Phobias, Fears & Panic Attacks

You may be surprised to find that phobias or panic attacks are more common than you think amongst the general population. Most phobias are created in an instant, yet last a lifetime. We have an emotional response when exposed to the subject of our phobia and the powerful connection intensifies with each reaction.

When we develop a phobia we are creating an association between a stimulus, the object of the phobia, and a response, usually fear. It is possible to break that association very easily.

It can be of great benefit to find the key event in a person's life where the fear began. However, therapy does not always have to involve regression. The behaviour or fear can be alleviated using hypnotherapy quite easily using a 'desensitising technique' which is safe and perfectly natural. In fact many clients find it extremely pleasant!

For more information on Panic Attacks, see article here.

There are a few techniques that we can use to help you with your fear, phobia or panic attacks: EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique); Hypnotherapy; Psychotherapy - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Energy Healing - or a combination of these.

For a complete list of phobias - go to Phobia List

Social Anxiety

What is social anxiety and why is it so debilitating?

Social anxiety is an acute anxiety reaction to any social situations – parties, small gatherings, workshops or other casual or formal events where people get together to enjoy themselves or share a common bond.  When someone suffers from social anxiety, they start to sweat just thinking about one of these gatherings.  Basically, they have an anxiety attack (that can mimic feelings of a heart attack) in response to being in a social setting.  Social anxiety is incredibly limiting to one’s life.  If you can’t go to parties, feel safe working in an office with many employees, gather for your book group, or even go see a movie, then your life gets smaller and smaller.

Clearing Social Anxiety with Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is a relaxing and uplifting way to deal with your anxieties. There are a number of advantages to using hypnosis. Many people with anxieties also struggle to relax, and are hyper-vigilant, always needing to be in control or worrying about the next 'event' they will have to cope with.

Hypnotherapy can be used in different ways

- straight suggestion (helping the brain to associate relaxation and calm with the previously stressful events);

- analysis (finding the underlying causes and history); which should always be done along with

- inner healing (healing the inner child that is still struggling with past events - even though these may seem really minor to the adult).

I would suggest using all three of the above, and also adding EFT (see below) to the mix! It's an awesome combination and it works!

Clearing social anxiety with EFT

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) is an incredibly easy technique to learn, and it is awesome! It is often easier to start off with a practitioner, who will help you to deal with past issues, as almost all social anxiety is connected to past experiences of events which were uncomfortable or embarrassing. You should then also be taught to use the technique yourself.

For those who already know how to use EFT, there is an excellent article by Dr Carol Look giving an example of how this method can be used on your own. Remember that you can learn EFT easily simply by ordering the DVDS (which are allowed to be copied, so you can share the cost with your friends!)

Quotes

"Fear is a question: What are you afraid of, and why? Just as the seed of health is in illness, because illness contains information, your fears are a treasure house of self-knowledge if you explore them."
(Marilyn Ferguson)

"Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom."
(Bertrand Russell)

"No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear."
(Edmund Burke)

"None but a coward dares to boast that he has never known fear."
(Ferdinand Foch)

"Learning to live in the present moment is part of the path of joy."
(Sarah Ban Breathnach)