According to Wikipedia”A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder, generally defined as a persistent fear of an object or situation in which the sufferer agrees to avoid it, usually disproportionate to the actual danger posed, often recognized as irrational.“.

There are a number of common phobias such as closed places, heights, driving, flying, insects, snakes, and needles. That said, there is a long list of phobias that show us that we can be afraid of almost anything. Phobias often develop in childhood, but they can also develop later in life.

Generally, people with phobias realize that the phobia is irrational, but they can’t control that feeling of fear. Just thinking about the feared object or situation can make a person feel anxious, have a racing heart, feel dizzy, uncomfortable, feel like crying, or pass out. When exposed to the stimulus that causes the phobia, people feel overwhelmed and have a sense of terror.

The feeling is so terrible that one can go to great lengths to avoid it, often by inconveniencing oneself or changing one’s lifestyle. Craig, who suffered from claustrophobia, for example, did not want to travel by plane and could not visit his daughter who lived in England. He hadn’t seen her in several years and now she was getting married. Her phobia was so strong that he couldn’t bring himself to book a ticket to see her. “I used to be able to fly. My wife had to stand outside the bathroom door on the plane as I felt so anxious in this tight space that I couldn’t close the door. This feeling of not wanting to fly got worse and worse and I decided not fly anymore. I realized I had to do something about it when my daughter wanted to get married. I decided that this phobia would not ruin my daughter’s wedding day.”

Understanding the phobia is the first step to overcoming it and getting help.

There is a difference between being afraid in a situation that is dangerous and being afraid without actually being in danger. Fear is a normal response that can protect us or hinder us in life. If we find ourselves in a dangerous situation, it fulfills a protective function, activating the automatic “fight or flight” response. With our bodies and minds alert and ready for action, we can respond quickly, with a narrower focus, and we have a chance to protect ourselves.

However, in the case of phobias, the threat is greatly exaggerated or even non-existent. For example, it’s natural to be afraid of a large, aggressive-looking dog in front of you, but it’s not as rational to be afraid of a friendly poodle on a leash, as you might be if you have a phobia of dogs. .

There are different signs to look out for when determining if you have a phobia:

Physical signs and symptoms

• labored breathing
• fast heart
• Chest pain or tightness
• Shaking or trembling
• Sweating or feeling cold
• Tingling sensation
• feeling dizzy

Emotional signs and symptoms

• Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or panicked
• I need to escape
• Know that the feeling is not logical
• Feeling like you’re dying
• Feeling out of control and powerless
• Feeling “unreal” or separate from oneself

It is important to know that phobias are common and that many people suffer from different phobias. Having a phobia doesn’t mean you have to live with it for the rest of your life! It is good to know that phobias are highly treatable and often clients only need to attend three or four sessions to overcome the phobia.

Lynn, who had a phobia of holes (trypophobia), explained that she had had a phobia of insects as a child and developed this “new” phobia in recent years. She couldn’t look at honeycombs, dried flowers with holes, anthills, or any other object that has holes. Often, she couldn’t go out in nature or even get on Facebook because she was afraid of encountering an “unpleasant-looking object.” “I thought I would never get over my phobias. It seemed too hard. My heart started racing, I felt weak and just wanted to run away when I saw something with holes in it. I felt embarrassed and weakened by my reactions because others couldn’t understand that.”

Lynn and Craig decided to try hypnotherapy. After explaining their feelings and reactions in detail, they were hypnotized and shown that they could overcome their fears in a gentle way. Hypnotherapy, along with slow desensitization techniques, helped them quickly and effectively overcome their fears. They each only needed four sessions and were “phobic free.”

“I was able to fly and see my daughter in the UK. It was amazing to be able to use the toilet on the plane on my own. My wife didn’t have to stand in front of the door once. When we were abroad we even did an overnight flight in ship where we had to sleep in a small room on the ship. I handled everything perfectly fine. I can’t believe I lived with this phobia for so long and never did anything about it,” Craig said. in one of his follow-up sessions.

Lynn is delighted that she is not afraid to go out in nature or visit other people, as she no longer has to fear encountering unpleasant objects. “I feel free, I am in control in any situation and I don’t have to worry about going out or surfing the net. I learned that you can overcome anxiety or fear, no matter how out of control you feel.”

Remember, it is quite easy to treat phobias. There are a number of different therapies you can choose from, so don’t let your phobia rule your life! Take the first step and join many of my clients who now lead a happy, controlled and calm life.