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Phobias and Fears Here at the clinic we are often asked if we can remove any phobia or fear – and the answer is always yes. Or rather, yes YOU can do it. Even the severest phobias can be treated easily and safely. Using fast phobia and systematic desensitisation techniques you can cure phobias and de-traumatise bad memories. We regularly have clients who present with phobias. Simple phobias, or specific phobias as they are sometimes known, are linked to specific objects or situations such as birds, spiders, water, buttons, insects, driving, flying, motorways, needles, doctors, dentists etc. Non-specific phobias produce a more generalised anxiety state and can be linked to social or performance situations such as presentations, meetings or public speaking, and are often accompanied by anxiety or panic attacks or both.
So what exactly is a phobia? Let me explain: Imagine a tribesman walking in the open plains of Africa outside his village. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he spies the biggest cat he has ever laid eyes on leaping from behind a bush. As the cat starts to gain pace on the tribesman his fight or flight response is triggered; within milliseconds he makes the decision to run (the flight response). On reaching the safety of his village and the other tribes people he turns to see the big cat retreating back to the bush. The physiology of the tribesman would be panting, rapid heartbeat, jelly legged, sweating and feelings of impending doom. This is the same response your body feels when presented with a phobic response. Now one of the fantastic adjustments that have happened here is that the tribesman has had a learning that he will use in the future, albeit on an unconscious level. Inside the brain is a small almond shape piece of nervous tissue called the amygdala which ensures that he remembers the event and elicits the same response should he be presented with the same scenario in the future. However, as the unconscious mind stores this learning it can make a mismatch, ensuring that should a similar event occur in the future, the fight or flight response is fired again. Because of this mismatch, we can experience a traumatic event and then experience a situation in the future, which at first does not seem to have any bearing on the previous trauma, but with a little delving the mind makes a link or connection to the first episode. It is the mismatching that has made us one of the most successful species on this planet. Conversely, this same mismatching can be the reason why adults present with a phobia. Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy During hypnotherapy, you remain in control. It is not possible for anyone to force you to do anything against your will, even under hypnosis. You will be tuned in to the work at hand, and so may not pay attention to your surroundings, but you will always be in charge of your own actions, behaviors and statements. Some of the phobias we can treat Visit our testimonials page – Success Stories, What People Say About Russell – to see examples of how we have cured phobias, from flying and driving to gagging and needles. |
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