – The fear of dolls.
Philophobia – The fear of love.
Phobophobia – The fear of fear.
Podophobia – The fear of feet.
Pyrophobia – The fear of fire.
Ranidaphobia – The fear of frogs.
Somniphobia – The fear of sleep.
Spheksophobia – The fear of wasps.
Thanatophobia – The fear of death.
Theophobia – The fear of God.
Triskaidekaphobia – The fear of the number 13.
Tokophobia – The fear of pregnancy; possibly including giving birth and/or having children.
Trypophobia – The fear of holes.
Trypanophobia – The fear of needles.
Vehophobia – The fear of driving.
Xenophobia – The fear of anything unknown, strange or foreign.
Zoophobia – The fear of animals.
*Hypnotherapy is an effective method of treatment, however success is not guaranteed and full client commitment is important. For example, listening to our accompanying therapeutic audio tracks between sessions is a vital element in the process and participation is required. This will be fully explained in the initial consultation. Results may vary from person to person.