Clients seek hypnotherapy for many reasons: two of the most common reasons are for fears and phobias. The approaches in the elimination of these two are very different. The primary cause of a fear is based on a concrete experience that the client can remember. It can be eliminated through an NLP technique that takes as little as 10 minutes, or through a hypnotherapy technique known as circle therapy. Often phobias originate later in life and their primary causes may not be known. With a treatment in hypnosis called desensitization, I can relieve the unwanted response. Panic attacks (hyperventilation syndrome) are relieved through hypnotherapy, bio-feedback, psychotherapy, CBT, and medication. Professionals, such as myself, work with the client to regain their ability to live without the fear of another debilitating attack. Breathing through the nose 24/7 is one step in eliminating panic attacks. A specific breathing technique utilized as soon as the fear begins to come on is a sure fire way to stop the full-blown pain attack.
Psychology Today's August 2014 issue stated that nearly 10% of Americans suffers from phobias: 50% critters; 48% heights; 34% tight spaces; 31% flying; 26% water; 25% dental visits; 22% blood; 21% bad weather; 17% crowds; and 15% hospitals. Fears and phobias related to going to the dentist are prominent throughout the world.
A fear that can be dealt with in a tangible way is the fear of driving. Think about it: when you get on the road you have to put trust at the front of all other possible attributes in your mind. You have to trust yourself and your reactions. You have to trust the car and its abilities to do what you tell it to do. You have to trust other drivers to be the best that they can be. For whatever reason, if you doubt that any of the above systems work properly, your mind over thinks a situation and you could go into anxiety that could lead to a fear of driving. Even when none of the above is in play, a person can develop a fear of driving due to unconscious connections between the act of driving and an anxious mind. This is also seen in the fear of flying. You could have had low blood sugar resulting in anxiety while you drive and your mind connected the two unknowingly. Another reason for "vehophobia" is a car accident. A report cited that between 25-33% of car accident victims respond by having a fear of driving. As a hypnotherapist it is my job to unravel where the fear stems from and break the ties that bind the mind to the fear. Fears and phobias affect people's quality of life and health. Book an appointment and find how easy it is to take your life back.