Does hypnotherapy work for phobias?
Phobias can have a debilitating and overwhelming impact on all areas of a person’s life. They can occur at any stage in a person’s life and come in all different shapes and forms, caused by the development of an exaggerated or unrealistic fear of an object, place, person, animal or scenario.
A phobia is far more intense than the day-to-day fears and dislikes that the majority of us will experience. Instead, they induce severe episodes of anxiety and fear, which can often lead to panic attacks.
There are a number of different treatments that can be used to treat and manage phobias, including the physical symptoms of fear and anxiety, which range from dizziness, sweating and palpitations right through to shaking, nausea and an upset stomach.
Within this article, we’ll explore whether hypnotherapy can be used as an effective treatment for phobias.
Does hypnotherapy work for phobias?
Hypnotherapy is widely believed to help treat, manage, and in some cases, cure phobias.
However, it’s important to remember that when it comes to managing and treating phobias, it’s not a case of one size fits all, as everyone’s case is entirely different. Just because hypnotherapy works for one person, doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for you.
How does hypnotherapy work for phobias?
Hypnosis works by helping people to change unwanted thoughts and behaviours.
How? A hypnotherapist uses a number of different techniques to alter thought processes by increasing self-awareness and practising the art of suggestion.
The state of hypnosis is characterised by brain changes that not only allow for greater emotional control but also reduce self-consciousness. Hypnosis for phobias allows you to connect with your subconscious thoughts and feelings to unlearn the conditioned emotional response and reorganise your thoughts.
When working with a hypnotherapist, you will be encouraged to work at your own pace as you take the necessary steps to overcome your phobia.
What type of phobias can you cure with hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy can be successful in helping people to overcome a diverse range of different phobias. However, it is most commonly used to address phobias including:
- Aerophobia - fear of flying
- Claustrophobia - fear of enclosed spaces
- Emetophobia - fear of being sick
- Hydrophobia - fear of water
- Acrophobia - fear of heights
- Agoraphobia - fear of open spaces
- Arachnophobia - fear of spiders
If you're interested in learning more about phobias, we've created a list of the top 5 most common phobias here.
Hypnosis is incredibly empowering and can help those living with challenging and debilitating phobias to change their perspectives and overcome their fears.
If you're interested in becoming a therapist to help people overcome phobias, then check out our counselling and hypnotherapy courses. Get in touch with us today to see how you can make a difference.
