Fears and Phobias
Fears are natural emotional responses to things we see as a threat or danger, helping us stay alert and safe. Phobias are intense, irrational fears of specific things, situations, or activities that aren’t actually that dangerous or make logical sense.
Fear of Spiders (Arachnophobia)
This is one of the most common phobias. Reactions can be intense anxiety and panic when seeing, or even thinking about, a spider and intense avoidance can disrupt daily life for sufferers.
Hypnotherapy can help address this fear by uncovering the root cause, often from past experiences, and reframing how you perceive spiders. Guided imagery and positive suggestions build new, calm associations to replace fearful reactions, and exposure therapy safely reframes the experience to something far less inhibitory.
Fear of Flying (Aerophobia)
This fear can range from mild discomfort on airplanes to full-blown panic just thinking about flying. It is formed by:
- Loss of control (not being the one in charge).
- Fear of crashing (even though most unlikely).
- Claustrophobia (discomfort in enclosed spaces).
- Past trauma (such as turbulence).
Hypnotherapy helps lower this fear by accessing the subconscious mind and replacing anxious thoughts with calmer, more rational beliefs. It can reframe past negative experiences and build positive associations with flying, making future travel feel safer and more manageable, even pleasant!
Fear of Dentistry (Dentophobia)
Fear of dentistry is anxiety or intense fear related to dental visits, often triggered by past experiences – the pain, the sounds (the drill) and smells of a clinic, injections or general discomfort.
Hypnotherapy can help by calming the subconscious mind, reframing past negative associations/beliefs (e.g. using the benefits of visiting), and building a sense of safety, reassurance and control, making dental visits less stressful and manageable.
Coping better with ..
- Claustrophobia (closed spaces)
- Agoraphobia (open spaces)
- Enochlophobia (being in crowds)
- Mysophobia (Germophobia)
- Trypanophobia (Needles). Etc.
Do speak with your GP first, for diagnosis and to rule out any physical causes; for instance, an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) can sometimes produce symptoms that resemble those of a panic attack, as found in some phobias.