Phobias |
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Most phobias can be cleared comfortably within one or two hypnosis sessions. |
Extended information about hypnosis for the relief of Phobias.
Hypnotherapy is probably the single most effective treatment for overcoming phobias. The reason is that the phobic response is created at the subconscious level even though it is experienced consciously. Hypnosis works at the subconscious level and is therefore well equipped to address the problem. In traditional therapy it was thought that the reason for the phobia needed to be understood in order for the phobia to be cured. It is now known that this is not the case. I have worked with many clients to help them overcome their phobias and most of them have found relief without the need to know its origins.
As with most things of this nature, every individual will express themselves in their own way so there are always exceptions to the rule however I have found that most phobias, even those of a lifetime in duration, can be overcome in one or two sessions. Most phobias are initiated as part of a "one time learning" process. That is, some single event initiated the phobia and it is stored in the subcoscious mind where it runs effectively again and again and again. Using hypnosis we can utilise this natural ability to unlearn the phobia, often just as quickly as it was created.
So what is a phobia and how does hypnosis help specifically?
Phobias seem to be an expression of a natural defence mechanism within humans. As human beings we have within us the ability to learn certain things very quickly. An infant learns quickly, usually the first time, that touching something orange and glowing will hurt. The infant does not need to be taught any theory in this regard. From the first time she touches a flame she will automatically feel something like fear or aversion whenever she comes near a flame. In fact she will find as she grows older that she can't touch a flame even if she wants to. She will have a strong physical aversion.
A second important survival mechanism we have is that we can respond physically to danger before we recognise the danger. If you were walking down a bush path and something wriggling fell out of a tree onto the ground in front of you you would jump back three feet in defence before you could even tell if it was a snake or a piece of bark. Your pupils would be dialated, your respiration rapid and adrenaline would be released into your system making you shake with nervous energy.
Phobias seem to be the result of a similar process. Something frightens a person and a whole range of uncomfortable body chemistry is triggered and then every time that same item (the cause of the phobia) is encountered the same uncomfortable feelings return. All of this happens at the subconscious level and all the sufferer is aware of is the feelings. Sometimes even the original cause of the fear is not remembered.
Hypnosis can be used to comfortably diffuse the mental patterns that produce the body chemistry that produces the uncomfortable feelings. As mentioned above it normally only takes one session and it is often a very satisfying experience to be rid of the phobia for good.
