Hypnosis for Phobias

A phobia is an irrational fear of particular situations or things that are not dangerous and which do not bother most other people, and for many people, its effects can be debilitating. It's possible to develop a phobia about virtually anything - snakes, spiders, heights, confined spaces, exams, flying in an aeroplane, buttons, going to the dentist (see also Dental Phobias). Hypnotherapy can help combat phobias through a range of different techniques. Two of those most frequently used are hypno-desensitisation (in which your fear is broken down into its different elements and you're then helped to stay relaxed as each different anxiety-provoking situation is described to you), and Eye Movement Desensitisation And Reprocessing (EMDR; a highly effective technique that processes distressing images or memories). Whichever method is used, hypnotherapy will help you to free yourself of fear so you can get on with living your life.

THE EVIDENCE?
A study published in the American Journal Of Clinical Hypnosis concluded that 'hypnosis is an effective and efficient adjunct in the treatment of phobias.'

The National Phobics' Society, the UK's leading charity for people affected by anxiety disorders, advocates the use of hypnotherapy to its members. Lisa Jackson is a volunteer therapist for this charity which, in addition to information and support, offers its members a range of treatments (from hypnotherapy and acupuncture to cognitive behavioural therapy and counselling) at significantly reduced rates. For more information on joining, click here.

To read an article on how Lisa Jackson helped a reader overcome her fear of the dentist called 'I Cured My Dental Phobia With Hypnotherapy' (published in the May 2006 issue of Zest magazine), click here.

To read an article on alternative ways to treat phobias called Have No Fear..., in which Lisa Jackson was quoted (published in the April 2006 issue of Zest magazine), click here.

To go back to the What Hypnosis Can Help page, click here.