It's typical for all people to have some fears, but suffering from a phobia is a more significant problem. A phobia is an irrational fear that is seemingly beyond one's control. Phobias are defined as a kind of anxiety disorder, and often trigger nervousness and panic attacks in a person. When a person has a serious phobia, they grow so desperate to stay away from their fear that it interferes with their daily activities and their ability to function in life.
Some of the most common phobias are arachnophobia, the fear of spiders, claustrophobia, a fear of enclosed spaces, and acrophobia, the fear of heights. Arachnophobia is the most common phobia. Although many people are afraid of spiders, those with arachnophobia have an abnormal amount of fear. Even a photo or realistic rendering of an arachnid can make some people uneasy. Some arachnophobes have panic attacks or get hysterical at the sight of an arachnid. They might do anything in order to avoid a spider; for instance, people with extreme arachnophobia might try to get out of a moving car if they see a spider in the car.
Sufferers often feel humiliated by their unrestrained responses. Other people and even the sufferers themselves often find their behavior irrational. Their anxiety over spiders and their reaction to the creatures may escalate into other problems as well. Arachnophobia and other phobias often lead to another phobia called agoraphobia.
Agoraphobia may arise when a person fears being in any potentially stressful place or situation. For a person with arachnophobia, this could mean avoiding any area a spider could be hiding, new places, and even resisting leaving the house or going outdoors altogether. This can seriously interfere with a person's quality of life. A person may be afraid of having panic attacks or humiliating him or herself by losing control. Many people find themselves constantly stressed over their fears.
People with phobias frequently struggle to control their fears. This is because the root of the problem exists at the unconscious level of the mind; so conscious willpower or effort will not work to control an intense fear. A phobia is most effectively treated at the unconscious level, which is why Ericksonian hypnotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) techniques are the most effective phobia treatments.
There are many different
hypnotherapy programs available for treating phobias. Most use conventional hypnotic techniques that depend on post-hypnotic suggestions with very specific wording to work against fears. In this day and age, post-hypnotic suggestions often do not work because our generation has a tendency to question and analyze everything. And since today's population is likely to do the exact opposite of what they are told, post-hypnotic suggestions do not work and they experience an entirely conflicting response.
Ericksonian hypnosis differs from traditional hypnotherapy because it uses indirect suggestions that are embedded in conversation. That makes them difficult for the mind to pick out, so they are more likely to make it through to the unconscious mind and be accepted.
The procedure begins by using hypnotherapy to make you feel very calm and relaxed. Then, instead of merely "telling" your unconscious mind what to do, Ericksonian techniques use metaphors and stories to lead your mind into a phobia-free line of thought.
NLP treatments work by targeting the particular thought process that generates an extreme phobia and using it to extinguish the fear. Because of this, NLP can be used on all phobias.
People respond much better to the combination of NLP and Ericksonian techniques than to traditional hypnosis because instead of receiving direct orders, the unconscious mind is persuaded to follow a different, more logical thought process. These hypnotherapy programs work well for people who are analytical, critical thinkers and people who are independent thinkers.
You do not need a different
hypnosis program for each different phobia. One program that includes several sessions containing the right combination of Ericksonian hypnotherapy and NLP techniques can treat any phobia. Furthermore, an effective program will work for anyone. The combination of different techniques in several different sessions ensures success for anyone who uses them. By going through each step of the program, people are often amazed at how quickly they beat their fears.
Ericksonian hypnotherapy and NLP focus on turning irrational fears and behaviors into rational, calm responses. For many individuals struggling with crippling fears such as
a phobia, this is a life-changing therapy. Hypnosis is a powerful tool for overcoming anxieties and fears to live a better life.
